The best piece of paper for a gift tag might be the one left over from something else. Gather the scraps you’ve been saving—wrapping paper, an old map, a paper bag—and make a small stack of tags that feel like they belong with the gift.
Choose your paper scraps
Pick one sturdier scrap for the base, such as a piece of a paper bag or leftover cardstock, and one lighter patterned piece for the top. A base about two inches wide gives you room to write without taking over the present. If the paper is very thin, glue it onto a sturdier scrap before cutting.
Cut a simple rectangle, or snip the top corners to make a tag shape. It doesn’t need to be perfectly symmetrical; a small difference from one side to the other makes it feel made by hand. Try your first cut on a scrap you don’t mind losing.
Layer and add a little detail
Cut a smaller patch from the patterned paper and glue it onto the base, leaving a border around the edges. A glue stick is handy for flat paper, while a small amount of craft glue can hold thicker layers. Smooth from the center outward with a fingertip or the back of a spoon.
Add a simple detail if you like: a hand-drawn leaf, a few lines around the border, or a tiny paper shape left over from another project. Let the glue dry before punching a hole near the top. Keep the hole far enough from the edge that the paper won’t tear when you thread the string.
Tie it onto the gift
Thread twine, ribbon, or even a narrow strip of fabric through the hole and tie it to the package. Write the recipient’s name on the plain side, or add a short note if there’s room. For a batch of tags, vary the paper combinations while keeping the same basic shape.
These are especially nice on gifts wrapped in plain kraft paper, where a little color has room to show. Save the odd-shaped scraps, too; they can become patches or tiny accents next time. The paper pile gets smaller, and every present gets its own small hello.