How to Stain Hang Tags
Hang tags have become favorite embellishments, adding pizazz to gifts, handcrafted merchandise and home accessories. Staining hang tags is very popular with crafters and artisans of country-style items, making the practice an inexpensive way to decorate their creations. With rubber stamping, stenciling, hand lettering and altered art, hang tags have become their own works of art, making the items they are attached to more attractive and unique. These steps will help you in creating your own stained hang tags.
Things You'll Need
- Manila hang tags
- 2/3 cup instant tea mix
- 1/3 cup instant coffee mix
- 1 ½ cups hot water
- Bowl
- Rubber gloves
- 1-inch sponge paint brush
- Large cookie sheet
- Paper towel
- Oven
Instructions
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1
Pour instant tea mix and instant coffee mix into a bowl. Add water and stir until dry ingredients are dissolved.
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2
Lay out paper towels to protect the work surface. Put on gloves to prevent your hands and nails from being stained.
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3
Dip a sponge into the stain mixture until it is wet. Allow some of the stain to drain out, if it drips heavily.
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4
Paint the stain mixture over each side of the hang tag and lay it on the cookie sheet. If extra stain pools on the cookie sheet, lay down a layer of paper towels under the tags.
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5
Place stained tags in the oven at 175 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Turn them over and bake for another 10 minutes. Repeat this step, keeping careful watch, until tags are completely dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Add a few drops of vanilla or flavoring extract for scented tags.
For a grungy look, mix cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves into the mixture, before adding water. The spices will dry onto the tags. The spices will collect at the bottom of the stain, so occasionally stir it so that the brush can pick some up.
Hang tags can be dipped into the stain, instead of brushed on, but be sure not to let them soak too long.
You can dry stained hang tags in the sun instead of baking them in the oven.
The stain mixture may stain clothing that comes in contact with it. It is recommended that you wear an old shirt that you don't mind getting stained.
Be very careful drying paper products in an heated oven. Never leave it unattended.
