By Giraffe Creative Studio · Updated October 2026
To make printable Christmas gift tags, print a watercolor motif and a name on cardstock, cut it to about 2 × 3.5 inches, punch a hole and add twine. For gift wrap, print a digital paper edge to edge on letter-size paper; one sheet wraps a box up to about 6 × 3 × 2 inches. Collage book pages work the same way for envelopes and tiny parcels. This guide gives exact sizes, paper weights and step-by-step methods, with the printable clipart, fussy cuts, papers and printed books that suit each idea.
Quick answer
- Best tag size: about 2 × 3.5 in (business-card size), or 2.5–3 in circles.
- Best tag paper: 65–80 lb cover cardstock (about 175–216 gsm).
- Best wrap paper: matte paper or light 24–32 lb text-weight paper, so it folds cleanly.
- What one letter sheet wraps: a box up to roughly 6 × 3 × 2 in.
What do you need to make printable gift tags?
You need a printer, cardstock, scissors or a paper trimmer, a hole punch and twine or ribbon. For the artwork, you need three things: a motif (a small illustration), a name or greeting, and optionally a background. The table below shows which printables cover each part.
| Tag element | Printable to use | What's inside |
|---|---|---|
| Names and initials | Red Christmas Alphabet Watercolor Clipart or Winter Alphabet Watercolor Clipart | 24–26 watercolor letters, 5 × 5 in PNG, 300 DPI |
| Main motif | Christmas Tree Watercolor Clipart or Classic Red & Green Christmas Clipart | 20 and 45 PNG illustrations, 5 × 5 in, 300 DPI |
| Character | Christmas Bird Doll Clipart | 32 PNG clipart files plus 5 printable fussy cut sheets |
| Nordic motif | Scandinavian Christmas Deer Clipart or Scandinavian Christmas House Clipart | 30 folk-art PNGs each, transparent background |
| Cut-out figures | Christmas Kids Fussy Cut Pages or Christmas Girls Fussy Cut Pages | 45 and 55 fussy cuts on letter-size sheets |
A 5 × 5 inch file at 300 DPI is 1,500 × 1,500 pixels, so the artwork stays sharp when you shrink it to fit a small tag.
How do you make a printable Christmas gift tag, step by step?
- Set up the page. In any free design app, create a letter-size page and draw 2 × 3.5 in rectangles. Ten tags fit on one sheet.
- Place a motif from the Christmas Tree Watercolor Clipart or the Scandinavian Christmas Deer Clipart in the top half of each tag.
- Add the name below it using letters from the Red Christmas Alphabet Watercolor Clipart.
- Print on 65–80 lb cardstock at your printer's best quality. Our guide to the best paper weight for handmade cards applies to tags too.
- Cut, punch and tie. Clip the top corners at an angle for a classic luggage-tag shape.
How do you make tags without a computer?
Use fussy cuts instead of digital layout. Print a sheet from the Christmas Kids Fussy Cut Pages or the Christmas Girls Fussy Cut Pages, cut out the figures by hand, and glue each one onto a plain kraft tag. Write the name with a pen. The Christmas Bird Doll Clipart is especially handy because it includes ready-to-cut sheets as well as clipart. Our guide to fussy cutting by hand covers the technique.
How do you make gift wrap from printable paper?
Print a digital paper edge to edge on matte letter-size paper, then wrap as usual. Home-printed wrap works best for small gifts such as jewelry boxes, gift cards, candles, stocking stuffers and small books.
| Gift size | Sheets needed | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Gift card or ring box | Half a sheet | Fold into an envelope or pillow box |
| Up to about 6 × 3 × 2 in | 1 sheet | Run the pattern lengthwise around the box |
| Small book or larger box | 2 sheets | Join with tape on the bottom, under a ribbon |
| Anything larger | Kraft paper + printed band | Wrap in kraft and add a printed belly band |
These printable papers each contain 22–25 letter-size sheets, so one download covers a whole season of small gifts:
- Whimsical Christmas Junk Journal Paper – 25 sheets with two designs each
- Fairytale Christmas Junk Journal Paper – 25 sheets of storybook patterns
- Boho Neutral Christmas Junk Journal Kit – 22 sheets in beige and neutral tones that pair well with kraft paper and twine
Can you use collage book pages as gift wrap?
Yes. Collage books contain decorative pages in a range of sizes, which makes them ideal for gift card envelopes, tiny parcels, matchbox covers and tag backgrounds. Border and paper books are especially useful because their pages are designed as backgrounds and frames:
- Whimsy Border Collage Book and Peeking Borders Collage Book – borders and frames for tag fronts
- Heart Whispers Collage Paper Book and Hidden Meadows Collage Paper Book – soft pages for envelopes and small parcels
- Quirky Christmas Cut & Collage Book – festive pages and cut-outs in one printed book
How do you make a gift card envelope?
A standard gift card measures 3.375 × 2.125 inches. Cut a 4.5 × 7 in rectangle from a printed page, fold the bottom up by 3 inches, glue the sides, and fold the top flap down. Decorate the front with a fussy-cut figure and a name. Our tutorial on making junk journal pockets shows other shapes that also hold a gift card.
How do you match tags and wrapping by style?
| Style | Wrap | Tag motif | Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nordic minimal | Kraft or white paper | Scandinavian Christmas House Clipart | Winter Alphabet Watercolor Clipart |
| Classic red and green | Kraft paper with red twine | Classic Red & Green Christmas Clipart | Red Christmas Alphabet Watercolor Clipart |
| Whimsical | Whimsical Christmas Junk Journal Paper | Christmas Bird Doll Clipart | Green Christmas Alphabet Watercolor Clipart |
| Storybook | Fairytale Christmas Junk Journal Paper | Christmas Girls Fussy Cut Pages | Red Christmas Alphabet Watercolor Clipart |
| Boho neutral | Boho Neutral Christmas Junk Journal Kit | Christmas Tree Watercolor Clipart | Handwritten in brown ink |
Key takeaways
- Print tags on 65–80 lb cardstock at about 2 × 3.5 in; ten fit on a letter sheet.
- Use 5 × 5 in, 300 DPI PNG clipart for sharp motifs at small sizes.
- One letter-size sheet of printed paper wraps a box up to about 6 × 3 × 2 in.
- Collage book pages make beautiful envelopes and gift card holders.
Frequently asked questions
What paper is best for printable gift tags?
Use 65–80 lb cover cardstock (about 175–216 gsm). It is sturdy enough to hang from a ribbon and still feeds through most home printers. Check your printer's maximum paper weight first.
Can I print gift tags on a regular inkjet printer?
Yes. Choose the highest quality setting and the "cardstock" or "matte" paper type in your print dialog so the ink dries evenly.
How many tags can I make from one clipart set?
As many as you need for your own gifts. You can print the files repeatedly for personal projects, so one set can label every present you wrap this season.
Is printed paper strong enough for gift wrap?
For small gifts, yes. Choose matte paper rather than glossy photo paper, which can crack at the folds.
More holiday gift ideas
- The complete gift guide for junk journalers and scrapbookers
- Last-minute Christmas gifts for crafters (instant download)
- DIY Christmas gifts you can make with printables
- How to make a junk journal advent calendar
- Vintage and Victorian Christmas gifts for crafters
- Whimsical and fairytale gifts for junk journalers
- Gothic and spooky gifts for junk journalers
- Stocking stuffers and Secret Santa gifts for crafters
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