Today I’m sharing a super easy technique that you can use to make your own DIY Christmas gift tag sign!
I love simple DIYs like this because you can literally finish the entire project in just an afternoon!
It would also be a fun project to do together as a family craft, or even a holiday girl’s night in!
The base I used for my sign was a wooden gift tag shaped letter sign that I found at Hobby Lobby during one of their sales.
It was normally $17.99 but I actually only paid about $1.70 for it on sale!
There were only a few letters left at that point but I knew that I would likely be painting it anyways so that didn’t matter to me.
I just loved the adorable shape!
I knew that after a quick makeover it would look amazing with my Christmas decor this year!
But the great thing about this DIY is that you can use the same technique on ANY sign!
I’ve seen a lot of signs at Dollar Tree and other dollar stores that would work really well, or you can even make your own in whatever shape and size you want!
Supplies needed:
- Wooden tag shaped sign – Hobby Lobby (or any sign you want to use!)
- Holiday tissue paper – Dollar Tree
- White paint (I used Kilz Chalk Paint in White)
- Modge Podge (Matte)
- Sanding block (or sanding paper)
- 2 paintbrushes
Step One – Painting
You may be able to skip this step if you’re sign is already a solid color, depending on the color it is and the color of your tissue paper.
My sign of course had a letter printed on it so I had to paint over it.
Plus the white background really helps the red lettering on the tissue paper to pop!
So to start with I first removed the jute rope from my sign.
Then I painted the front and sides of it with a few coats of Kilz Chalk Paint in White.
Step Two – Modge Podge
After the paint was dry, it was time to grab the tissue paper and modge podge!
This tissue paper was from a pack sold at Dollar Tree, but you can use any kind you like!
Now, using the second paintbrush and starting at the bottom I applied a layer of podge modge to a few inches of the sign.
NOTE: When working with podge modge you have to go in small sections at a time! Otherwise the area where you applied it first will probably be dry by the time you get done applying it to the entire sign. It dries FAST!
Once I had applied the modge podge, I carefully lined up the edge of the tissue paper with the corner of the sign so that the words would be straight and even.
I gently pressed it down and smoothed out any wrinkles as I went, being careful not to tear the tissue paper as I did.
Once I got to the end of the modge podge, I got my brush and applied more to the next few inches of the sign, and then repeated the same step for applying the tissue paper.
My tissue paper wasn’t long enough to cover the entire sign, so once I got the entire thing glued down I cut a square out of the unused corner to add to the top.
I just applied a layer of modge podge first and then lined it up evenly along the edge of the first piece of tissue paper.
Once it was glued down I just used my finger to gently tear out the tissue paper covering the hole in the top of the sign.
Step Three – Sealing
I allow the paper to dry for at least 15-20 minutes.
Then I applied a second coat of modge podge over the entire sign.
Making sure to use gentle brush strokes so I didn’t tear the paper!
After the second coat was dry, I removed the excess tissue paper from the sign!
I used a sanding block and lightly scraped all the edges of the sign.
This method allowed me to get a clean edge without ripping off too much of the paper!
Now I just had to tie the jute rope back onto it, and it was complete!
Here’s a few closeups so that you can see the details better…
Would you have guessed that this amazing look came a single sheet of tissue paper?!
There are a few minor wrinkles in the paper, but overall this project turned out so great!
And honestly it was so quick and easy, anyone can do it!
This would also be a great way to update Christmas decor you already have!
Outdated Christmas signs could easily be painted over and modernized with some cute tissue paper!
And don’t forget that you can also line up multiple sheets of tissue paper!
That makes it possible to decorate even the largest signs for practically pennies!
There is a HUGE variety of tissue paper out there to chose from, so the possibilities are endless really!
I hope today’s DIY Christmas gift tag sign encouraged you to try making one for yourself! I guarantee that you’ll love it if you do!
If you want to check out another great Christmas decor DIY be sure to read last week’s DIY Thrift Store Christmas Sleigh Makeover!
What other creative uses have you found for tissue paper in your holiday decorating? Let me know in the comments below!
