… and I am addicted to labels. Love them. Adore them. Dream about them. My infatuation with labels comes from my self-diagnosed OCCD, otherwise known as Obsessive Clutter Containing Disorder. You see, for me, all is right with the world when life’s bits and pieces are enclosed in an appropriate and identifying receptacle. I get goose bumps when I enter The Container Store and have been known to weep at the site of a freshly stocked Kassett display at Ikea.
Who knows where this compulsion to box, label and zone everything came from but it surfaced at a very tender age and has been directly responsible for many hours of reconfiguring over the years. Some people build dollhouses or run model trains as a hobby. I containerize.
And because of this need to box everything, I have probably singlehandedly kept the plastic storage container industry in the black for the past ten years. There is not a shape, size or color of plastic bin I do not currently have or have had at one time. My collection is so complete that if Monty Hall were to ring my doorbell and offer me $100 for an opaque gray 56-quart storage box, I’d be $100 richer and on my way to my not-so-local LSS to shop.
My Dymo labeler is never far from reach. And if I could get the cat to move, I would sleep with it under my pillow … for there it would undoubtedly inspire happy dreams of rooms filled with endless shelves of IRIS scrapbooking boxes all at the ready for me to type, print, peel and stick. Oh, what joy this vision gives!
My labeling activity usually hits an all time high in January. With the satisfaction of Christmas décor re-boxing still lingering over me, coupled with the flagrant department store storage box sales, I begin the New Year with a frenzied passion to re-contain and reorganize the entire household. Nothing is safe including the cat’s toys … which are about to be pared down to only their favorites and moved to a new, less conspicuous spot. Quite frankly, if they haven’t played with that rubber chicken in the last six months, they probably won’t play with it ever again. Say ba-bye squeaky, featherless bird.
So this last week I spent a lot of time in my hall closet. That is the home of my EK Success design team product. It needed some serious containing and re-labeling and after hours of blood, sweat and the occasional expletive, I am soooo at peace with the results.
I am already sleeping better knowing that that area is in order and in a better state of balance (insert picture of me sitting crossed legged, arms outstretched and fingers in Namaste position).
And while I was feverishly Dymo-ing away, I formulated an idea for this week’s blog topic. Now stay with me, I’m taking a bit of a leap here … how about an entire blog about Party Food Labels? Wow! How’s that for proof that some of my neurons are still firing properly. Whew! Maybe those crossword puzzles are working : ).
Why Party Food Labels you ask? Well, because in reality, how many of us have sit-down formal dinner parties in which place cards are used for seating guests? I’d venture to guess the number is quite small. I would bet that most of us host buffet-style dinner parties; those in which guests can serve themselves without the benefit of our culinary narrative. Food labels thus provide a valuable service to your guests. They identify and clarify ingredients and will certainly make your guests party experience more pleasurable. Food labels can prevent accidental allergic reactions and may in some small way help cut down on waste. Both reason enough to craft some labels for your next party.
So here are some fun Food Label ideas for you to peruse and try.
Five Kinds of Food Labels
One: Clips
Use decorative binder clips to hold printed labels or paint clothes pins to match punched shapes. A matted stamped square held high by a photo clip is a quick and graphically simple way to identify a dish.
Two: Stakes
Bamboo skewers and (clean) garden stakes are functionally ideal for use as food markers. Add a paper pennant or chipboard die-cut to a skewer and your guests will be sure to take note as to what is being served. Cover a garden stake with paper so that it can be reused multiple times.
Three: Tags, Boxes and Bags
Paint pre-made tags with chalkboard paint and label each dish with a handwritten note. The tags can be wiped clean with a damp cloth and reused at another event. Paint and decorate favor boxes in a coordinating color and scheme then add a simple handwritten title to finish. A dainty party bag tied with food id tag makes for an adorable presentation.
Pre-printed tags can make labeling pot-luck items easy. Guests can write the dish name down and tie or stake the tag to their entrée.
Four: Trinkets
Embellish place card holders to continue your party theme. Hang a metal rimmed tag from a shaped cookie cutter as an unexpected way to identify a dish.
Framing the entrée’s name in a pre-fab or paper covered chipboard frame will certainly draw guest’s attention.
Try using toys as holders for baby showers or children’s parties. Again, choose an item that will carry your party’s theme to the serving line.
Who knew a finial would make an awesome food label. These brightly colored ones at BHG’s web-site inspired me to craft one of my own.
I just used a hack saw to slice a groove in the top for the card to sit in and then spray painted the whole thing. It was a fast project with stunning results.
Five: Folded Paper
Folding paper into food labels is probably the most common method. But common doesn’t have to be boring. Check out this tri-fold tent from Blumebox.
And this tri-fold tent version by Jess from penandpaperflower.
The Martha Stewart designers came up with this origami stand. Can you say easy?
Here’s what I created after seeing the above examples: Love the quickness of the origami one … seriously, it can be done in seconds!
And lastly for those of you with a bit more time or a nautical themed party in your future, try these boats, again by Martha Stewart’s designers. Just add the dish name to the sail or boat side. Totally cute!
So just remember, that a Food Label is basically nothing more than a place card with Stewed Tomatoes printed on it instead of Stu D. Matoe. Any cool place card project can be adapted to a Food Label with a quick type, print, peel and stick. Now, off to buy more Dymo tape. You know, I should really think about getting it in the gross …
~ Elizabeth (ekb)