Nature Gift Tags

I love making my own tags and cards.  Items that are made by hand really show a sense of care and creativity.  Now that it's fall, why not take advantage of what it has to offer? Leaves can be a great source of inspiration and you can use them in a lot of different ways.  

Here is a cute and easy way to incorporate a little bit of nature in a crafty project.

Materials: card stock paper, decorative paper or construction paper, double sided tape or glue, a hole puncher, shipping tape, scissors and a couple of leaves

First, you need to decide what size you want the tags to be. Then gather some small leaves and make sure they fit within that size.  I happen to have punchers that are set to a certain size.  If you don't have one you can just cut by hand.  

Once you have the shape ready, prepare two sides of the tag. One side should be white card stock and the other a more decorative paper.  

See what types of paper you can find at . on Merrick Road and AA Cards & Gifts on Lakeview Avenue.

Now, take a piece of clear shipping tape and place it over one of the leaves. You should be able to cover the leaf completely. Then place on white card stock. This will protect the front of the tag as well as the leaf.

You can find shipping tape at . Stop by Rite Aid on Sunrise Highway for tape or glue as well as scissors. They should have reasonable prices.

Adhere the sides together with double sided tape or glue then punch a hole in the top. Write a small message or the person's name and you're done. It's that easy!

You can find hole punchers and other needed materials at .

Another option: Repeat the same step with the shipping tape but use construction paper or a solid color card stock for the back. Once you have the leaf attached to the paper, cut around the leaf so its shape is clearly shown. Punch a hole in it and there you go. A quick gift tag that will add a nice touch to any present.

You can also use this idea for cards. Just make them bigger. As for the tags, try using them for name settings this Thanksgiving or add them to small gifts your guests can take home. I am sure you will find many ways to show off how cute these guys can be.