Embroidery Floss
Enamel Stickers
Glue
Gingerbread Tag
The gingerbread tag uses the
Felt Gingerbread Boy & Girl Etched Dies as its base. I added details like a Santa hat and small embellishments for a fun holiday twist. To give the gingerbread person that cozy, shaded look, I used ink blending brushes with Distress Oxide Inks on the edges. This shading technique really brings warmth and dimension to the felt.
For extra holiday cheer, I attached enamel stickers to create eyes and decorate the mini Christmas tree in its hand. A bit of embroidery floss added stitched details to enhance the design, and some pieces were carefully glued to keep everything secure.
Snowman Tag
Though designed to make a snowy owl, I experimented by reimagining the designs and combining dies from each set to create a cheerful snowman!
The snowman tag was created by using parts of the
Felt Snowy Owl Etched Dies. I borrowed the Santa brim die and buttons from the gingerbread set to customize it further. His eyes and mouth are made with enamel stickers, giving him a cheerful and expressive face. The arms are made with a bit of craft foam pad to provide structure and add that handcrafted touch.
To add color to the snowman's cheeks, I used Distress Oxide Inks with blending brushes. For an extra playful detail, I added a mini pompom to the hat.
Assembly Tips
To stitch everything together, I used embroidery floss in coordinating colors, which not only secures the felt pieces but also adds a nice handmade touch. Some of the smaller embellishments and layered pieces were attached using glue for extra stability.
For the final touch, I added a coordinating thread at the top of each tag so they can be easily tied to gifts. These threads match each character’s color scheme, making them feel even more finished and polished.
Breaking the Pattern Rules
One of my favorite things about this project was breaking the traditional assembly rules. I enjoyed mixing and matching the die pieces and adding my own materials, like enamel stickers, craft foam, and distress ink shading, to bring these characters to life. This project shows just how versatile dies can be – sometimes, a little creativity and willingness to experiment can turn a standard die set into something totally unexpected!
These felt tags make such a delightful addition to holiday gifts, adding a handmade, personalized touch. Plus, they can double as tree ornaments after the gift has been opened, making them a gift in themselves!
I hope this inspires you to get creative with your dies and try something new. Don’t be afraid to break the “rules” and make each piece your own!