Monday, April 12, 2010

tea dyed tags tutorial


today I'm going to share with you my tried and tested method for tea-dying tags. Over the years I have tried lots of different ways to tea and coffee dye paper and fabrics, with varying results...
but this is my foolproof method - it always works!!

I use the basic shipping tags available in most stationary stores. They come in several different sizes, I have two here




toss your teabags into a container - I use a largeish tupperware container and 5-6 teabags. Don't scrimp on the teabags - an extra bag or two is cheaper than a ruined batch of tags!



pour a full kettle of boiled water over the bags (sorry, I'm not very exact!)
let them steep for a couple of minutes


mine looked like this



now your tea soak is ready!
drop your tags in one at a time, use the next tag to submerge the previous one so you don't burn yourself!

You can get quite a few in a large container like this, but don't overdo it, you don't want them all sticking in a big clump



leave them to soak for around 10-15 minutes, remember, they are a paper product, so rescue them before they go too soggy. You will be able to see they have absorbed the tea color

now, lay them on baking trays. You may need to use tongs if the water is still really hot, but handle them gently. You can see in the photo markings where the tags have stuck together, don't worry about that, it makes them look even more authentic once they are baked




bake the tags at 350 degrees F for 5-10 minutes. Check them every couple minutes and take them out when they are dry and the color you like. It may be useful to set a timer if you're a multi-tasker like me, as you can see this batch came out quite dark!

you will notice all the little brown hole taggy things came off in the teabag soak. You can dry them and stick them back on, but I like this look better anyway



the finished product, lots of yummy vintagey tea-dyed tags



There are tons of different ways you can use your tags, here are a few I use them for:

bundled together and tied up with vintage lace...




for tagging items for sale...





make them into themed tags...



further distress the tags with distressing ink

(most products will be listed in my etsy store soon)


here's a last look at the ....

before




and after



I have a favorite way of using my tea-dyed tags, but I'll put that in a future post.

Now, if you use my tutorial to make some vintage tags I'd sure appreciate it if you linked back to my blog:-)

I'm linking this up to:

Look what I whipped up Monday at The Girl Creative

Metamorphasis Monday at Between naps on the porch

Made by you Monday at Skip to my Lou

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Tutorial Tuesdays at Hope Studios

Lucky Linky Tuesday at Lucky Star Lane

Do It Yourself Day at A Soft Place to Land

Toot your Horn Tuesday at A Silly Little Sparrow

Take a Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Craft Edition

Three or More Tuesdays at The Gypsy's Corner

Whatever goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts


Happy tea-dying and happy days!
Tracey

20 comments:

Sandi said...

Great tutorial Tracey! That is almost how I do mine and those little hole taggy things come off a lot I have noticed. Although I ususally get the ones with the string attached. I should get some with out next time. Do they sell them without string?

When I started collecting teacups the first one I ever had was exactly like the one in your picture that has a vintage tag on it. I have since got rid of most of my teacups, but that was the one!!
Hugs~
Hugs~

Victoria said...

I tried leaving a comment but I guess it didn't go through the first time.
Anyway, I love your tags, they look great! You're so talented. Thank you for the tutorial on how to make them although I still don't think mine would come out as pretty as yours!

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Tracey,
I have been seeing all of these wonderful tags throughout blogland and I now know how to make them, thanks to you.

hugs
Sissie

Allison Shops said...

Thanks for the tutorial! Dropping by from BNOTP.

Blondie's Journal said...

Thanks for the tutorial. I never would have guessed the baking part.

Happy Met Monday!

xoxo
Jane

Red Door Home said...

I have always wondered how to do this. Thanks for sharing. They look wonderfully old!

raggygirlvintage said...

I'm so glad you girls found it helpful, it seems so basic but I know it took me a while to find what really works!!

Sandi: I wish I could buy them with string, my stores sell them without (Staples and Office Depot in Canada)! Have a hard time finding them so usually buy a bunch when they have them in.

Victoria : Yours will come out just as nice, I promise, each one is unique!

Prior said...

Great tips and I'm becoming a follower! Lezlee

Funky Junk Interiors said...

Well, now this was one cool tutorial! I'll be trying this!

Donna
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

Rust: Vintage Inspired Design said...

Hi Tracey,
Great tutorial....I haven't tried this using the oven to dry them and will have to give it a go. Great pictures too!
Happy day!
xojanis

Skoots1moM said...

loved the ideas...thanks for sharing!

Susie~From My Home To Yours said...

Hi Tracey. Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your kind words of encouragement regarding Etsy!

This is a great tutorial, thanks for sharing. I find it so cool when people are willing to share their 'secret formulas', knowledge and ideas! So many are secretive and unwilling to share. Bloggers are great that way!
Blessings and CYA around!
Susie

Room to Inspire said...

Thanks for the great tutorial! I was just thinking of dying a few tags - perfect timing!

Chelsea

Jennifer Juniper said...

I really love these tags, so vintage looking!

Debby said...

Great tutorial, thanks for sharing. Love your blog.
Debby

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

Thanks for sharing this neat idea...the look is GREAT! Hope you are having a FUN time at NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAYS:)

Blessings,
Linda

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

Thanks for the tute! I need to try this. But I first need to buy some tea.

Laura said...

These are so pretty! Thanks for sharing.

I would love it if you joined my "Saturday is Crafty Day" party starting on April 24th! Stop by my blog for details.

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Hi Tracey,

Oh..thanks for this tut...I've got the tags but haven't done it yet. I will let you know when I do though. :0)

I'm visiting for Three or More Tuesday..I hope you will drop by when you have a moment. ♥

Have a lovely day...

Hugs,
Stephanie

Lori P said...

this is such a great idea. oddly, i purchased a box of tags THIS week with the idea of making them into product tags. This tip is perfect and perfectly timed! Thanks so much.

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