fresh & vintage tags

You're probably wondering where I've been (or maybe you didn't even miss me). I haven't had the chance to do much yard-saling lately. Two weekends ago, we took the kids to Hershey Park, so that was a pretty lame weekend for junking (but great for peanut butter cups). And last weekend, we stayed in Cape May, NJ for my father's wedding at this beautiful (but not very kid-friendly) inn. I always get the warm-fuzzies when I hear a waitress say "get these kids away from me". Other than that, it was a lovely occasion.

I didn't go to any yard sales in the past few weeks, but I did, however, do a little ebaying and crafting. You may have noticed that I have a strange attraction to vintage price tags. I buy them on eBay whenever I see them pop up. (You gals better not start outbidding me, dammit!) I included some in the last few giveaways. I even started making some vintage-style gift tags which were part of the little booby prize. I dyed manila price tags in hot water with plain old Lipton tea bags:

I used four tea bags in this bowl of around 20 tags. I also dyed some tags in a big metal roasting pan, where I used eight tea bags. I let them soak for at least an hour. It's okay to let the tags soak overnight if that is easier for you. I also crumpled up some of them to make them look aged. And in a couple of the batches, I added soy sauce to make them a little darker (and I was craving moo goo gai pan at the time).

Then, I laid them out to dry in the sun on an iron patio table. Luckily, it wasn't very windy that day. After a few of them blew away, I knew that they were dry.

See all those holes in my table? I didn't realize that they would result in these neat-o polka-dot tags!

Did all of you crafty collage-ing, scrapbooking people know that this would happen? Here's a close-up:

I'd love to try this on an old metal grate with fancy ironwork instead of my patio table.

I added some vintage seam binding and, voila! A bundle of gift tags!

So, there's your rare dose of Crafty Colleen.

Now, on to the eBaying Colleen. This is the actual picture from the eBay auction that I won:

I wasn't exactly sure that there would be any cool tags, but I chanced it anyway. I'm glad I took a gamble on this auction. The majority of them are old blank manila tags (that look like they've been tea-dyed, but are actually the real thing). Then... there are about 50 tags from on old furniture store:

Here are a few of my favorites:

I thought the "no financing 'til 2010" sales pitch was new, but apparently it isn't:

I never realized that peer pressure was a fundamental sales ploy of the furniture business:

   

Comments

[Kim Campbell]

Lucky you (except for the waitress, geez!) I love Cape May!

[Pam]

Wow, I love those tags!

[Sarah M.]

I LOVE tea-staining! Love your tags! I just got done tea-staining a lampshade, and it turned out pretty great-- just needs some pom pom trim 'round the bottom. :)

I use a metal dish drainer and end up with stripes on my things.

Thoroughly enjoy your blog. Everything is so up my alley. Love it! xo

[Jenny]

Those furniture tags are swell! And the little accidental polka-dots look cute too.

[vintagesue]

Of course we missed you! And, you forgot to mention that you're getting ready for Renninger's, riiiiiight?

[tammyCA]

I always chuckle reading your posts (huh, I've never used the word chuckle before!)
If I come across any old price tags I'll send 'em to you. Never realized some have cool graphics.

[Jenna Z]

Ooh, those are lovely. (both your tea-dyed and the ebay find!) There is an old folk song called Dollar Down and a Dollar a Week about paying on credit. Installment plans were first pushed in full force in the 1920s. I may try out your tea-dyeing idea on a metal basket I have. Only thing is, I couldn't do very many at a time, poo. Thanks for the idea!

[Susan]

What a fun and unexpected result! Your tea-stained polka-dot tags are great. And your idea of using a fancy iron grate is to dry them on is brilliant!

[Chantal]

All I need is for Colleen to foist another addiction on me- vintage sale tags! Great, now I want to get some too! As if my house was not filled with stuff already. Colleen- you really have an artist's eye- the bow wrapped around that price tag; that is so perfect. I miss you but I wasn't too worried- I thought you were doing your antiques show-can't wait to hear all about that once you've done your show.

[Holly]

"Comfortable furniture breeds an enviable reputation for hospitality" - catchy! I wonder what my furniture breeds...

[colleen]

LOVE the "happy accident"! And those old tags are awesome-
great find!

[Rosemary]

Yes I have missed you. I noticed you were gone. I missed your great sense of humor. You always make me laugh.
I love those tags. I may have to start bidding on some too!
I heard that you can also dye them in coffee. I don't know, I haven't tried it.
Have a really great weekend. By the way, what kind of waitress was that?
Rosemary

[Grumpy]

At least your using the bowl and roasting pan for SOMETHING!!! I knew it wouldn't be cooking!

[Wanda]

OK. Now I've got to tea dye some tags. That's a great idea! And a whole lot cheaper than buying the tags in the scrapbooking section. Can't wait to try it. Hmmm....what can I lay them on to dry? I bet I've got something around here....

I always hated places that weren't kid friendly. My children were generally very well behaved and I resented them (me) being treated like they were about to tear the place apart.

[stephanie]

Wow - I love all those old tags! What an awesome purchase.

(your polka dot ones turned out great, too. I'd like to try that but not sure what to do with the tags! :) )

[emilyruth]

those are too cool...& the polka dot ones? to die for:)

[Joyce]

Well, I like your ebay tags, but I loooove the tea dyed ones you made. The dots are terrific. I just bought a bunch of tags to play with last week, but i never thought of tea dying them. Great idea.

[Trena]

What do you do with the tags? Just wondering so I'll know if I need to find some. :)