To help celebrate Christmas in July I mentioned there would be guest posts. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below.
Today is our first guest, Meghan of Calvin and Carolyn. We know each other through the Indianapolis Modern Quilt Guild. She makes great quilts in record time. I swear she must never sleep.
You really have to check out her Home Is Quilt, seriously you won’t regret it. She designed the pattern herself and it’s amazing in person. 
Hi quiltytherapy readers! Meghan here from Calvin and Carolyn today, with a fun Christmas in July project to share. I made some fun reusable gift tags that you can use for Christmas, birthdays, or any other gift giving occasion!
Growing up my sister and I would do anything we could to figure out what our gifts were, before Christmas morning. As a result my parents decided to stop putting tags on our gifts, so we didn’t know which gifts were for me and which were for my sister. Unfortunately by Christmas morning, my parents couldn’t remember which gifts were for whom either.
If you family is anything like mine, here is a simple solution, reusable fabric gift tags. These tags feature chalk cloth (or blackboard fabric) that you can get on-line or from your local craft store.
Supplies:
- 1/8 yard chalk cloth (or blackboard fabric)
available here: http://www.joann.com/blackboard-fabric/1922145.html
- 1/8 yard accent fabric of your choice. This can be a solid color or other non-holiday print for use all year long, or holiday specific.
- 1/8 yard Pellon® 70 Peltex Ultra Firm Interfacing
- Thread
- Sewing supplies (scissors or rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat
Directions:
- I cut my chalk cloth and accent fabric into rectangles measuring approximately 2.5-inches X 4.5-inches and clipped two corners on one short end to give it a classic gift tag shape. If you would like to make your gift tags bigger or smaller feel free. You could also make your tags round or square or any other shape.
- Cut a piece of Peltex slightly smaller than your fabric, my piece is 2-inches X 4-inches, and again with clipped corners.
- Place the chalk cloth and accent fabric right sides together and stitch a ¼-inch seam allowance, leaving one end open. I used Wonder Clips ® to hold my pieces together while sewing.
- Turn the fabric right side out, and slide the piece of Peltex in. This is a bit challenging due to the stiffness of the Peltex. You can use a point turner or other pointed object to push out the corners.
- Turn the remaining raw edge under and top stitch near the edge to close.
- Ad an eyelet or buttonhole at one end and a piece of ribbon to attach your new gift tag to your gifts.
- Now you can add the recipient name or a personal note to your gift tag with a piece of chalk.
- Once all of your gifts are open and the wrapping paper is in the recycle bin, you can wipe your gift tags clean and reuse them for your next gift giving occasion.
Meghan is an Environmental Engineer by day and quilter, seamstress, and blogger by night. She started quilting by hand in 2006 and was immediately hooked. She is currently an active member of the Indianapolis Modern Quilt Guild and the online quilting community. You can find her latest sewing project, tutorial, or creative inspiration at www.calvinandcarolyn.wordpress.com. Or contact Meghan at [email protected] to see how she can help you with a custom sewn item, or your sewing and crafting blog content.