July 07, 2008

Gift Giving Never Looked So Good: Create Cookie Gift Bags and Photo Gift Tags

By Kara Hiltz

PrinTales: TyAnne Roberts of InspireMe Crafts Demonstrates How to Personalize Your Gifts Using Your Printer

Some crafts enthusiasts dedicate an entire room to their projects, filled to the brim with all sorts of supplies and tools. Imagine how much money they spend on all those provisions!

But TyAnne Roberts who blogs at InspireMe Crafts wants to spread the word that you don't need to blow your budget to make creative, personal gifts. With a few basic supplies and a trusty printer, you're all set to add some pizazz to your next heartfelt gift.

TyAnne, a stay-at-home mom from Virginia, began InspireMe Crafts to keep her friends and family in the loop after she moved across the country from Washington state. Now she can share her crafts projects with people she knows — along with other crafts enthusiasts across the globe. "I just want people to see that you don't need to be a pro or have the fancy tools to be a creative gift giver. You just a creative mind and some inspiration," said TyAnne.

While TyAnne uses a lot of paper and ribbon for her projects, she turns to her printer when she wants to personalize a gift with text or photographs. "In most cases, I can always find a way to incorporate the use of my printer into the project," says TyAnne. Although her HP PSC 2175xi all-in-one printer is brushing up against its fifth birthday, it suits her needs just fine.

Below you'll find two projects TyAnne personalized with printed messages and photos: a cookie gift bag and a photo gift tag. Try them out yourself!

Package Your Cookies (Homemade or Otherwise) in a Personalized Gift Bag

1. Bake or purchase some cookies. (Try not to eat them before you finish the project.)
2. Place the cookies into a cellophane bag. TyAnne uses 4 x 9.5 inch bags purchased in a pack of 25 at a crafts store.
3. Measure how much of the bag you'd like the tag to take up.
4. On the computer, design your tag. Start by adjusting the margins. TyAnne uses a 4.75 x 4.15 inch document in Microsoft Word for her design. Your design should only take up the bottom half of the rectangle since you will fold it in half.
5. Print your tag. "I chose to use photo paper, but you could also use cardstock," says TyAnne.
6. Cut out your tag.
7. Fold the tag in half so the design is on the front. Smooth the crease.
8. Fold the cellophane bag so the top is closed, and secure the bag with a small piece of tape.
9. Place the tag over the top of the bag so that the design portion of the tag is in front of the bag and the other half is on the back of the bag.
10. Punch two holes through both the tag and the bag with a hole punch.
11. Take 6 inches of ribbon and string each end through the holes, starting from the back of the tag and going to the front of the tag. Tie a bow in the front. Cut off any excess ribbon. Your personalized cookie gift bag is now secure and ready to go!

Create Memorable Gift Tags With Your Own Photos

1. Decide how small or large you want your gift tag. "I chose to make mine 1.5 inches tall and 3 inches in width," TyAnne told us.
2. Find an image or photo you would like to use. TyAnne found a daisy she liked in Microsoft Word's clip art library.
3. Using your preferred image editing software, crop the photo if necessary, and then resize it so that it has the same dimensions as the gift card (in this case 3x1.5 inches).
4. Add a personalized message.
5. Print your design on glossy photo paper.
6. Cut out the tag in a rectangular shape.
7. Cut off one corner. Take the small cut-off corner and place it in the opposite corner.  Use it as your guide for cutting the other side at the same angle.
8. On the side of the cut-off corners, punch a hole in the middle with your hole punch.
9. String some ribbon through the hole and attach it to your gift.

TyAnne's cookie bag and gift tag will no doubt make many a gift even sweeter. We thank her for sharing these projects here and inspiring us to personalize our gifts.

About PrinTales
If every picture tells a story, then every printer must contain several bookshelves' worth. In PrinTales, we bring these stories to you by profiling people who use their printers in a creative manner. Think of it as "once upon a time" for the digital generation.

• July 17, 2008 merryl

  Hi everyone,

  I believe that something you can actually wear, like a watch or something you use everyday and always carry with you like a cell phone, perfume, a office table clock, an Ipod, a handbag, or a digital camera, is the most personal way to be remembered by the one you want to offer something to.

  Every time that person will look at herself in the mirror or will use that something you have given her, she will think of you with gratitude and appreciation !

  Summer sales are on on many web sites.

  I have found an online department store called Little Gift Ideas

  They have a variety of branded items including perfumes, watches, designers' sunglasses, digital cameras, cell phones and hundreds of other great gifts starting at 3$ up to 5000$.

  All items are sold at DEEP discounts if compared to the suggested retail prices.

  If you dig a bit you will even find some that go for 80% off the usual retail price.

  At the moment they have a summer sale on and they offer an additional 10% OFF their usual prices on most products.

  I believe it is worth a visit since they have plenty of great opportunities for you to offer branded items in big demand at very affordable prices.

  
  Merryl