Make your own holiday gift tags using a Cricut Joy! Learn how to use the draw function to add your name onto cute Cricut Joy gift tags.
We are well into the holiday season which means Christmas shopping lists and wrapping presents!
I love giving sentimental gifts and personalized gifts to the majority of my list but I also like making cute DIY Christmas gift tags and my Cricut helps me with that.
Since I like making a variety of different holiday gift tags using my Cricut Joy was perfect for this project. I can stick it on my kitchen counter or on my coffee table while watching TV to cut out a bunch of Cricut Joy gift tags.
This is also the perfect project to use scrap cardstock if you happen to be a craft supply hoarder like me!
In this written tutorial on making Cricut Joy Christmas tags, I will show you how to make three different tags. Two are just straightforward cutting with the Cricut Joy and the third is adding a sentiment to the gift tag.
Since the Cricut Joy can write and cut, we will be putting that great feature to work! If you are thinking about adding the Cricut Joy to your wish list, make sure to check out my post about it and forward it to someone as a hint!
If you have one of the bigger Cricut machines, make sure to check out my post on making cute foil Cricut gift tags.
Materials Needed for Cricut Joy Gift Tags
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links from Shareasale, Cricut, Awin, CreativeFabrica, and Amazon.com. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my links (purple text). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Cricut Joy – Find on Amazon here or Cricut.com here
- Cricut Joy mat
- cardstock or sparkle paper
- Cricut Joy gel markers or glitter gel markers
Designing Gift Tags in Cricut Design Space
I used images from Cricut Access for these tags. Super quick and easy!
On a new canvas in Cricut Design Space (aka CDS), click on Image. I searched Joy Tag and used the one on the second row. It’s image #M3A4ED. Click on it and insert it. I didn’t do anything to it, you can cut it straight away!
For the snowman tag, I searched Snowman Tag and found this cute one. It’s #M3F3EO. I inserted it and duplicated it so I could cut it out two different ways.
The first thing I did with the Cricut holiday gift tag I wanted to add text to is Ungroup it (upper right-hand corner). Then I changed the color of the top layer to white.
To add text to a Cricut Joy gift tag, insert a text box and type what you want it to say.
Then you need to change the font to a writing font. When you click on the Font drop-down filter it to Writing. Choose whichever one you want. I used Agent Q for the cute penguin gift tag.
You’ll notice after you convert it to a writing font that you’ll get a yellow caution triangle in your layers panel. This is because Cricut Design Space wants you to specify which pen you want to load.
This doesn’t mean you are locked into the pen though! It’s simply so CDS can prompt you to insert a certain pen which is helpful if you are using multiple pens.
I ended up changing my mind on the color I used and it’s no big deal! The Cricut can’t read what pen is actually inserted!
For this one, I chose Gel and then Purple.
Now that I’ve chosen my pen and color, the yellow triangle is gone. Next I decreased the Line Space so there wasn’t such a big gap between the words.
Then I used the Alignment dropdown to align the words so they’re centered to each other.
Now the most important part of the draw and cut function… once you have the text centered where you want it, select both the text and snowman layer (use your cursor to put a box around both of them) and click on Attach.
Now I’m all set to start cutting. I always suggest saving your design before you click on make it. CDS doesn’t automatically save.
Also, make sure Cricut Joy is selected from the drop-down menu on the top right if you have more than one Cricut cutting machine.
Once you click on Make it when using the Cricut Joy you’ll get a pop up mat. Since I will be using cardstock for my DIY Christmas gifts tags, I selected On Mat. This means I will apply a piece of cardstock to a Cricut Joy mat.
On the next page select whichever material you will be cutting out. CDS will ask you to select material in between each mat when using a Cricut Joy (this is different than the other machines).
I am using regular cardstock for most of my cuts. However my Cricut Joy didn’t quite cut it out all the way the first time, so I changed pressure Default to More.
How to Make Gift Tags on a Cricut Joy
I do have a video showing how I made two other gift tags with the Cricut Joy at the top or side of this post, but if you want to see the full detailed tutorial where I walk you step by step how to design in CDS and cut, check out my YouTube tutorial here.
Now it’s time to insert the mats and cut. Luckily Cricut Design Space makes it super easy by telling you exactly what to do for each step and gives you pictures on the screen. Anyone else love the hand holding like I do???
CDS is going to cut out the top layer of Joy gift tag first so I put a scrap piece of red cardstock on the Joy mat and held it up to the rollers. The Cricut Joy will automatically roll it in and make sure it’s straight.
Click Go on your Ipad or laptop to start the cut.
When the cut is done, the machine will stop and you’ll need to press the Unload mat on your connected device (laptop or Ipad).
Once that was cut, I was prompted to insert the bottom layer. For this one, I used sparkle paper which I love! I love things that are shiny!
Glue (or use double sided tape) the two halves together, write your name on the back if you want and attach it to a gift!
Now on to the two different snowman Cricut gift tags. For one I used sparkle paper. Remember to follow all the CDS prompts.
Press the buttons when they pop up on your screen.
It’s best to pull the mat away from the material so it doesn’t bend.
Oh, he’s just too cute! You might notice I love glitter snowman crafts from some of my other posts.
Continue cutting the rest of the mats.
The first time I cut a plain background which was cute with the sparkle paper but then I decided to cut it again on a snowflake pattern cardstock.
Again attach the two layers together!
For the card with the writing on it, insert the pen in the clamp when you are prompted.
Once the writing is done, the Cricut will pause and let you know to switch it out for the regular blade housing again. Then it will cut out the image.
I can’t decide which one I like the best! All the Cricut Joy gift tags came out so cute and I’m sure will make the recipient smile!
Look at that sparkle! Love it!
If you need ideas on what kinds of gifts to attach tags to, make sure to browse through my gift list for crafters and also gift ideas for Cricut users.
If you’d like to save this tutorial on Cricut Joy gift tags for later or share you can PIN It now! If you are on a desktop hover over the top left of the image below and if you are on a phone simple tap on the image and a PIN It button will pop up to click on!
Thanks for stopping by and have a creative day!
