These funky little gift tags are a wonderful handmade embellishment to make your presents look extra pretty, and can go on to become a lovely keepsake from a special occasion. They are also a brilliant scrap-buster project, using up your fabric scraps as well as those half-used bobbins. And they are a great way to practice free motion embroidery which is about as much fun as you can have with a sewing machine. Read on to find out more.

You will need

For the fabric:

• A piece of base fabric (this doesn’t need to be too big)
• Adhesive interfacing, cut to the same size as your base fabric
• Water soluble interfacing, cut to the same size as your base fabric
• Lots of fabric scraps
• Different coloured threads
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Iron and ironing board

For the tags:

• Scissors
• Pins
• Inkjet printable fabric
• Rivet punch set, with eyelets
• Embroidery thread and needle
• Small buttons (optional)

Make your scrappy fabric base by following my tutorial here.

Cut out the fabrics in whatever shapes you fancy.

Cut out and place the message onto your tag. I find its a nice touch to deliberately fray the edges of the message to add to that scrappy feel.

Either hold or pin in place, and use embroidery thread to secure with a few small running stitches. Again, you don’t have to be too neat here, its all part of the charm. If you want to, you can add some tiny buttons or other similar embellishments.

Use your rivet set to punch a hole, and then add an eyelet in the corner of your tag.

And there you have it, some super unique finishing touches to add to your presents. Spend a delicious afternoon making these up and you’ll have a batch of loveliness to add to your gifts all year round.

This post was inspired by my Creative Sewing Challenge. We get a new theme each month and use it to generate ideas for our sewing. Anything goes! The theme for this month was tutti frutti so I incorporated sweet wrappers into my scrappy fabric; it really is that abstract and open. To take part sign up below or find out more here. Its free, fun, and a very happy challenge to be a part of!

And here is a cute little pin to save for later…