Tea Time Tags

This is a simple but pleasing craft made of the subscription cards, which are fairly good quality paper,  from the inside of the Tea Time magazine. I've gone through my older copies and found some very pretty cards to use, as you see here.

Scissors and glue are  the only tools really needed. I wanted to try making a few other things so I included a hole puncher and some ribbon. Gather some scraps of paper of different textures and colors, and you ready to start.

First, cut out the pictures, leaving some white around the edges if possible. Then, mix and match, by laying pictures on papers until you find  the backgrounds  that tend to make the picture look the best.  Change them around until you find what you like, and then, glue the pictures to the backgrounds.

Since there is advertising on the back of the card, cut some white paper the same size and glue together.

I wanted to see what it would look like as a napkin ring for a tea party, by pasting a strip of paper to it and taping it together to make a ring, as you see below. It probably would look much better on a cloth napkin.

Here is one made for a pink napkin. Wouldn't these  look nice set around a tea table?

It could be used on a large blank card, like this, with the invitation or greeting stamped or hand written inside:

It might also be used as a tag by punching a hole at the top and inserting ribbon,

and penning the invitation on the blank side:

It might work as a place card, by placing the fold on top, and adding a piece of paper shaped like a banner ribbon, to form a space for the recipient's name:

The place card style could be glued on three sides and made to hold a tea bag, as a guest favor.

More tag style cards here:

After making a few things with these cards,  I found that this one was my favorite:

with the invitation written inside:

They look like tiny little magazines, and I liked this style the best, and I liked the white construction paper as a background.

Children's construction paper or scrapbook papers work well with this craft.  Look for other subscription cards, such as those inside of Southern Lady or Victoria, which are, more often than not, very nice pictures.

Leisure Arts - Paper Tags, Ornaments, Cards and Gifts

click on painting to watch it snow

A Winter's Eve

(Copyright: Susan Rios)

Susan Rios graciously allowed me to promote this snowfall painting, which can be purchased here.

Just to relax a little, I have made a few things that are quick, easy, yet beautiful, and can be used for children's activities or, with luxury papers, can make beautiful adornments for packages.  These little tags can also become ornaments or cards or garlands. These can be used year-round, in any season, for any occasion, with small changes.

They are only one-dimensional, which makes it a very non-stressful project, yet is quite luxurious and pretty.The paper bow instructions are in a previous post.

Print out the template on card stock, trace around it and use glitter glue to outline the pieces. These are great for tags or ornaments and can be stored in a zip-lock bag. Try making them in white, outlined in crayons. If you want to have a more sophisticated craft, outline white tags/ornaments in shiny white polymer paint. I've used children's construction paper to make the above gift tags.Some of these might make nice book markers, especially the candle.

This is a white poinsettia, but could be made light pink, as well. It can be used as a tag or added to several others on a ribbon to make a garland to drape across a mantel or window. It is cut from card stock, painted with a sponge brush and white Elmer's all purpose glue, and then drenched in clear crystal glitter. Puff paints, glitter, card stock and ribbon for these projects can be found in the Wal-Mart craft department.  Make a stack of paper and cut out several of the white poinsettia's at the same time. Glitter them or put a sparkly glue on the edges, tape a straw to the back of each one for a stem, and place a bouquet in a jar.  Add the leaves from the template pattern, by cutting them from green paper and glueing on the flower, on the other side, slightly showing from the front.  Make a huge poinsetta and use it for a paper fan.

 Right click on this template and print on card stock. Cut out the pieces and trace around them on interesting types of papers.  Add stickers or any kind of trims you like.  Use what you have in your home: cardboard from cereal boxes or other products, crayons, markers or pens.

Click for a larger view of Utopia sign

 You have probably seen words or word-phrases painted on metal or wood in shops, and here is a way you can make some of your own. If you have an old house, try making name signs for each room of your house, similar to the custom of  the bed and breakfast inns. Outline the edges and the words in glue, and then sprinkle glitter on it, or, use Polymer or Scribbles puff paint to give this project and embossed look.

Click for a larger view of Sunshine and Lollipops

Remember Leslie Gore's song, "Sunshine and Lollipops?"

Consider using the "whatever is lovely" verse from Philippians 4:8 for words and phrases on these sweet signs.

Take a shape you like, such as a little serving tray, or trace a square, circle, oval, or anything you have, on cardstock or poster board.

Try making up your own phrases, or use familiar favorites such as "Home Sweet Home," or "Enter With a Cheerful Heart."  Words like "luxury," "happy", "joy" and "enjoy" can be penned into the shape you choose, and outlined with embossing pens.  I saw one recently in a shabby chic shop that read "Be nice."  I've had a lot of fun making up my own, and you are welcome to print out what you like. Use them for tags, gifts, or sell them.  Just right-click and then "print."

Upper sign says "Pretty and Sweet," and lower sign says "See you in Wal-Mart."

Once or twice week, after I get caught up with some of my work at home, I look forward to going to WalMart to do a bit of grocery shopping, where I sometimes see other homemakers stocking up on food and fabric, so I made up this sign for a friend of mine.

I have heard young children say, "Can't we just stay home?" indicating how much they love their homes and their familiar surroundings, so I thought it was a cute saying.

Upper sign says "Let's stay home," and lower sign says, "I like it here, where it's cozy."

This one alludes to Mr. Knightly's remark about not going to Emma's party, because his dark, dreary looking manor in the background was apparently 'cozy'.  "I want to stay here, where it's cozy," he said.

Let's Play House, and Stay

Upper sign says "Welcome to My Dream World," and lower sign is "Enjoy Your Stay."  Both phrases could be made into one sign.

This one is dedicated to the homemakers who have been accused of living in a dream world. You could also pen, "My dream world is better than a nightmare," or something like that.

This sign says "Life is a garden of roses" and it reminded me of a poem that illustrates it:

This life that we're a-livin' in

Is mighty hard to beat:

You get a thorn in every rose,

But ain't the roses sweet!



Tea Time and Lovely

I included doilies in a favorite word plaque, because I have been researching the history of doilies, which were created by a 17th century draper named Robert D'Oilly. Doilies were a smaller, more affordable version of the long and heavy lace tablecloths used by royalty.  I have inherited some, and I display them in my home.

In the late 1800's several writers produced books about orphans (Anne of Green Gables, Pollyanna, and others) whose lives were so bleak,  they taught great lessons to grumpy, complaining, critical people. "Play the glad game," said Pollyanna.  After that book was written, critics of the time sniped  that people who had a Pollyanna attitude were simplistic and ridiculous, but in the end Pollyanna made life better for everyone around her.  In the book, Pollyanna was accused of spreading sweetness and light, a habit that is most appealing and needed today. These little signs are cheerful and easy to make.

The upper sign, "Utopia" is the easiest to make, and the lower sign, "Sunshine and Lollipops" is rather small, so it takes some careful outlining if you are using glitter glue.  These signs might look nice done in black and white and hung with black ribbons.

To make the hanger on the back, cut ribbon, or grosgrain ribbon, jute rope, string, yarn, wired ribbon, and tape it on the other side of the sign with a shiny clear tape.

Glitter from Dollar Tree seems to have more gleam to it than the expensive glitters, if you like that sort of thing.

These are thoughtful gifts to make, and work up quickly.

Use for Juice Can Lids

This is a craft I have been thinking about for a long time, because  frozen juice can lids are a metal that could possibly be recycled. Since they are also magnetic, a magnet could be glued to the back, so that the art could be used as a refrigerator magnet or used on a magnetic bulletin board, but for now, I'm just going to show how to make a gift-tag which can double as an ornament.

Gift tags from the tin frozen juice can lids.

In the photo below, are some possible things you could use to make a pretty ornament from these lids: glue, glitter paint, glitter glue, short pieces of ribbons for the loops, scrapbook paper, and any kind of decal, sticker, or clipping. Look at your grocery containers and cardboard boxes or magazines and catalogs and see if there is any kind of art work that could be cut out and used for a craft like this. 

The lid on the right is painted white, with any kind of paint you have (except oil paint), or, you may prefer to leave them plain.  On scrapbook paper, trace the lid several times, depending on how many tags or ornaments you plan to make, and cut out the paper circles.

On the back of the lid, put a drop of thick white glue on the upper center part, and place your ribbon, crossing it slightly at the end. Press it down with a brush and then scribble some glue on the back of the paper circle, brushing it afterwards with the foam brush.  Place the paper circle over the ribbon and press it down to the lid,

securing all layers (lid, ribbon and paper)  with a clothespin to make it hold together. (Note: your clothespin does not have to be painted and glittered. This was something I did to make clips for my papers). Leave the clothespin on for awhile, and brush on a layer of glue to the front, so that you can add your decal or picture. If you are using a water slide decal, be sure to dab it dry with a terrycloth wash rag or towel after you apply it.

At this stage, you can choose different methods of finishing the tag: paint on a layer of Gems glitter paint, and let it dry, or

paint on a layer of white glue and sprinkle some crystal glitter on top of the lid.

On the paper backing, write a greeting, rubber stamp an image, or just write to and from.

It can be left as is, or you can go a step further and paint a line of glitter glue around the outer edges or the inner groove of the ornament.

Some people save these frozen juice lids hoping to find a use for them. Try gluing them on a long ribbon and using them for garlands to string on a mantel, or even making a wreath of them.  These lids also might be made into something to use outside on the porch or in the garden, for chimes, plant markers (maybe by adding a wood popsicle stick).

This is another one, made with a single layer of tissue gift-wrap from the dollar store, hung with cotton crochet string,

and on the left are some of those nice ornament hooks--it is about time, since the old type were so sharp and hard to use, and they are also now available at Dollar Tree. In the past few years, you could only get them in catalogs, and they were a bit pricey.

To keep the project cost-free, look at old greeting cards that can be cut, for your pictures. Sometimes for a dollar at Dollar Tree, you can get a package of cards with florals or scenes that would work well in these lids. I wanted to make it a craft that was non-seasonal so that it could be used any time of the year, and I believe that the rose decal lids would look nice on a  long horizontal ribbon strung across a window, wall, or a mantel, shelf or upper doorway. Try letters of the alphabet or form a special greeting or word on the lids.

Waterslide decal and sticker sources and other types of decals can be purchased here
http://onlinecraftsstore.com/transfers_decals.htm

http://www.cozy-cottage.com/Trash-to-Treasure-with-Decals-Shabby-to-Chic-Decor.html

http://www.soshabbypinkpaper.com/category_7/Shabby-Chic-Roses.htm

http://www.thedecalcottage.com/