Personalized Gift Tags

I gathered together two boxes of gifts and goodies, one for my friend and one for my sister's birthday. I wanted to make a personalized tag for each of them. I began by using some simple decorative techniques using Distress Inks and finished by embellishing with vintage/thrifted treasures.

Here are the two finished tags.

I began with two die cut Tags and applied Distress Inks in a random pattern.

The one on the left was embossed using the Leaves Textured Impressions by Sizzix. I then used an ink applicator and applied more Distress Ink to highlight the raised edges. Along the bottom I "gathered" Tissue Tape and a piece of thrifted lace, both were colored with Distress Stains. I attached a thrifted rhinestone earring, a shell button and an old metal button that says Hawaii. My friend is from Hawaii so it was the perfect embellishment.

The second tag is for my sister as part of her birthday present. Because birthdays are a way of measuring time I decided to use the Pocket Watch Texture Fade to enhance her tag. I used the Ornate On The Edge die to add a decorative edge along the bottom of the tag.

I embellished the tag using several objects that remind me of my sister. First, her birthday is in March so I used a piece of the Tissue Tape that has a March calendar. Next, she collects Squished Pennies so I added one from an out-of-the-way store called Charley Brown Farms in Littlerock, CA. I'm guessing that she doesn't have a squished penny from there. She is also a good calligrapher so I attached an old pen nib that I thrifted. And to balance the design and add a little bling, I added a piece of a vintage earring.

As a finishing touch and to keep with the "measuring" theme, I used a piece of an old fabric measuring tape as a ribbon. 

I'm going to go add these to their gift boxes and get them ready to post. I hope they enjoy their tags as much as I enjoyed creating them.