Vintage Style Valentine’s Day Gift Tag

Materials for Valentine’s Day Gift Tags

Materials:

• Sizzix Big Shot die cut machine (optional)
• Tag-shaped die <–this one is similar to mine (optional)
• Scrap cardboard (or heavy cardstock)
• Vintage music paper (or music scrapbook paper)
• Mod Podge
• Small heart paper punch
• Scrapbook paper scraps
• Pink craft paint
• Distress ink
• Gold Glitter Dimensional Magic 
• Words printed on paper (e.g., Matthew 19:5, “and the two shall be one”)
• Ribbon

I LOVE my Sizzix Big Shot die cut machine and use it all year long to make beautiful projects. Check some of them out:

• Atlas star ornaments
• Farmhouse style cardboard ornaments
• Glittery Valentine decorations

Step 1: Create the Tag Shape

Cut a piece of cardboard and a piece of vintage music paper about the size of your tag die. Then glue the music paper to the cardboard with Mod Podge. This is what things will look like after you’ve finished. You don’t need to wait for the glue to dry before runing the cardboard/music paper through your die cut machine. However, if you’re making them by hand (see below for instructions) you’ll want to wait for it to dry. Use your Sizzix machine to create your tag shape. Place the music paper/cardboard on top of the die. Place the plexiglass on top of your music paper/cardboard. Use the handle on the side of the machine to crank the die + plexiglass through it. The strong pressure is what causes the die to cut through the music paper/cardboard. I especially love that my Sizzix Big Shot allows me to cut through some pretty heavy materials (when using BigZ dies), like corregated cardboard, leather, fabric, and more. Voila! You have your music paper tag all ready to beautify with a series of simple embellishing steps.

Make a Tag Without a Die Cut Machine

Don’t have a die cut machine? You can cut the cardboard/music paper to tag size (approximately 3″ x 5″) with a paper cutter, clip two corners, and punch a hole in that end to make it look “tag-ish.” Expert tip: When cutting the corners, use the first corner you cut as a template for cutting the second corner. This will ensure that they match. Whether you have a die cut machine with a tag-shaped die or you make one of your own, you’ll be in good shape.

Step 2: Make a Narrow Paper Strip w/Hearts

Cut a strip of plain paper the width of your tag and punch several heart shapes with a small heart punch. Glue it onto the bottom of your tag.

Step 3: Paint the Valentine’s Day Gift Tag

Step 4: Make the Bird

Use my bird as a guide and draw one of your own on a small piece of cardstock. (There’s no right or wrong to this! Your bird-shape will be unique to you, and that’s great.) Tear 4 or 5 different colors/patterns of scrapbook paper into small pieces. Glue them randomly (and overlapping) onto your bird. Don’t worry if they hang over the edge. After the scraps dry, turn your bird over and trim the scrapbook paper to make it even with your cardstock bird shape. Run the Distress Ink pad all along the edges of both the tag and the bird. This will age it AND add dimension to the project. It will also help the bird to stand out from the background. Note: Prior to edging the tag, I patted some watery green and then watery wine-colored paint to the tag with a small piece of bubble wrap. 

Step 6 Embellish the Hearts

I filled in the heart-shaped openings with red colored pencil. Then I applied some gold glitter Mod Podge Dimensional Magic to the hearts. I love how the musical notes show through on the hearts. Note: I also applied the Dimensional Magic to the bird before gluing it onto the tag.

Step 7: Put It All Together

Now it’s time to glue your bird onto the tag. I have mine sitting on top of the strip of hearts. Next, place your words wherever you want them to go. You can cut them apart, like I did for the scripture verse, or you can leave them connected as I did with “be my love”. It’s really up to you.  Of course, you can write any scripture, piece of poetry (e.g., my love is like a red, red rose), or other saying that you like. Be creative! Make it personal! Find more ideas at BrainyQuote. I strung it with some brown ribbon, which contrasts nicely with all the pink. And it is done. Will you give this project a try?

I’d love it if you’d pin to your favorite board!