Christmas may be over, but I bet you still have your Christmas paper and ribbons handy and could make some of these handmade Christmas tags to use for next year! I guarantee you, you will be so happy to come across beautiful tags NEXT year when you go to wrap packages and are in such a rush you don’t have time to make new tags then!  I found some tags I didn’t know I had from previous years this year when I started to wrap gifts and I was so happy to have them! So in just a few minutes I made some of the tags above and others you have seen on my blog (and I forgot to use THIS year!!). Use the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, but if you don’t have one, just cut a rectangle for the tag and round the corners or snip off the top corners in a diagonal for a tag shape. Easy peasy and fun to do now that you are more relaxed! If you are not out partying on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, relax by stamping and making tags and things for next year!  Perhaps even a few cards just to have on hand!

Just a quick idea for today!  Use that paper and embellishments so that you can restock next year when the Holiday Catalog comes out and you want all the NEW stuff! It’s a good way to de-clutter! Make some handmade Christmas tags now to enjoy next year!

We’re getting down to the wire, and don’t forget, you can decorate an easy Christmas Gift Bag on a moment’s notice! If you need more gift bags or run out of wrapping paper, just grab one of the plain shopping bags with handles that you undoubtedly have somewhere in your house! Even if it has printing on it, you can probably cover it with cardstock and make your own personalized Christmas gift bag quickly and easily.

On this gift bag, I just cut a piece of Old Olive cardstock and added some strips of Gold Glimmer Paper to the top and bottom of that cardstock.  You could add just colored card stock or designer paper instead.  Then I just punched out five trees with the Tree Punch from the Merry Moments Designer Series Paper Stack and added Gold Glimmer stars, punched with the star punch in the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack.  I use that star punch SO much! Your gift bag is done! Perhaps add some ribbon to the handle or stamp a greeting on the bag as well.

I have had such good luck with these little shopping bags! You can also buy them at the craft store if you want to be sure to have some on hand. But you probably have been getting them at the store and not thinking about how you could recycle them much more creatively!

If you would like some more gift-wrapping ideas, just sign up for my Mailing List and get your free gift, A Dozen Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas. Be sure you watch for the confirmation email and click the link in there to get your free gift!

Check your shopping bags and see if you can decorate  an easy Christmas gift bag for the holidays!

I have a quick and simple project for you today. Here’s an idea to make an easy Santa Gift Bag just out of some red paper and a strip of black and a scrap of Silver Glimmer Paper! I used the Gift Bag Punch Board using a full sheet of Real Red 8 1/2″ x 11″ cardstock. If you don’t have the punch board, just score and fold your paper according to the size you want, making flaps at the bottom. Perhaps you have a red craft sack in your stash somewhere! Then wrap a strip of black around for Santa’s belt.  For the buckle just punch a piece of Silver Glimmer Paper with the Decorative Label Punch. To make it look like a real belt buckle, just cut a scrap of Basic Black to fit inside the punched piece the same width as the belt.

Now this is the simplest version!  I’m very short on time as you probably are.  This version is fine!  But if you want to add maybe torn white strips of paper, or Glimmer Paper, for his fur down the center of his jacket or some buttons or a fur collar or whatever, go ahead.  I opted to just stop with this. This would be super cute as a very small little gift bag too! Put a gift inside and some tissue paper and you have a great Santa’s Gift Bag!

Check your craft stash and see if you have any of these paper mache ornaments. I found one in my closet and decided to decorate it using the Festival of Trees Stamp Set and Tree Punch. If you want to save 15% you can purchase the stamp set and punch in a Bundle!

To cover the paper mache ornament, I used a pattern from the Merry Moments Designer Series Paper Stack. First I traced around the ornament on the back side of the paper and cut it out with Paper Snips.  You could also glue down the paper leaving just a small overhang and then trim it off rather than doing the tracing.  I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue. On the sides of the ornament I cut narrow strips of paper and glued those on.

Once you have the ornament covered, just add whatever you like.  I added a strip of the other side of the paper and a piece of Venetian Crochet Trim.  The greeting is from Petite Pairs.

Here is the backside of the ornament so you can see what it looked like to start.

Sometimes it is a good idea to dig around in your craft closet or room and see what you can find and then make something! That’s how this Festival of Trees Paper Mache Ornament came to be!

There’s still time to order stamps, ink, and paper to make a few Christmas cards or projects! Just shop at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store HERE.