Christmas Printables: Gift Tags and Treat Boxes to Print at Home

Christmas printables do two jobs: they make gifts look finished, and they turn a batch of cookies into presents for teachers, neighbors and classmates. The two pieces people use most are gift tags and treat boxes. Print them on cardstock, cut a full sheet in a minute, and tie them on with twine. Here's what paper to use, how to cut and attach tags, what fits in a treat box and a December plan that avoids the last-minute rush.

What to print

• Gift tags. "To / From" tags for every present under the tree, plus a few blank ones for last-minute gifts.

• Treat boxes. Small folding boxes for cookies, fudge, hot cocoa mix or a few chocolates.

• Treat bag toppers. A folded card stapled over a clear or paper bag. The fastest option for a class of 25.

• Labels. For jars of homemade cookie mix, candy jars or bottles.

• Place cards. For Christmas dinner, in the same style as the tags.

Choose one design for everything. Tags, boxes and toppers in the same colors look like a set, even on mismatched wrapping paper.

Which paper to use

• Gift tags and treat boxes: 65 to 80 lb cover cardstock (about 176 to 216 g/m²). Thick enough to hold a fold and survive a ribbon, thin enough for most home inkjet printers.

• Labels: sticker paper or plain 20 to 24 lb paper with a glue stick.

• Kraft cardstock looks great for a rustic style, but colors print darker on it. Test one sheet first.

• Matte finish is easier to write on with a pen than glossy paper.

Print at 100% / actual size (turn off "fit to page") so boxes fold where they're supposed to. Pick the best quality setting and the paper type closest to cardstock. Many inkjets feed thick paper better from the rear tray. More on paper and printer settings: Best Paper and Printer Settings for Printables (Cardstock Guide).

How to cut a sheet of tags fast

Cut the long rows first, then the short cuts. Eight tags in about a minute.

1. Long cuts first. Use a paper trimmer, or a ruler and craft knife, to cut the sheet into rows.

2. Then the short cuts. Cut each strip into single tags.

3. Trim shaped ends last. Notched or rounded corners get cut with scissors, or with a corner punch if you have one.

Stack the tags as you go. A trimmer handles one or two sheets of cardstock at a time with straight edges. With scissors, cut one sheet at a time.

How to attach a gift tag

Punch, loop, tie. A loop through the hole stays on better than a single knot.

1. Punch a hole about a quarter inch in from the top edge. A 1/8 or 1/4 inch hole punch works.

2. Loop the twine. Fold a piece of twine in half, push the loop through the hole, then pull the ends through the loop. It won't slide off.

3. Tie it to the bow or around the box. For a flat gift, tape the tag down and add a short bow on top.

No hole punch? Use double-sided tape or a glue dot and stick the tag flat on the wrapping. For bottles, slip the twine over the neck.

Treat boxes: what to put inside

Printer ink isn't food-safe, so put food in a small bag, a paper cupcake liner or wax paper before it goes into the box.

Good fillings:

• 3 or 4 cookies, stacked in a cellophane bag

• Fudge or peppermint bark cut in squares

• Hot cocoa mix in a small bag with a few mini marshmallows

• Wrapped chocolates or a mini candy cane

• For kids: a sticker sheet, a small ornament to color, a pencil

Test-fill one box before you buy treats in bulk.

To fold any box cleanly, score the fold lines first with a ruler and an empty ballpoint pen. Step by step in How to Make a Favor Box at Home: Print, Cut and Fold.

Treat bag toppers for a whole class

For 25 students or a team at work, toppers are quicker than boxes:

Fill, fold, cover with the topper, staple. The fastest treat for a whole class.

1. Fill a clear or paper treat bag.

2. Fold the top of the bag over about an inch.

3. Fold the printed topper in half over it.

4. Staple once on each side.

Write each name on the back of the topper, or add a small tag.

Ideas by who it's for

• Teachers: a treat box with hot cocoa mix and a tag that says "Thank you." Many teachers appreciate something they can use, so add a gift card if you like.

• Neighbors: a plate of cookies wrapped in cellophane, tied with twine and a big tag.

• Classmates: treat bags with toppers. Check with the teacher about food allergies first; a non-food filling avoids the problem.

• Coworkers: wrapped chocolates in a treat box at each desk.

• Mail carrier, sitter, coach: a tag tied to a small gift or a card.

A December plan

• Late November: pick the design and buy cardstock and twine.

• First week of December: print everything and cut the tags. Assemble boxes (flat-packed boxes store easily).

• One or two days before you give them: bake and fill the boxes, so cookies stay fresh.

• As you wrap: tie on tags and write names.

If you plan to buy printed sets shipped from Portugal, order early enough to allow for international mail in December.

Budget tips

• One Christmas kit costs less than separate files. On our site, mixing 4 or more printables takes 10% off, and 8 or more takes 15%, automatically at checkout.

• Print tags on the leftover space of the sheet: one sheet of cardstock often holds several tags plus a label or two.

• Kraft paper and baker's twine dress up any gift for very little.

• Keep the files. Next year you only buy cardstock.

FAQ

What paper is best for printable gift tags?

Cardstock around 65 to 80 lb cover (about 176 to 216 g/m²), matte so you can write on it.

Can I put food straight into a printed treat box?

Wrap it first. Use a small bag, a cupcake liner or wax paper, because printer ink isn't made to touch food.

How do I keep tags from falling off?

Loop the twine through the hole instead of tying a single knot, and tie the tag into the bow, not just around the paper.

Shop this post

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See every Christmas printable in Christmas.