I promised I would post about the new free printable labels for organizing that I used in my clothes closet. I made them the way I make all the labels I use to help me organize the stuff around my house.
When paging through the Ballard Designs catalog a few years ago, I came across little enameled re-writable name plaques. They were white and outlined in black. They were Oh….so French! and Oh…. so expensive! I thought of so many uses for them, but knew I couldn’t afford them.
Not wanting to feel deprived of adding this stylish detail to my storage boxes, baskets, and bins, I created a less expensive, practically free version using card stock and self-laminating sheets. These wipe-off labels make it easy to keep everything organized around your home. The hardest part will be gathering all of your “stuff ” to put into your new labeled containers.
How to Make Label Plaques
- I make a design using Photoshop Elements, save it as a .pdf and then print and cut the labels out on card stock. If you don’t have a photo editing program, simply download the ones I have made available in my Free Printable Label Gallery.
- To make the labels resemble chic enamel tags, I add a layer of shiny protection using clear laminating sheets (no laminating machine necessary) over the labels so they are easy to wipe clean and will last for a long time.
- I punch a hole in each side of the label with a hole puncher and attach the labels to storage boxes, bins, baskets and more with brass fasteners that you can buy where office supplies are sold. I use big fasteners for larger labels and tiny ones for smaller labels.
When I went hunting through my blog to find the labels I wanted to use, I realized they are not easy to find and I even know what posts they are in!
To make the search easier for you, I have created a page just for “free printable labels” for easy access and downloading.
- You can find it here, but I also added a link in my navigation bar under my blog header.
Here is a picture of the decorative labels I made for my clothes closet. I bought the pink boxes at IKEA.
While I was in Photoshop Elements, I added the item names to each label using the font Ever After but you can use markers over the lamination using your own handwriting. I have many blank labels with which I do just that.
- If you know your way around Photoshop Elements or any photo editing software program, open up the downloaded label .pdf file in the program and use your favorite fonts to personalize each label, then print out the labels and seal with the laminating sheets.
Once the labels are made and laminated I attach them to boxes, baskets, and containers of all sorts.
How to Attach a Label to a Box
To find out how to laminate the labels, check out the Free Printable Label Gallery.
supplies needed:
- label – printed, sealed and cut out.
- brass fasteners
- pencil
- ruler
- awl or pointy object to make two small holes in box
1. Find the center on the side of the box and mark with a light pencil mark. Center label over this mark and mark where holes are on the label. Use the awl to create two small holes in the box.
2. Push the ends of a brass fastener through label and hole in box.
3. Spread tips of brass fastener open on inside of box to secure. You can use clear tape over the spread-out tips to keep them secure.
Download link for free printable labels for organizing:
For more free printable labels and how to laminate them check out my new Free Printable Label Gallery
The gallery page looks like the image below.
Be warned…once you start adding pretty labels to a few items around your home you may not be able to stop. :-)
Your free label post was so wonderful for me to use! Thank you so much for being so generous with your talent. I have posted on my blog about using your labels (and added a link) when I reorganized my laces and Swiss trims in my sewing room. You’re right….I may not be able to stop adding labels to things!
I LOVE your site, Diane! Thanks to you, I finally made a start! First I’m doing my house, which is really too small for all we have! But I’m making labels like crazy. I have a feeding tube and that comes with a lot of stuff which is necessary. I was keeping it all in the bathroom closet, with extras spilling into the Master closet. It dawned on me that the feeding bags and plungers are only used in the kitchen, so why not keep those in the pantry? Duh! So. I have spray painted my containers and will try reorganizing the pantry (Which doubles as a laundry room, yuuk! NEVER again) We’ll be selling his house when I get it all organized an do some upgrades,
THEN, I’ll start on the retirement home we plan to move into. It was inherited from my Mom, built in ’66 and I love it! ‘Was there when it was built & know that house, besides, the mortgage is PAID in full! There’s not a lot more sq ft, but a Hugh attached garage and the laundry room is also large. I plan to make a new entrance, then use that as a mudroom entry, Laundry room and hobby room! (That alone excites me!)
I still have an estate sale to do. WHEW!
But Thanks So much for your help!= & inspiration
Anita
My computer doesn’t seem to know what to do with a psd file. What is a psd file? Can you help?
Thank you so much for all these wonderful freebies. You really do go to the last mile to give us all the help we or me needs.
And those pink boxes remind me of your beautiful pom pom throw…… do you still have/use it? I am so enamored with it still.
Good morning Sheryll :-) I enjoy making labels and sharing them. Happy to know that they are helpful. Yes I still have the pom-pom throw. I use it all year round. In the summer it comes in handy when the AC in the house makes me chilly when watching a movie or reading. When I saw the pink boxes at IKEA I knew I had to have them. I also have the magazine files in the same color in my studioffice. Enjoy your day.
So lovely label, very simple but attractive!
These are so pretty Diane – thanks for the tutorial and printables. Getting my closet pretty and organized is on my fall to- do list!
Hi Diane. These are so nice. Thank you. I love Photoshop Elements and use it daily to create scrapbooking products and freebies. Thanks again.
finally! I’ll look/be smart, chic, And budget-wise all at the same time. thanks! ♡
Love the labels, but can’t seem to get the file to open. It keeps coming up ‘open in Houzz’. I wanted the decorative ones like you used. Any suggestions?
Love your blog!
Kate
Thanks Diane! These are great and you are a peach for sharing them! Xxoo
Thanks again, Ms. Diane; I really like the font you chose, too. Very legible and happy!