Wednesday, 21 September 2011

Takes me back...

Occasionally, I encounter something which reminds me of times gone by; a smell, some music- you know the sort of thing.
My most recent one is some Fimo (will explain in a bit - hold that thought)

A few days back I made a great sale purchase in Sainsbury's- these stripy tea/coffee/sugar ceramic canisters.

Little hanging letters

I'd looked at them before, but shirked their £6 (each) price tag.
However, in the sale at half price, these babies were mine.
Great. They look smashing.
I'll just put the kettle on... hang on...which one's the tea? Oh no, that's the sugar... No, that's coffee ...hrrrrrrrmph!
Most annoying.

Then an idea struck. I just needed to label them.
Sticky labels? (too impractical, would wash off)
Ink stamps? (I'd probably mess it up)
Modelling clay? BINGO!!!

Fimo, to be exact (it's a type of ready coloured modelling clay which you mould and then bake in the oven). I used to make stuff with it all the time when I was a kid! I remember having it for birthdays and Christmases in every conceivable colour (even glow-in-the-dark, once). I used to make little teddies and fairies and badges and brooches and earrings and would be occupied for HOURS.

Well, I had the most marvellous time this week moulding and rolling and squishing and squashing ...
..ready for the bake (along with some try-outs for Christmas)..

Little hanging letters

And now I can find the tea first time.

Little hanging letters Little hanging letters


I even made some little 'Love Letters'.
Such fun!
(As Miranda's mother would say)

Little hanging letters

Oh, and work is (slowly) progressing on the blooming flower cushion.

Blooming flower cushion 2

Enjoy the rest of your week.
Xx

48 comments:

Stocki said...

You are incredible! How inspired to come up with these little 'labels' out of Fimo.. it reminded me that I have a huge box of Playdough cutters in the loft..you know what I'll be doing tonight don't you? Christmas is coming and you are a real treasure :)x

Hazel said...

Brilliant!! Love the idea. x

Tillyflops said...

simple yet effective, they look so pretty, on the pots.xx

Jane said...

You are so clever! The jars are transformed into lovely country homely things by those labels :)
Jane x

Juliab said...

So simple yet so perfect. They look super cute with the string. I'm sure I've got some fimo somewhere... xxx

Sandra said...

What a very clever idea! They look so adorable and I love the idea of using them at Christmas too. I'm soo going to be trying that out!

S x

Mevr. Snoeshaan said...

Those are sooooo cute!
Well done!

Wendy said...

Oh what a lovely idea, much nicer than stick on labels! I feel all inspired!

Gem said...

Hi gorge,

These look FABULOUS!!!!

What a clever girlie and so sorry I forgot it was you who inspired me re bangle holders! Clever gal.

Where did you buy your fimo from, I used to make jewellery from it as a teenager. How did you do the lettering and hole?

Lovely lovely lovely!!!

Have a great evening,

Gem x x x

Annie said...

What a fab idea ... love them :D

Emily said...

Hi Sarah
These are just lovely - bizarrely I bought some Fimo a few weeks ago to do almost exactly this, but I couldn't for the life of me get the hearts to actually look like hearts! Did you use a little cutter? And what did you use to make the letters with?
So many questions...sorry!
Emily x
PS - the cushion's looking lovely too

Scented Sweetpeas said...

oohh the joys of Fimo - I used to adore that stuff and bought some for my kiddies recently. In fact my grandparents still have a pig I made them on display and I have my great granddads pig playing snooker that I made him and was passed back to me when he died. Oh how I love that stuff :-)

Faith said...

Fimo.....I can smell it now when it comes out of the oven, I used to use it when I was a kid too. I can remember making some swirly coloured buttons for my mum who knitted then.

The cushion looks.....bear with..........bear with.......bear with.....bloomin' marvellous!

noknittedknickers said...

Oh, these are the business. The jars were lovely, but now they're special. Clever you! C.x

Annaboo said...

Aw girls, you're too kind!
I've sent email replies directly if you've asked a question, but for those of you who were wondering...
I bought my Fimo from a craft shop and the cutters were bought there too ( I think they were made by Fimo also).
The letters were made using cheap little wooden letter stamps- look on ebay for something similar.
And the hole? I improvised and used the top of a biro lid!!
Ever resourceful, eh?
Xx

cupcakejojo said...

Oooh what a feast for the eyes :) love your labels.....blooming brilliant! And your cushion is looking rather blooming lovely too!!! A very inspiring post lovely!!!

Jo x x

Grateful4Crochet said...

Fabulous idea!!

Jo said...

Hahaha that takes me back too - you and Fimo! Such a clever idea, simple and yet so effective! Well done, I love them!

SarahB said...

They are lovely!! They make the canisters look even nicer!!

Really like the Christmas ones too - I'll have to dig out my Fimo, I have a load from when I had a dolls house and would sit and make tiny vegetables (I kid you not!!)

S x

K @ Aurora Blythe said...

What a super cute idea! I adore how you labeled these. Can't wait to see the finished cushion. It's taking shape beautifully. ;-)

Kate said...

Those hearts are the cutest solution! They look so perfect on those canisters... like you bought them that way!

**Anne** said...

I love these labels made from Fimo and they look gorgeous tied onto the tea canister with twine. Just perfect!!
Anne xx

Leah said...

You are amazing! What a fabulous idea to resolve your problem and in the process you've made them look sooooo expensive and unique! Such fun indeed - god I love that show. L x

Crafted by Carly said...

FANTASTIC!!! What a brilliant idea - love it!!! I had forgotten all about Fimo..... but now I think I might have to give it another try! Thanks for the inspiration..... Carly x

Rainy Day Crafter said...

Oh, your little hearts are what I call lovely! ;) They look gorgeous on your canisters - such a wonderful idea - and I love your little hanging love hearts too. I'm dying to get some Fimo and have a play myeslf now! :)

famfa said...

You have made those jars look so good. Fabulous. I too used to love fimo and have many christams decorations made of the stuff. Your are truly inspirational as usual.

gaia said...

Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting. I loved your labels and blocks; they are soooo cute. I would like to try Fimo too, such a good idea!. I hope I can find it here...

karenskrafts said...

Great idea, so cute, love your pretty cushion too :D
Karen xxxxx

Victoria said...

What a great idea! I love those stripy canisters.
I like the little Xmas stars too.

Bea said...

That is gorgeous!! The little tags really finish off the canisters perfectly!!

Kristen said...

So clever! They look like little candies. :) Ahh, the headachy smell of baking Fimo. I remember it well.

Missy said...

Very pretty and set the jars off a treat.
x

Hippywitch said...

Fabulous darling! I love these cute teeny hearts, well done you, applause!!

Northern Hi-Lights said...

ahh, great idea! i loved fimo as a kid too, used to make tonnes of liquorice allsorts x

Kylie said...

Oooo Fimo, that's a huge Nostalgic image for me. Many hours were spent as a child making fimo crafts. Will have to go and get some for my girls. Brilliant idea to use it for tags.

Kathleen said...

I love Fimo clay, although I never get results as pretty and polished-looking as the tags you've made here (which I adore.)

Chaos, Kids, Crochet and Cake said...

What a great idea, I may have to nick that one for the upcoming School fair! I remember making a fortune out of making Fimo bracelets that my brother sold at raves way back when...!
Enjoy your weekend,
Sandra x

pauline said...

oooh I love your little Fimo labels. I've never used that stuff but you make it sound easy. And not onlky that, you matched the colour perfectly!! well done

Tickety-boo said...

those labels are lovely!!!
Your flower cushion is coming along a treat!
Love
Tickety-boo
x

nimble fingers and steady eyebrows said...

wow fimo that takes me back, I use to love it. I also used to bake crisp packets in the oven so that they shrunk into small crisp packets. Hours of fun...

Pradeepa said...

Ohhh...those hearts are sooo pretty and the blooming flower cushion looks gorgeous. Thanks for your lovely comment in my blog. I am following you.

CéPéHo said...

You're blog is very nice! I 'll be back soon! Have a nice week!

millefeuilles said...

Simple, beautiful and just plain bright!

They look fantastic!

Dinki Dots said...

Wow, those letters for the jars are brilliant - I don't know how you thought them up!! You are tooooo good!!! :o)
I used to use fimo all the time as a kid too - although never to this standard!!
Maria x

pangaloon said...

My how your blog has changes, it has become so beautiful and full of inspiration. I used fimo a lot to make my own beads when I was a teenager, so I really must get using it again. That pot holder looks scrumptious. missed your posts lovely x

rosieposie said...

oh how lovely! the labels look fantastic! x

xx Nicki (home bird)xx said...

Wicked! I've seen these in a 'handmade gifts' book that I bought a little while ago and have been meaning to make some labels for my crafting supplies boxes, just don't have time. Yours look lovely, well done!! Those canisters are rather sweet too, bargain.

xxxx

Tea at Weasel's said...

I am loving the colours for your your blooming flower!! + jars with CUTE little labels = perfect!!

Take care :)

Louise x