My kids are heading back to school this week and I’m starting to see some semblance of a schedule again. I’ll be the first to admit, we had so much f-u-n over their holiday school break. Lots of late mornings in our jammies, playtime, family and friends, holiday movies and popcorn – and of course too much ice cream I care to remember (if you caught a few posts back that my littlest got an ice cream maker from Santa). But I am itching to get back on schedule.
Over the last few months, I’ve also been working on fun new projects that I’m excited to share with you. One of the projects are these personalized gift tags I’m sharing today, including the free file to make your own! I love, LOVE personalizing things and this project makes it easy-peasy using a cutting machine. All of the fabric and paper pieces in these photos were cut with my Silhouette Cameo. I created the personalized tag design with 3 pieces: the base tag, the tag top and hang tag ring. Then I cut the shapes with my machine using different colors of paper card stock. I stacked and glued them together and voila! Pretty fun, right?
For the fabric letters, I used the darling fabric by fellow Riley Blake designer, Nadra Ridgeway, called Backyard Roses. I pressed the wrong side of the fabric onto a heavier, paper-backed fusible web that I had on hand (sorry, the fusible I used no longer had the brand or packaging with it and I have so many different kinds in my stash I’m not sure which it was), but Silhouette also carries their own fusible stabilizer, too). Then I cut out the letters with my machine.
With the Silhouette software, you can use any of the fonts on your computer as an option for cutting letters, but a smooth-edge san serif font (the one I used is called, Futura) is easier to cut than a font that is more ornate. I left the paper on the back of the fusible while cutting, and also cut the fabric with a different blade than I used for the paper tags. I keep the blue Silhouette blade on hand for fabric, the black blade (that came with my machine) for paper cutting.
I loved how neatly and quickly the letters cut out. It would have taken me a while to cut each letter by hand. I’ve been exploring this as a timesaver for my applique work in the future!
I’ve included the svg files for you to download below to make your own fun tags with your cutting machine. Check your cutter for compatibility with SVG files first (cutters, including the Silhouette Cameo Designer Edition, Cricut Explore, Sizzix Eclips and Brother ScanNCut are compatible). You will also need a basic understanding of how to operate your cutting machine, trace the edges of the shapes in your software and load/unload your machine with colored paper and fabric. If you’re new to Silhouette, fellow Riley Blake designer, Lori Whitlock, is a world of wisdom and has tutorials and a class on Craftsy available, too. If you don’t have a cutting machine? No worries – I’ve got you covered! I’ve also included a pdf printable of the tag shapes, which you could use as a guide to trace the tag shapes onto paper and cut them out by hand. With this method, I’d also recommend a small circle hole punch for the holes on the tags. The complete list of supplies and downloads are below.
Share and enjoy!! xx Elea
Project Supplies
Baker’s twine or string for hanging
Scraps of colorful fabrics
Paper-backed fusible web (a heavier type)
Colored paper card stock (neutral color for tags).
Cutting Machine or fabric / paper scissors / hole punch
SVG / PDF Template downloads:
PDF Printable (to trace and cut by hand) or SVG Template for compatible cutting machines
Tags are for personal use only. Commercial inquiries, please contact me at service@elealutzdesign.com Many thanks!
Super cute! Thank you!