Tutorial: Displaying Vintage Paper Labels

Here's a really simple gift idea for someone who loves vintage ephemera (old paper). The idea is so simple, in fact, that I can't even believe I made a tutorial for it. But if it gets your antique paper collection out of the boxes in your basement, then maybe it will be worth it.

One of my favorite searches on eBay includes the names of my family members' hometowns. A few months ago, I did a search for Hammonton, NJ, which is the town where my mother and sister, Megan, live. Megan is married to Guy, a third-generation farmer who grew up in Hammonton. While searching on eBay, I came across a bundle of vintage labels for several different beers that were brewed and bottled in a factory in Hammonton.

My plan was to somehow display the labels in a frame and give it to Guy for his birthday. I didn't have time or money to spend on a custom matted frame, especially for someone who is not a blood relative. But I think it turned out nice enough that Megan would allow it to be hung inside their house, instead of being relegated to the garage or the bathroom at the farm.

Here are the supplies I used:

• Vintage beer labels
  You could also use postcards, Victorian calling cards, canned vegetable & fruit labels, flashcards, playing cards, or any other ephemera. You'll be attaching glue dots to the back of the paper, so don't use anything too valuable.

• 11x14 frame from a discount store
  Mine had a cardboard mat that made it easier to attach the fabric. But you don't need a mat.

• Black fabric
  Alternatives to fabric: use wrapping paper or scrapbook paper. You don't want anything too busy or else it will distract from the labels.

• Stapler

• Glue Dots

Cut the piece of black fabric a few inches bigger than the mat.

Staple the fabric to the mat. If your frame doesn't have a mat, you can hot-glue the fabric to a piece of cardboard cut to the same size as the glass.

Line up the labels on the fabric:

I used double-sided glue dots to attach the labels to the fabric (one on each corner):

And that's it! It was hard to get a good photo because of the reflection of the glass, but I think you get the idea. From what I remember on the night of Guy's birthday party (details are a bit hazy), he said it was the best birthday present he ever got. Sorry, Meg.

These vintage soda bottle labels are my next project (for me to keep). I like the black background, but I might consider using a more colorful fabric.  I'll let you know how that one goes...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For those of you who are having problems with my feed in Bloglines, you can unsubscribe and then create a new subscription using this link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/freshvintage. I want to write about RSS feeds on freshblogtips.com, but I am so frustrated and confused right now. I don't think it would be very helpful to publish a curse-word-filled rant about blog feeds. 

 

 

Comments

[ALVN of WhisperWood Cottage]

Beautiful tutorial! Informative, colorful, and inspirational! Thanks!

Amy

[Colette]

Wow, what a great, easy idea! Thanks for the *how-to's* :-)

[Sarah]

FWIW, your feed updated all at once today, along with all the others that I had been having problems with. I emailed bloglines last week about the problem, but havent heard back yet.

[Heather]

What a neat idea. I love ebay and searching for a town name is awesome.

[Debbie in Florida]

What a neat idea. I have a box of old utility bills from our old house in Chicago dating back from the 50's and 60's. My Mom saved everything. Now I'm saving them, waiting for just the right project.

[Tracy Whitney]

I love this idea! Thanks for the creative jumpstarts...

[sarahjaneandbentley]

That is really cool. I really need to find some good - vintage ephemera.

[Jersey Girl in DC]

It looks great! I love this idea.

[Niesz Vintage Home]

Very nice!
Love the look of the labels against the black background.
Easy to do, but big impact...my kind of project!

Kimberly :)

[The Vintage Kitten]

Thats a great idea!

[Esther]

That's a really good idea. I would never have thought of that.

[Mary Shows]

These look great! Wonderful idea!

[Linda]

What a great tutorial, thank you so much.

[rachel carlson]

this is EXACTLY what i needed for inspiration. i love vintage labels, this will work wonders - thank you!

[cathy nash]

I love vintage labels! It's the graphic designer in me I suppose.
What a fun blog~
Cathy

[Vintage Wedding Rings]

Great tutorial..I really impressed with your tutorial. you have explained briefly each and every step. All the neat ,colorful label are looking good one. Thank you for sharing with. I will surely try it. This is really inspirational work for me.

[Shanyn]

Just read your tutorial on how to put fabric on my cork boards as I was looking for a way to cover up my spray paint screw ups...LOVED IT. I am curious as to what glue you used to put the buttons on the tacks?? LOVE THAT IDEA too.
s

[Granville Lochrico]

My wife has a thing for vintage bottle labels. I'd like to make this as a gift for her. This seems easy for a dude to try. Hehehe.

[buy oxycodone]

ycuwbgsftiwjoubhf, buy oxycodone, ZVeWDuY, [url=http://oxycodoneshoprx.com/]buy oxycodone[/url], OEPGstr, http://oxycodoneshoprx.com/ buy oxycodone, VdlEDCC.

[Online Casino]

hjgbegsftiwjoubhf, Online casino canada, QQQDxoR, [url=http://ventdiary.com/]Online Casino[/url], RYKkTjY, http://ventdiary.com/ Online Casino, HljNary, Where can i get modafinil, zjdWKRc, [url=http://www.modafinilrpill.com/]Modafinil[/url], nrTyAEz, http://www.modafinilrpill.com/ Modafinil, lKQODOc, Online blackjack games, titJWxf, [url=http://blackduckcafe.net/]Online Blackjack[/url], CLxwHRg, http://blackduckcafe.net/ Online blackjack wiki, UIXpoRM, Payday Loans, PJnCzsv, [url=http://paydayloansbible.com/]Cash payday loans[/url], vlWfbaO, http://paydayloansbible.com/ Payday loans savings, SxqYmPr, Fioricet, cqhQtdp, [url=http://fioricetknowledgebase.com/]Fioricet rx online[/url], ZGGIQmx, http://fioricetknowledgebase.com/ Can fioricet be used for anything other than migraine headaches, jPwVDYm, Money no deposit online casino, ueekAGd, [url=http://prairie-tech.com/]Online Casino[/url], xVuLJXg, http://prairie-tech.com/ Gratis online casino, zKzOHds.

[Online Casino]

hjgbegsftiwjoubhf, Online casino canada, QQQDxoR, [url=http://ventdiary.com/]Online Casino[/url], RYKkTjY, http://ventdiary.com/ Online Casino, HljNary, Where can i get modafinil, zjdWKRc, [url=http://www.modafinilrpill.com/]Modafinil[/url], nrTyAEz, http://www.modafinilrpill.com/ Modafinil, lKQODOc, Online blackjack games, titJWxf, [url=http://blackduckcafe.net/]Online Blackjack[/url], CLxwHRg, http://blackduckcafe.net/ Online blackjack wiki, UIXpoRM, Payday Loans, PJnCzsv, [url=http://paydayloansbible.com/]Cash payday loans[/url], vlWfbaO, http://paydayloansbible.com/ Payday loans savings, SxqYmPr, Fioricet, cqhQtdp, [url=http://fioricetknowledgebase.com/]Fioricet rx online[/url], ZGGIQmx, http://fioricetknowledgebase.com/ Can fioricet be used for anything other than migraine headaches, jPwVDYm, Money no deposit online casino, ueekAGd, [url=http://prairie-tech.com/]Online Casino[/url], xVuLJXg, http://prairie-tech.com/ Gratis online casino, zKzOHds.

[Online blackjack tips]

vukmzgsftiwjoubhf, Online blackjack bonus, ZmyNYtU, [url=http://blackduckcafe.net/]Online Blackjack[/url], HaeCSoN, http://blackduckcafe.net/ Online blackjack usa legal, khEmPkN.

[Online blackjack tips]

vukmzgsftiwjoubhf, Online blackjack bonus, ZmyNYtU, [url=http://blackduckcafe.net/]Online Blackjack[/url], HaeCSoN, http://blackduckcafe.net/ Online blackjack usa legal, khEmPkN.