Friday, November 28, 2008

Gift Tags using Wonder Under and Card Stock

Making Gift Tags, Fusing Fabric to Paper
Originally posted on SewingWeb.com in May 2002, when I was content manager for their site.

This How-To is an easy, no-sew project which we think you'll like. Utilizing your stash fabrics; some scraps of ribbon, cording, or other loop-making material; some Wonder-Under; and your imagination, we'll make beautiful, custom gift tags which your gift recipients will ooh and ahh over for years. You can expand on the concepts used here to make greeting cards as well.
















































This is what our tags will look like at the end of our project. The materials are few. Other than those pictured, you'll need scissors and a hole punch.



The primary materials used are Wonder-Under or another brand of fuse paper-to-fabric bonding, a sheet of card stock or decorative paper (we used decorative paper), and a piece of fabric about the same size as the paper.


Place the paper on the Wonder-Under and cut a piece of Wonder-Under the size of the paper.


Place the paper on the fabric scrap and cut the fabric to match the size of the paper.


Place the Wonder-Under shiny side down on the wrong side of the fabric. Fuse to the fabric following manufacturer's directions using a dry iron. (Steam feature should be off.)


After the Wonder-Under cools to about room temperature, begin peeling it from the corner. Make sure the "sticky part" stays on the fabric and does not come off wtih the backing paper.


Continue to peel slowly until all of the backing paper has been removed. Discard backing paper.


Place the fabric sticky side down/right side up on the card stock or decorative paper and iron the Wonder-Under per the manufacturer's instructions to fuse the fabric and paper together. Remember to have the steam feature of your iron off.


Turn the project over and mark the paper into 9 fairly equal parts. At this point, you can actually make the tags whatever size you like; we preferred the size created with dividing the paper into 9. (Lines enhanced for photo; pencil will do fine.) You can also freehand cut designs rather than rectangles. Use circles or other shapes that suit your tastes.


Cut along the lines with regular or pinking shears (or other decorative scissors).


Fold the tags in half either diagonally or horizontally. Again, you can use your imagination at this point and create shapes that please you if  you want something different. Use your decorative scissors, too, for creating interesting edges.


Position the hole puncher in a suitable position. We chose the corner at the top of the tags.


Punch a hole in each tag.


Measure about 7" of trim, cord, ribbon, or other suitable material. Cut enough lengths to have one for each tag.


Put one end of the string through the hole in the tag.


Pull the string through so that the ends meet.


Tie a knot in the string near the ends.


Pull the knot taut.


Write a greeting in your completed tag.


You can also use the tags as place markers for a dinner by standing them on end, and perhaps writing a guest's name on the inside.

When all else fails, spread out your project, take a picture, and smile!

Fusing fabric to paper can be used for a variety of no sew crafts. Using the same principles, you can fuse designs from fabric onto card stock and make custom greeting cards. There are fabric to paper adhesives besides Wonder-Under that can be used, but we liked the control of the iron on, as well as the ability to draw on the paper backing before cutting a shape out of the paper/fabric materials.
Other ideas might be to create signs by fusing fabric to wood, paintings and mosaics with fabric fused to paper or stock, and as with most ideas, the possibilities are endless and limited only by your imagination. Consider taking a bit of design out of your baby's curtain fabric to make a decoration for the wall or baby announcements to send to friends.
Feel free to comment and ask questions.

1 comment:

  1. I really love this idea, It would also be great for scraps for hang tags for when you are vending a festival. I might have to make some for myself. :)

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