How to Make Gift Tags: Easy Tips for DIY Success

What I wish I knew before making my first gift tags

If you’re anything like me, you know how satisfying it feels when whatever you just made looks just right. To be honest, I kind of obsess over the details, especially when it comes to packaging. And it doesn’t really matter if it’s for my business or gifts for my friends and family. In both cases, I love adding a custom tag to elevate the whole presentation. Store-bought gifts feel more thoughtful; handmade items feel more special. Sometimes, when I’m prepping for small biz events, knowing how to make gift tags to add that extra oomph is all I need to go in feeling totally confident.

But I didn’t always understand how powerful such a small detail could be. My very first holiday pop-up market left me feeling like I was falling apart at the seams. People were in full gift-buying mode, and I didn’t necessarily win their dollars. Even though I had put so much detail into crafting my products—and plenty of folks stopped to admire them—nothing looked gift-ready. Shoppers wanted packaging that felt thoughtful and festive, and I just wasn’t prepared. Compliments are wonderful, but when you’re a business, you need sales to follow. Since then, gift tags have become one of my favorite tools for creating giftable presentations that help folks want to spend their money at my booth.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to make gift tags from start to finish using Avery tools—plus some of the tricks I’ve learned through years of selling at holiday markets, craft fairs, and comic cons.

Why personalized gift tags are worth it

As a small business owner, I get the hustle—that feeling of constantly trying to make your products stand out. During holiday seasons especially, people are looking for gifts that feel personal and giftable. That means little surprises that make someone smile and impeccable packaging that implies value. Expensive products aren’t just tossed in a bag; the packaging is designed to present and protect what’s inside. I’ve found that adding personalized tags is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to add that extra layer of connection and added value. That’s true whether you’re selling at a busy market or handing a gift to someone you care about.

At the same time, I recognize that design isn’t a skillset that every business owner has. Even if you’re good at it, you’re often juggling so many tasks that you just don’t have the time. That’s where Avery Design & Print Online (ADPO) comes in handy. I can’t justify expensive design software, and I don’t have time for complicated tools. Having free online software with a gift tag maker and thousands of editable designs gives me the boost I need. Suddenly, it’s easy to tackle every tag project on my list. Adding branded, seasonal details to my booth? No sweat. Personalizing gifts for my loved ones? Done.

Watch how simple DIY tags can be

To see the process in action, here’s a quick tutorial that walks you through making your own printable tags using Avery tools:

How to make gift tags

If you’re wondering how to make gift tags that look polished and personal, you’re in the right place. Before you start designing, think about how you want to begin your project. Avery gives you two simple paths: you can choose your printable tag product first or start by browsing ready-made tag designs. Both options lead you to the same finished tag—you’re just choosing the starting point that works best for you.

Once you’ve chosen where to start, the rest of the process comes together easily.

Step 1: Choose where you want to start

You can begin your gift tag project with either the product you want to print on or with the design that sparks your creativity. Both paths work perfectly—the difference is simply how you want to begin.

Option A: Start with a printable tag product (full step-by-step flow)

If you prefer to choose your tag shape, size, or material first, this is the best place to start. Once you select your product, click the blue template link on the product page. From there you’ll go through the full process: picking your layout, browsing designs, personalizing your tag, and printing.

Option B: Start with a tag design (skip ahead to personalization)

If you’re more visual—or just want to start with inspiration—you can browse ready-made tag designs and open your favorite directly in Avery Design & Print Online (ADPO). When you click a design, the correct template loads instantly, so you can jump straight to customizing your tag.

What if you already have Avery tags from Amazon, Walmart, Staples, or Office Depot?

Full transparency: as an employee, I get a pretty great discount for shopping on Avery.com. But, just like everyone else, sometimes I run out of time or things come up. In those moments, I dash out to my local office supply store to grab the tags or labels I need right now. And of course, folks also order Avery printable products from other popular online retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Staples, or Office Depot.

If that sounds like you, and you already have the tags in your hand, the easiest way to begin is simply to grab the product number (usually on the front of the package) and type it into the Avery Template Finder.

The Avery Template Finder instantly pulls up the exact template you need—no guessing or scrolling through categories. It works no matter where you bought your tags or which path you choose next.

Step 2: Select your layout

(Option A users only)

If you started by choosing your printable tag product, you’ll see different layout options depending on the tag shape you picked. Some shapes may require you to choose an orientation (tall or wide), while others simply let you choose whether to print on one or both sides.

Rectangle, banner, and scalloped-edge tags are great examples of shapes with different side lengths. When I’ve used these tags, I’ve had the option to choose orientation (tall or wide) and whether to print on one or both sides in tall orientation.

Tags where all sides are the same length—like circles, squares, and scalloped circles—usually only require you to choose whether to print on one or both sides.

Step 3: Choose your design

(Option A users only)

Once your layout is selected, you can browse the Avery design gallery to find a look that fits your style. You can scroll through seasonal themes, modern and minimalist layouts, rustic designs, bright and playful options, branding-friendly tags, and more.

For holiday markets, I often start with a themed design and customize it to match my brand colors. For comic cons, I usually go for something brighter and more illustrative to match the vibe of my pop-culture inspired products.

Step 4: Personalize your tags

(Both paths meet here)

Once your design loads in ADPO—whether you started with a product, a design, or the template finder—you’ll see a close-up of the tag on your editing canvas. This is where your project really comes to life.

Your tools for editing elements appear along the left-hand side. Here, you can:

• Add images or upload your logo
• Change fonts and colors
• Insert shapes or decorative icons
• Generate barcodes and QR codes
• Import names or data using the Mail Merge tool

Editing all tags vs. editing just one

On the right-hand side of your canvas is your tool bar for updating every tag on the sheet or making individual changes to just one tag.

• Edit All is perfect when you want to update the overall design—like changing the font, adjusting the background, or applying consistent branding to every tag.
• Edit One lets you personalize individual tags. I use this all the time for adding names to gift tags, party favors, or product tags for holiday markets.

Using Import Data (Mail Merge)

You can also use the Import Data/Mail Merge tool to personalize tags in bulk. This is my go-to move for adding product details which vary from tag to tag. You just have to have the info on a spreadsheet. This help article covers that in more detail and this article is a full deep-dive on Mail Merge. Essentially, if you have a spreadsheet with names, table numbers, product details, or other info, ADPO will automatically apply each row to a separate tag. It’s one of the fastest ways to create a set of personalized tags for events, gifting, or small business packaging.

If you’re stuck on editing, these ADPO tips can help

• Video: How to Add Images & Backgrounds in ADPO
• Video: How to Add & Format Text with ADPO
• Read: How to Design a Logo for Your Business

Step 5: Preview, print, and save your project

Once your design looks the way you want, click Preview & Print to see your full sheet. ADPO will give you two options:

No matter which option you choose, I always recommend downloading the PDF proof. It shows exactly how your tags will print and helps catch any spacing or alignment issues.

If you’re printing at home, here are my best tips:

1. Set the scale to 100% — avoid auto-scaling.
2. Do a test print on plain paper — check alignment by holding it up to the light.
3. Choose the correct paper type — I use “Labels,” “Cardstock,” or “Heavyweight.”

Helpful resources if you run into printing issues

• Browser compatibility for printing PDFs of your design
• Troubleshooting when your design isn’t printing correctly

Tips for making DIY gift tags in Microsoft Word®

If you prefer designing in Word, Avery makes it really easy to get started. Every printable Avery product has a blank Word template you can download, so your design lines up perfectly when you print. These templates are especially helpful if you already use Word for cards, flyers, or other projects and want everything to match.

To get your template, enter your product number into the Avery Template Finder, then choose the Word option. Each file opens with the outlines already in place—no manual formatting needed.

Once your template is open in Word, you can design your tags using any of the tools you’re already familiar with:

• Add text boxes for names or messages
• Insert images or logos
• Change fonts, colors, and backgrounds
• Copy and paste elements between tags

When you’re happy with your design, select File → Print, then choose your printer and paper type. I always double-check the paper settings to make sure Word knows I’m printing on something heavier like cardstock or labels. Depending on your printer, you may also need to choose a specific feed tray—most of that information is available under Printer Properties.

Using a Word template is a simple way to make DIY gift tags, especially if you’re not ready to design in ADPO or you’re juggling multiple projects in the same program.

Pro tip: If your tags aren’t lining up when printing from Word, make sure Scale to Fit is turned off. Word sometimes shrinks or stretches PDFs or templates by default, and that tiny shift can throw everything off.

If you need more help working with Avery templates in Word, we also have a full library of tutorials, troubleshooting guides, and quick tips for everything from printing to gridlines to Mail Merge.

Creative DIY gift tag ideas to make your projects stand out

Thoughtful details can really make your tags feel special. That’s true whether you’re making tags for your small business, prepping for a holiday market, or working on a big personal project like wedding favors or seasonal gifting. Over the years, I’ve tried many different ideas for gift tags. These are the ones that always rise to the top for me.

QR code tags

One of my favorite tricks is using the free in-app barcode generator to add QR codes to product tags or event favors. I’ll never forget the moment I realized how helpful they were: I was at a packed holiday market where customers kept asking for my Instagram even though I had signage everywhere. People weren’t looking around—they were looking at the products that they were holding and trying on. A QR code literally put the information in my customers’ hands.

Interested in doing more with QR codes? Check out this article where I walk through my process of adding QR codes to business cards.

Branded pun tags (my personal favorite!)

After my chaotic first Christmas market, I realized customers gravitate toward items that feel ready to gift. That’s when I started designing holiday tags with little puns. I’m known for making floral antler headbands and the tag that increased my sales the most was, “Wishing you a Merry Christmas, my deer.” Customers loved them so much that several told me they bought items because of the tags. That’s when I learned just how much a little personality can draw people in.

Create and print your own personalized gift tags

It still amazes me how much impact a simple tag can have. But I saw the results firsthand when I started adding personalized tags and thoughtful finishing touches to my products. Suddenly, everything I made felt more polished and expensive—and people noticed. Even small gift-tag details like materials, shapes, or QR codes helped my products feel more intentional and elevated gifting for my family and friends.

Whether you’re making a few tags for holiday gifts, designing a full batch for an event, or creating packaging for your small business, Avery tools make the process straightforward and enjoyable. A personalized tag can turn even simple packaging into something memorable.

If you want even more ideas to play with, explore Avery’s tutorials, design galleries, and inspiration on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.