Paper Shapers

I mentioned in my previous post that Etsy is my new favorite online shopping site--what a gem to find such special handmade treasures! Well, I must say that after our little one's birthday party, I added a new favorite to my collection of crafting supplies as well! The Paper Shapers Scallop Circle Nesting Punch was perfect for making these lovely tags designed by Latoya at Paper Party Passion (PaperPartyPassion.etsy.com)! I enjoyed hanging the tags from balloons, tying them to the party favor bags, and attaching them to the children's honey bear bottles (for drinks, no less, as this was a party with bees as its highlight!).

While I certainly hope to use this lovely new crafting tool to make perfectly scalloped party tags again, I thought this would be useful at any time of the year for a variety of crafting projects. Maybe I'll have a picture or two down the road to accompany this list, but for now, here are a few ideas:

Memory Matching Game
By punching out a small number of tags from cardstock, you can easily add pairs of matching stickers for a homemade memory activity. Try a twist on the original idea of identical pictures and create "pairs" using opposite items, upper- and lower-case letters, or related items (such as socks and shoes or bread and butter).
Seasonal Craft Projects
These tags would be wonderful as a bouquet of spring flowers. Try punching them out, adding pipe cleaners, and placing them in a flower pot for a lovely seasonal activity!
Stencils for Painting
Instead of tossing the border that is left behind after punching out your tags, use them as stencils. Tape them to a piece of paper, and let your little one fill them in with paint.
Gift Tags
What an economical and fun way to add a personal touch to your holiday or birthday gifts! Try attaching them to a gift with a cute piece of ribbon.
Cupcake Decorating
Try placing the outer border that remains after punching out your gift tag over a cupcake and sprinkle with powdered sugar or cocoa. Then carefully remove the border, and you have a delightfully embellished confection!