• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Country Chic Cottage logo

  • Home
  • Cricut
    • Beginner’s Guide
    • Cricut Crafts
    • Cricut Deals
    • Cricut Videos
    • SVG Files
  • Crafts
    • Budget-Friendly Ideas
    • Cricut Crafts
    • Kids Crafts
    • Mason Jar Crafts
    • Printables
    • SVG Files
  • DIY
    • Cleaning Tips
    • Farmhouse Style
    • Gardening
    • Home Decor
    • Organization Ideas
  • Celebrations
    • Gift Guides
    • Handmade Gifts
    • Party Crafts
    • Teacher Appreciation
    • Wedding Ideas
  • Holidays
    • 4th of July
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
    • Mother’s Day
    • Saint Patrick’s Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
  • About
    • Advertise on The Country Chic Cottage
    • Contact Me
    • Terms and Disclosure
  • Nav Social Menu

You are here: Home » Crafts » Budget-Friendly Ideas » Ballard Designs Knock Off Numbered Tags

Ballard Designs Knock Off Numbered Tags

Sep 14, 2011 · 26 Comments

This post and photos may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. If you purchase something through any link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Any supplies used may be given to me free of charge, however, all projects and opinions are my own.


I made faux metal tags out of clay and paper!!  How??  Read on for a full tutorial!
One of my favorite things to do is to knock off the latest home decor catalog looks!  So when the latest Ballard Designs catalog came I combed it cover to cover for ideas.  And yep I came up with some knock offs!  One of those was knocking off the Ballard numbered tags!  I feel in love with the galvanized metal beauties!  I can’t wait to teach you how to make your own!!  Here is my version…
The original numbered tags can be found here….
Lets get to crafting!!  The original Ballard versions are cut from metal.  But I had a whole other plan.  For my version I used clay!!  Yep!  Get the kind you oven bake…
The color doesn’t really matter.  Something neutral will be best.  I did this light tan.  Roll it out thin.  I would say 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick…
Then I already had this stencil.  I would use whatever you have on hand.  Or make your own with the silhouette, cricut, or an exacto knife and card stock.
My pack of clay had tools with it.  I laid my stencil on top and then cut around it with the tools provided.  A knife would work just fine I am sure.  Be sure to leave plenty of room around your number for the “tag” portion.
This is what it looks like all cut away…
Then cut your “tag” shape around the outside edge of your number.
I just free handed the tag shape.  The Ballard original had angles on the top corners so I added those…
Use a straw to make a hole in the top of your tag.
Now bake your tag according to the package directions…
When we are through, only the edges of the clay will show.  So I painted my edges in gray to help them blend in…
Now how are we going to make this look like metal??  Well if y’all have not already seen it, you really need to read Carolyn’s Homework faux rust can tutorial.  It is brilliant!!  You print images of metal from here and mod podge them on…brilliant right??  I picked an image I felt would be similar to the Ballard original and printed it in color.
Then set your tag on top of the printed sheet and trace around it with a pencil. 
Use an exacto knife to cut out around your lines…
You will need to make a cut out for the front and the back.  We don’t want our hang tag to look like clay on the back!  Then break out your mod podge…
Mod podge the metal images to both sides and let dry.  Insert your cord just like the original and you are ready to display!
The metal images work so well it is truely amazing!
I chose a “5” for mine because there are “5” members of our family.  You can choose whatever number or combo of numbers are meaningful to you…
And don’t forget the back so you can fool people from both sides…
And the reason to put a little paint on the edges is that they are left uncovered…
The image I chose was just slightly rusty looking…you can of course choose from the dozens of image to get the look you desire…
How about we end with another comparison??
Ballard Original….
The Country Chic Cottage version…
Are you ready to print your metal on paper yet??  🙂
 
Make numbered tags similar to the Ballard Designs original with these step by step instructions.

Get Our Weekly Newsletter

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

Budget-Friendly Ideas, Wedding Ideas

previous post: Day in the Life — Senior Homecoming
next post: Free Halloween Printable Art

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leanne says

    September 14, 2011 at 6:35 pm

    I love, love, love these Angie. I wanted to make them as soon as I saw them in the catalog, but I’m really slow. Yours turned out great.

    Reply
  2. ~The Bargain Babe says

    September 14, 2011 at 7:29 pm

    Modpodged metal looking paper? Holy cow that is genius! Yours look exactly like the originals! Way to go. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} says

    September 14, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    I said it at CSI, and I’ll say it again here. These are AMAZING, Angie! I really love this technique with the clay and paper!

    Reply
  4. gail says

    September 14, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Angie, I missed these over at CSI-super job girl! Your tags turned out awesome! LOVE the color!
    gail

    Reply
  5. Annalea says

    September 15, 2011 at 11:26 am

    ingenious! one of the best ballard knock-offs i’ve seen. visiting from the shabby creek cottage link party.

    Reply
  6. daydreamsdustbunnies says

    September 15, 2011 at 12:24 pm

    Amazing! I can hardly wait to ‘rust’ some items. Thanks for the info.
    Laura

    Reply
  7. bj says

    September 15, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    GOLLY GOLLY….YOU ARE SOOO GOOD AT THIS. This is about the best knock off I’ve ever seen. Really good…I can’t tell the difference.
    xo bj

    Reply
  8. Amy (naptimecrafters) says

    September 15, 2011 at 4:38 pm

    Looks just like the real deal- Thanks for auditioning for American Crafter!

    Reply
  9. rebecca @ older and wisor says

    September 16, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    How cute would these be as gift tags???? IN. LOVE.

    Reply
  10. Kim @ Starshine Chic says

    September 16, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    I saw those tags in the Ballard catalog & was trying to figure out how to knock them off. Now I know thanks to you. Genius!

    Reply
  11. alice says

    September 17, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    Fab faux! Great tut to boot!
    Found you from Donna.
    Smiles, Alice

    Reply
  12. Modern Frills says

    September 18, 2011 at 8:53 am

    LOVE these…

    Reply
  13. mapleandmagnolia.com says

    September 18, 2011 at 8:55 am

    Dang, that’s clever! Great job!

    Reply
  14. [email protected] says

    September 18, 2011 at 9:58 am

    Um this is amazing. I totally thought you cut these from sheet metal. Please share at my linky party today!! Pretty please?!

    Reply
  15. RhettDidntGiveADamn says

    September 21, 2011 at 6:42 am

    You did a great job on these! xo (new follower here!)

    Reply
  16. Creating Sarah says

    October 3, 2011 at 2:16 pm

    Nice! I never would have guessed they were clay! Good luck on American Crafter!

    Reply
  17. pickygirl says

    October 4, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    A-mazing!

    Reply
  18. Melodee says

    December 16, 2011 at 12:59 am

    LOVE THIS! following you now from Kassi’s blog swap:)

    Reply
  19. Andrea @ Decorating Cents says

    December 27, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    I love these. You were featured http://decoratingcents.blogspot.com/2011/12/trends-knock-offs.html. Come by and grab a button if you like.

    Reply
  20. Melissa says

    April 10, 2012 at 7:15 am

    What a great idea! LOVE IT!

    Reply
  21. Kim @ Party Frosting! says

    April 18, 2012 at 6:07 am

    genius! such a great tutorial too! Definitely can see me using this idea as favor tags with different cutouts (maybe with cookie cutters?)

    hugs! Kim @ Party Frosting!

    Reply
  22. Amy Anderson says

    May 31, 2012 at 12:08 am

    Lovely Angie, seriously. And the clay part is awesome. I’m so taken with clay these days!

    Reply
  23. Diane says

    May 31, 2012 at 9:45 am

    Holy Cow Angie…These are phenomenal!

    Reply
  24. Carol, The Answer Is Chocolate says

    May 31, 2012 at 9:52 am

    I’m late to these…just saw them over at MPR and they are so amazing. I was just looking at a Ballard catalog last night!

    Reply
  25. creativegoddess says

    May 31, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    Great knock off! I have some clay that is calling my name! 🙂

    Reply
  26. Its So Very Cheri says

    July 14, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    Angie,

    I am featuring your tags at Decor 2 Adoreable on 7-20-2012

    Cheri

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Primary Sidebar

angie holden the country chic cottage cricut crafts blogger

Welcome to my cottage! My name is Angie and I am here to share my Cricut tutorials and crafts with all of you! If you love to DIY everything for your home’s decor and handmade gifts as well, you have found the only resource that you need. Pull up a chair and have a seat inside our Tennessee home!

Want to see more about me? You can find more about my story here.




COPYRIGHT © 2019 · THE COUNTRY CHIC COTTAGE · PRIVACY POLICY

The Country Chic Cottage is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, MYHABIT, and the MYHABIT logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Please note that some products used may be given to The Country Chic Cottage free of charge.