How to Make Creative Snowflake Tags from Your Watercolor Art

Adapted from my book DIY Watercolor Christmas, David & Charles, 2021

Whenever I wrap gifts or prepare deliveries for my customers, I love adding a little tag or thank you note. For years, I bought special tags for this purpose, but then I realized I had so many painted samples lying around my studio that I could easily repurpose. For this project, I filled two sheets with snowflakes while experimenting with watercolor inks. The colors turned out super vibrant because I used Dr. Ph. Martin’s watercolor inks, but you can get a similar effect with concentrated watercolor paints too! It’s a fun and eco-friendly way to reuse your art and add a personal touch to your gifts. Give it a try!

Supercool Snowflakes project	Ingrid Sanchez, author of DIY Watercolor Christmas

You will need:
Cartridge paper or watercolor paper (something thick, like 300gsm)
Watercolor paints
For extra vibrancy, try watercolor inks
Favorite brush, I used a size 6 and 0 from Winsor & Newton Cotman
Pencil and ruler
Hole punch
Cord or twine

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Prepare Your Palette
. Start by mixing a few shades of blue in your palette. You want the paint to have a watery, milk-like texture so that it flows easily. The more fluid the paint, the softer and more natural the snowflakes will look!

Step 2: Paint Your Snowflakes. 
Now, get creative! Start painting different snowflake shapes—feel free to get inspired by mine or create your own unique designs. There’s no wrong way to do it, so let your imagination guide you.

Step 3: Switch Up Your Brushes. 
For different line thicknesses, alternate between using a medium-sized brush and a thin one. This variation will give your snowflakes more interest and character.

Step 4: Add Some Vibrancy. 
To make your snowflakes pop, add a drop of watercolor ink or concentrated watercolor in certain areas. Let the pigment flow and blend naturally—this will create a burst of color that makes the snowflakes stand out.

Step 5: Play and Experiment. 
Enjoy the process and experiment with color intensity and different amounts of water. The more you experiment, the more dynamic and unique your snowflakes will look. You can also sprinkle some salt on the wet paint to add a starry effect!

Step 6: Fill the Whole Sheet. Continue painting until your entire sheet is filled with snowflakes. Once done, let the artwork dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Starry effect created by applying salt to wet or damp watercolor.	Kirigami Decorations: Another way I repurpose my watercolors.

Making the Tags:

Step 7: Choose Your Favorite Snowflakes
. Once your painting is dry, admire your work! Pick out your favorite snowflakes and use a pencil and ruler to lightly trace where you want to cut them out. If you want a more defined shape, you can also use a business card or any tag as a guide.

Step 8: Cut Out the Tags. 
Using a cutter and ruler or just scissors, carefully cut along your pencil lines to create the tags. Take your time, and soon you’ll have perfectly shaped tags ready to go.

Step 9: Punch Holes
. Use a hole punch to make holes at the top of each tag. I love using a star-shaped punch for a little extra festive touch, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand!

Step 10: Add the Finishing Touch
. Finally, thread a length of cord or twine through the hole and tie it to your gift. You can also hang the tags on your Christmas tree for a personal and creative touch.