Adding a QR Code to a Handmade Gift Tag - Giving "One More Present" With Your Gift
Just Adding a QR Code to a Gift Tag Makes It Feel More Special
A gift tag attached to a present is usually a simple thing where you just write names, like "To [name], from [name]." Simply adding one QR code to it completely changes the experience of the gift.
Handwrite your usual message on the front of the tag, and print a small QR code on the back. If you add a quick note saying "Scan the back too," the recipient will scan it, excited to find out "What could it be?" What appears is a video message from the giver, a photo collage of memories the two of you share, or a music playlist chosen for that person. There is a surprise not only in the "contents" of the present but also "beyond" the tag. This double delight is the appeal of a gift tag with a QR code.
Recommended Content by Occasion
Birthdays: A relay video that collects "congratulations" messages from friends and family. Simply stringing together videos of each person saying "Happy birthday!" for 10 seconds makes a heartfelt surprise.
Wedding gifts: A slideshow of stories from how the bride and groom met to their wedding. A collection of "what we love about the two of you" messages gathered from mutual friends is also appreciated.
Baby gifts: A voice message in which the parents talk about the origin of the baby's name and the wishes they put into it. It is a gift like a time capsule that can be played for the child once they have grown up.
Small thank-yous: A short voice message filled with the feeling of "thank you for the other day." Things that feel embarrassing to write in words can be conveyed naturally by voice.
Gifts for your favorite star: Attach a QR code to a fan letter for the idol or artist you support, so that scanning it plays a video of cheering messages or a video of a performance covering their songs. It is a special gift tag that conveys a fan's passion.
How to Make a Gift Tag - Materials You Can Get at a 100-Yen Shop
A gift tag with a QR code can be made with materials from a 100-yen shop alone.
- Cardstock or kraft paper: The body of the tag. Cut it out in any shape you like
- Hole punch: Punch a hole at the top of the tag and thread a ribbon through it
- Ribbon or hemp twine: Tie the tag to the present
- Sticker paper: Print the QR code on it and stick it on the tag (if you do not have a printer at home, use a convenience store's print service)
- Masking tape, stamps, and stickers: For decorating the tag
Generating the QR code takes 30 seconds with a free smartphone app (QR Code Maker, QR Tiger, and others). Just print the generated QR code on sticker paper and stick it on the back of the tag. A digital surprise is added to a tag with a handmade feel. This "handmade + digital" combination creates a special feeling that ready-made products do not have.
The Lifespan of the Content Beyond the QR Code
Gift tags are sometimes kept together with the present. It would be a shame if, years later, someone found the tag, thought "oh, right," and scanned it, only to find the destination gone. It is important to choose a service with the lifespan of the content in mind.
Suited to long-term storage: YouTube (unlisted), Google Photos (shared albums), Google Drive. Major services can be expected to last over the long term.
Suited to the short term: Instagram Stories (which disappear after 24 hours) and temporary file-sharing services. They are enough for a surprise on the day of an event, but they are not suited to long-term storage.
A highly reliable option is to put the content on a web page you manage yourself, but because maintaining a domain costs money, it may be overkill for a personal gift. A Google Photos shared album is an option with a good balance between ease and long-term storage.
Gifts Are Shifting From "Things" to "Experiences"
When it comes to choosing gifts, the idea of placing more value on "experiences" than on "things" is spreading. In an age of material abundance, you can buy what you want yourself. That is exactly why "experiences you cannot buy for yourself" are coming to have value as gifts.
A gift tag with a QR code is a tool that adds an "experience" to any gift that is a "thing." Even a 1,000-yen hand cream becomes a gift that stays in the recipient's heart if there is a heartfelt message video beyond the QR code. The value of a gift is determined not by its price but by the depth of the feelings put into it.