Make Tags With Paint Chips + Abstract Art
Wed, March 31, 2010 at 11:00AM "Gardening is the art
that uses flowers and plants as paint,
and the soil and sky as canvas."
~ Elizabeth Murray
Tags. For storage containers, gift wrapping, calendars, hooks, anywhere you can hang a label!
Paint chips are my favorite tags! You can use the same color, "color code" based on medium, pick a bunch of cheerful colors, work within the color scheme of the room, or coordinate with the embroidery floss or gift wrapping paper.
Use abstract art as tags by cutting into label-sized pieces. Find instructions at How to make artist trading cards from abstract art.
Paint chips come in so many varieties, just use what you have; this long tag was cut to 1.5" x 2.5"
Create tags from leaf prints made with acrylic paint and a brayer.
Ingredients
- Heavy cardboard, paint chips, abstract art, cut to size
- Hole punch
- Embroidery floss, raffia or ribbons
- Word charms (optional... instructions here)
- Basket or box
- Metallic markers or paint markers
Instructions
- Punch a hole in the top center or a corner of the tag.
- Label or address the tag using the metallic or paint markers.
- Cut a piece of embroidery floss double the length to position the tag.
- Fold the embroidery floss in half with folded loop facing down.
- Add a word charm to your tag (see the red maple leaf print above) by inserting the floss through the charm and bringing the the charm to the bottom of the loop. For gifts, you might use the person's name or a holiday message.
- Working from the front to the back, push the open strands of the floss through the hole, leaving the folded loop in front (see the abstract art tag above). If you are adding a charm, the charm should hang in the folded part of the loop.
- If you create a word charm that is larger than the punched hole (see the peach paint chip above), just put the floss through the charm and anchor the charm to the tag.
- Pull the open part of the loop through the folded loop and pull through.
- Tie the open strings to the handle of your basket, gift bag, or hook, tape to gift wrapping, use a heavy needle to poke a hole in your box/basket to attach the string.
My art materials are tucked into wooden baskets in a small closet-sized area off the kitchen, looking neat & pretty. Everything is labeled so I don't have to rifle through a zillion baskets to find what I need. Each basket has a tag made from a paint chip, labeled in metallic paint marker, and a little word charm. If you are contemplating or planning to organize your art stuff, read Organize Art Supplies With No Dedicated Workspace.
Reader Comments (3)
What an awesome use for such a lowly paint chip! I always come home with a bunch after I've gone to Lowes or Home Depot. Paint chips also make awesome little bases for "inchies", and I've used them as backing cards/material for my handmade charms. A little stamping, a little paint, a little marker and paint chips morph into the most amazing things! Hugs, Terri
*Terri, I've often used them as art journal fodder and cut them down to ATC size. Such fun! I like the idea of using them as backing for handmade charms. I must look into that!
~ Tammy
Tammy, I love your tags!!! What a fun way to enjoy some of your art work as you organize it all!