The little birds...

If you watch little birds you will see they are busy and happy! Using whatever they can find they create the most gorgeous little nest.
I would be the little bird with some glittery thread in her nest!
We can be like this. Happily working away with the things that are available to us to create a beautiful and happy home.
All the while with a little song in our heart.

Banner by Free Pretty Things for You.

Sunday 26 April 2015

Gorgeous gift tags and book marks.

My most recent craft post was about using images from books and magazines to make beautiful cards and how cheap and easy it is. AND how much money it saves!

This is what happens with all the pictures and tiny little bits of lace, braids, ribbons and things after card making... gift tags or book marks. It is amazing how tiny bits are prefect for little tags.

These are really handy and a gift tag is still $2 or so in the news agents and more in a florist. I buy packets of plain tags in Spotlight but always watch for them. They work out only a few cents each. Otherwise luggage tags are available in news agents usually for 5c each and these are really perfect.

You can also cut them out yourself and use a hole punch for your ribbon.

Sometimes I make rustic ones using string as my tie and pictures of birds, chickens, farm animals or something like that.

The ones I have made this time and I have used scraps of lace, torn floral fabric and ribbons. I had some lace that was too wide and I simply cut it lengthwise into long strips. Rustic is sweet, it doenst have to be perfect. And nearly all of them have different ties I as was just using up what I have.



I have mentioned before cutting tulle into strips for ribbons or cutting old lace curtain's into lengths for lovely lace ribbon, both beautiful  on parcels and do not need hemming they just look charming!
You can do the same here on a smaller scale.
Use what you have and be creative. If you sew you will be set for little bits and pieces. If you know someone who sews ask them to save you floral scraps, trims, braids, ribbon scraps... the ultimate would be knowing someone who makes formal wear or wedding dresses and getting sequin and pearl scraps and amazing things like that. (my idea of heavenly!)

My smaller tags I will use as gift tags on parcels or as labels on food gifts. Maybe also as a recipe tied to a gift in a jar food mix. Or you can give the gift of cooking and write the recipe on the back, or instructions for heating or something like that.
A good supply of these is great. And they pretty up a foodie gift no end.


The larger sized ones I am going to use as book marks to put in a card (that I made) and probably write a little note or scripture on the back.



I have two of my Great Grandmothers Bibles and the treasures kept in both include little cards and book marks with love notes, verses, dates and names. They have been tucked into the Bibles and kept. Years later they are gorgeous memento's full of memories. Anyway a pretty bookmark is a sweet gift.




These are from the smaller pictures I had left in my Shabby Chic book. This book was a great find and my $2 turned into heaps of full sized cards, bookmarks and tags...


As I finished these I noticed things  still have...  I have pictures of chickens, ducks, gardens... sort of a farm theme. I have red rick rac braid and red gingham and string. I am thinking I will do a farm theme brighter set... that looks kind of 50's farm kitchen. This would possibly look great on jars and cooking.
Just see what you have and what it lends itself to!

We all love to get pretty mail. There is only one thing better and that is pretty mail with pretty stuff inside!

Just now I have heard an old friend is in hospital. It is so handy I can get my card box out and choose one I know she will like and sent it off to her tomorrow. Every time I need a card I have a selection to choose from and save quite a bit of money.

I made tags on the weekend when it was raining. Now I have topped up my supply and had a nice time  doing it!

In my last post I also covered soaps and gift bags. I also cover gift boxes when I have suitable boxes come my way. Another use for pretty pictures is for covering little note books and diaries.  Plain cardboard covered books are best for these. I am on the look out for some more but these I did at Christmas to pop into cards...


Paper crafts are so inexpensive if you collect as you go. Once you are looking out for images you find them everywhere. And they have the potential to become so many sweet things and gifts.

There is something else about crafting. It makes you happy! When you have projects on the go you are content at home. I still often hear of women who spend the day in shopping centers or the mall, because they are bored. HOW do they have the time?! I have no idea. But shopping is a problem treated as a hobby for many people and being busy at home you just do not even think of such things! Crafting is relaxing and absorbing. It feels wonderful to create lovely things! It is good for us!

Have a wonderful week! 

See you on Wednesday for the next Pantries and Preparedness post. 
xxx



43 comments:

  1. Annabel, another great idea! You are full of them! I have a request ... can you do a post showing some of the books and magazines you use to get your pictures from. Thanks in advance!

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    1. Hi Patsi... first choose your target... I am thinking you might like tags and cards with preserves, produce and flowers (wild guess!) so in your op shop (thrift store) or even at home look at cook books, gardening books and flick through them... you are wanting one with plenty of wonderful images. So recently I found a book of roses. It had a hundred or more rose images and was $2 for the book. Perfect! Also English country magazines are good. Think magazines with quality paper... too thin is not so good. Beautifully photographed cook books would be good. Each time I am in an op shop I check for bird, rose, shabby chic type books and now I am watching for childrens ones... like Beautrix Potter and Winnie the Pooh as I want to make bunting. Its all about the images you really love as these will be a joy to work with! I hope that helps...xxx

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  2. I hope you're able to use some of the snippets I sent you for your darling tags and cards, Annabel. These are so cute!

    Hugs and happy highway,
    Kelley~

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    1. I sure did Kelley! Pretty much straight away! Plus the pretty pot holder hangs in pride of place in my kitchen! xxx

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  3. Oh my goodness, Annabel what a terrific idea! Oh you have my mind going crazy with thoughts and ideas.
    I was just about ready to get rid of some books and magazines but hated to, now I know what I will do with them.
    Thank you for sharing your talent with us.
    By the way, I loved the roses and babies breath, gorgeous.

    Have a beautiful week,
    Debbie

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    1. Debbie I bet your books and magazines are full of just gorgeous images that will keep you in cards and tags for ages.
      This is such a money saver and it means we can give out maybe many more cards than we might normally. Thank you for commenting.xxx

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  4. Annabel, I LOVE your tags, so gorgeous. I am lucky to have crafty girls, and every so often when the card stash is low I get out all the scrapbooking paper and bits and bobs from our craft drawers (none of which I have bought, it is all gifts, or I have saved it from gift wrapping..) and the girls have a wonderful crafty afternoon making more cards for me. Child labour!!

    I agree with your comment about bored women who shop. Who on earth has time to be bored? Even if I didn't have children I would still be spending hours in the kitchen and garden and out in the community if I had any spare time, let alone all the books I could be reading. The concept of boredom just boggles my brain..

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    1. Thank you so much Jo! I just love your blog and how busy you are making the most of everything that comes your way and that you can.
      And use of child labour lol
      Take a look on my side bar :)
      Girls who are crafty and making things are fantastic. They will always be able to make all their hearts desires, plus possibly an income too. Just wonderful! Love Annabel.xxx

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  5. Loving this Annabel.
    I made 12 cards last week using books I had bought from the op-shop and I managed to accumulate 20 free magazines this weekend so I will be going through them this afternoon. When things are going crazy in your life and nothing makes sense then sitting down and creating puts me in a good head space.

    After looking online for gift making ideas over the weekend I thought that I could use up some of the jars I have. By printing out a Xmas labels and there are plenty of free printables for gifts in a jar, I could cut lid covers out of Xmas fabric. This way everything is organised and ready to go come Xmas. I just need to bake some cookies and fill the jars. This preparation saves me so much time at the busiest time of the year.

    You are a very inspirational and supportive friend in Christ
    Have a great week xx

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    1. Dear Mel you are totally wise to use this time for things you probably wont have time for later! You will get ahead in many things! I like to paint the lids of the jars and add a tiny cut out or transfer. Just about any paint will do and thy usually need a couple of coats. Then you can stick on a sticker or whatever theme you like. I love how they look!
      While you have time eye the fabric stash/yarn stash/ embroidery stash etc for possibilities!
      Well done on the cards! Lets just say 12 cards probably saved you $100 or so!
      It truly is amazing what we can make from what we have or can collect.
      I keep praying and I am happy that you sound good and busy too. Lots of love Annabel.xxx

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    2. Mel, you can freeze cookie dough ahead of time too. I freeze it in log sizes.

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  6. Hi Annabel,
    These cards are beautiful! You have inspired me to give it a go. It means so much more to receive a card that someone has spent time creating. You got a lot of value out of your Shabby Chic book!
    Stephanie. Xx

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    1. Dear Stephanie, I hope you love it and you love the results. Feel free to share pictures as I'd love to see! Love Annabel xxx

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  7. Dear Annabel, Just last week used one of your beautiful cards you gave me to add with a wedding gift for a young friend. I said to Glen that it saved us $8 on buying a card, as well, as having it at home, meant that I had time to consider writing a sincere personal message in it, rather than being frazzled running around the shops. You have suggested before that as well as keeping these for ourselves, a bundle as a gift, is very much appreciated as well.
    The photos are simply beautiful and an encouragement to us all. Love Helen xxx

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    1. I'm so pleased Helen. It's true about the savings plus the help of having a stash. I keep mine in a box and another for tags. I love having heaps to choose from, makes me happy! Xxx

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  8. Dear Annabel, right this moment Amy is making a Mother's day card with our many supplies I have gathered! I'm keeping away from the work table, hiding out in the living room until the creativity is done! This is the second year she has made a card for me. Homemade cards are very special. I just love your gift tags and notebook cover ideas. I bought some chiffon? and soft cotton blouses with tiny prints on them for $1 at the op shop (lovely old world prints) and am going to cut them as "ribbons" for the tags. You sent me tags with this type of fabric and I really love the effect.

    I think you are changing the way we view our ability to be "crafty" even if we don't really consider ourselves very good or imaginative. xoxo

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    1. This card will be a treasure Kaye! Plus every time we do things we get a bit more confident and hopefully enjoy it. We are never bored!
      We barely need to have creative ideas, we have Pinterest! And we have you tube etc so we can learn anything, I just love it. I am already thinking what will I do when I finish this blanket.... Many ideas! Xxxx

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  9. Your gift tags came out beautifully!

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    1. And thank you for linking up with the Art of Home-Making Mondays this week!

      P.S. I have also added your wonderful blog to my sidebar :)

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    2. Jes I cant tell you how much I appreciate that and how honored I feel. Thank you so much! This has totally made my day! Love Annabel.xxx

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  10. The gifts tags are really lovely, Annabel. By the way I bought some pretty buckles from ebay after seeing them in your posts. Hopefully they will arrive before Friday when I fly up north to visit my daughter and I will give some to her too as she makes her own cards. That tiny baby boy who was born in December is now four months old so it will be nice to see him again.

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    1. I hope you will be pleased with your buckles Nanna Chel. My last ones in the pictures I had used ribbon about the same width as the buckle. It looks really good too if the ribbon is wider than the buckle so that the buckle is gathering it in, it looks lush and nice too.
      The baby will have grown! You must be so excited to see them all! Yes it seems like yesterday we were waiting for him to be born! Have a wonderful trip xxx

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  11. Beautiful! You are so creative!

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  12. What a lovely and easy way to add grace to a present - or be a present! Stopping by from Art of Homemaking. Following on G+!

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    1. Thank you so much! The Art of Homemaking is a favourite of mine. The name says it all to me! xxx

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  13. Dear Annabel,
    Of course I am **swooning** over the tags! They are positively gorgeous! I really have a love of all things paper and tags are no exception. You are so right about versatility, themes, etc. I'd like to add that when you find just the right images, you can always keep them as masters. Say if you find a book, you can carefully remove the pages and if you have your own color copier or access to one, you generally can reproduce as long as they are for personal use and not for re-sale. I love the retro kitchen/red idea. If a friend likes bunnies, dishes, Penguins, flowers, sunsets, etc., The possibilities are endless. So true about a selection of these making a beautiful gift as well. Thank you for such a lovely post and beautiful eye candy! I am thrilled to say I finally have some crafting time scheduled this week, soooo looking forward to it!! Annabel thank you as always for the inspiration and encouragement! I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Xxx Colette

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    1. Thanks Colette that is a good idea, to keep our very best images and make copies. I agree too, I collect pictures I know others will love... I did owls once for a boy who loved Harry Potter books, knitting pics for a knitting friend, glam shoes, diamonds, even dinosaurs!
      I am thrilled too, to hear you have some free time coming up. This sounds very good... Im pleased to hear it!
      I hope your week is good too! Lots of love, Annabel.xxx

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    2. Colette, I'm swooning too !!!

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  14. Love it, love it, love it - now I am inspired, just need to get some supplies in which I intend doing on Thursday when I am already out and about but I need to make a list first.

    Friday I have an appointment on the Island so I am going to hit the op shops for bits and pieces to use, of course using my list as a Guide first.

    Helped my girlfriend again yesterday but this time we were not near the Coles of last time so I didn't get a chance to pop in and check out the markdowns or the cheap shop - next week she needs my help again and that is going to be in the area near Coles so I will be ready with my ice bricks and esky again like I was yesterday.

    Lynette
    XXXX

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    1. Lynette that is so sensible, having an esky and ice brick on hand in case of good finds!
      Your friend must be appreciating your help and it must be quite good fun and exercise too.
      Good luck with finding supplies. I remember once I made you knitting themed cards. I still think of you every time I see lovely yarn or knitting pictures and also these would be suitable for cards for my Mum.
      Have a great week! xxx

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  15. Annabel, you have such a beautiful way with everything you do. I still treasure some of the cards and gift tags you sent me, and I find it really hard to give them away....lol! The right combination of tag-picture-ribbon or lace, really makes the difference and you have a great eye for detail. These are just so sweet and worth treasuring...Mimi xxx

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    1. Thank you so much Mimi. We both have soft hearts and mementos mean a lot to us. And we both love beautiful things! LUCKILY we both love creating so we can have these things too! xxx

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  16. These are lovely! I recently bought blank cards and envelopes because of your blog...now I'm on the lookout for old books or magazines I could use for pictures. In the meantime I have drawn little birds and colored them in with colored pencil.

    This is off topic, but we had a water main break in our town today, with a boil water advisory until Wednesday. I realized that I need to be more prepared for this type of situation...I didn't know exactly what needs done for such an advisory, so I had to look it up online. I will print it out to have in my homemaking binder, in case it should happen again when I'm not able to get online! And I will think about what other situations might arise that I would not know how to handle. It's also a good reason to stay up on dishwashing, as both of my large pots were dirty. 😉

    Take care,
    Marie

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    1. Thank you Marie! I am so glad you have started card making! I hope you love it!
      We are all so used to power and water that a break in either (or for many gas also) just is terrible! But all are so possible and likely. We have had times with no power or water and the longest ever has been three days. Everything is difficult! So it really is an issue how would we cope with the loss of any of these for a longer period of time. When every things ok we dont even think about it! We are tying to stock up on bottled water and also get a rain water tank... and just other general preparedness. It is a big job really! But a really good idea!
      Thanks Marie for your comments.xxx

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  17. Annabel, I love how creative you are and I will be making cards, tags and covering gift bags (ones that have writing on them) thanks to your wonderful ideas!! Those tags are just beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration. Teri S.

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    1. Thank you so much Teri. I just love when I get a gift bag that has a logo or something on it, on goes a picture and some lace or a trim... no one would ever know except I talk too much and tell!
      And for pantry girls like us it means dollars saved that we can use to add to our pantry! xxx

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  18. They are beautiful tags Annabel. I have a stash of tags that I have been using, they were the kraft colour (beigey/bone) and just recently I purchased 100 of the white ones, they are glossy and gorgeous and I spent a little time on the weekend making up a couple of dozen. It's actually therapeutic I believe, using up bits and pieces is good too.
    Saw it was your wedding anniversary - C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S!!!!
    (an aside about your comment of people shopping and being bored - this morning I had physio at 9.30 and 11.20 eye test, so had time to kill. Walked around the shopping centre did not spend a cent despite going into pretty much all the stores except food, mobile phones and shoe stores. Arrived at the appointment at 11 and they said i was too early, go look at shops. I decided to wait and choose my new glasses before the appointment rather than after. Much better idea. I really do NOT enjoy being at the shops. Its mind bending actually. And nobody looked happy.
    Have a great week. Fiona xx

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    1. I am glad you are having fun creating Fiona. I do think its therapeutic too, it absorbs you and is happy!
      I once enjoyed the shops and loved shopping. Now I am disgusted at the prices and think no way! But I do like pinching ideas so that is my entertainment if I am out and about and I like to see what is being charged for things we can make as that is quite motivational. And I love a bargain!
      Thanks for the anniversary wishes... we had a lovely day. And Andys birthday is the next day! Back to normal today! xxx

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  19. Hi Annabel. You've got me giddy with excitement. I just love your gift tags. So pretty and elegant. I spent Saturday afternoon making more cards with magazine pictures. I also cut out lots of smaller images to use on gift tags. I'm so excited with all the possibilities. Thankyou so much for your lovely post.

    You've started a card making revolution xoxo

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    1. Thank you Wendy! I just love that you are enjoying this and seeing new possibilities!
      Perfect wet weather things to work on.
      Your cards have been looking just beautiful! xxx

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  20. These all look so pretty Annabel, you are very talented.

    xTania

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I really appreciate your comments thank you! The aim of my blog is the be a place of encouragement and happiness. Very rarely is anyone rude. Actually only twice so far! If you post a rude or aggressive comment I will read it but not publish it, thanks for understanding.xxx

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