I think it's good to put some time into searching out the perfect plant label for you. We all like different things and if your collection is large, it turns into a big deal. I've had a few false starts, and I definitely have some tags in my collection that I HATE with a passion, and need to replace. And this year I'm finally going to! I'm in the process of stamping out tin ones and here are my reactions so far: They're great to stick in a pot and have a permanent long-term label that you never have to worry about fading or getting lost. And they stand apart from other plant labels. But they're not the best for quickly reading the plant's ID. And they're time-consuming as all heck. For readability, my FAVORITE tags (I'll have to go 100% this route eventually) are an idea I stole from Joni when she sent me one of her "mother" plants. She used one of those really heavy duty T-tags and put it inside the pot, so you could read the name through the transparent pot. Either she actually found some without stakes, or she'd cut the stake off super neatly. In those I create, I usually bend the stake under the dirt - then it stays neatly wedged in place, during re-pots. I used a "Garden Marker" pen and they have never faded and are always super easy to read. They're unobtrusive, in the same spot on every plant, and out of the way. I did poke around and there are enough applications that I think you'll be able to find what you're looking for. I haven't seen a grower use what you describe, although I did receive cuttings once with printed, slightly laminated (probably 'water resistant' paper) labels that had just been staple looped onto the plant. Those have really held up over time, surprisingly, are really easy to read, and I like them a lot. I don't think they're what he uses on his own collection, though. You will just have to look in more of an industrial setting - I'd be inclined to think you'd actually find it in the food industry, since those labels have to withstand harder conditions.

Just Beautiful! you do such a beautiful job on all your projects you share with us,your tags are sooo very pretty! will have to take a walk in the creek and see if I can find some rocks worth painting on,still waiting to try that one, havent crafted in way to long. Thanks for shareing! oddie

Thanks so much,ya'll! You should've heard him telling his Mama all about it when she got home. I should mention he is only 5 years old,lol. He says Mama, MeMe had blood going and going and going :D We told him how good and brave he was..I'm just fine, I'll have to make another appointment, since my next one isn't for 3 months. And I totally forgot about the aspirin I take every day.... About the crafts, all the links are on my blog, but I will add them here. The hat box was easy, I had HossFly measure the side so I could cut it out just the right size. I used my rotary cutter and mat that I used to use for making quilts,lol. For the lid and the bottom round parts, I just traced it and cut it out about half an inch bigger all around. I cut little snips in it like you would if you were sewing curves, and I used cheap white school glue mixed with enough water to make it smooth like paint.Glue on the top and bottom circles, then the side of the box, and the side of the lid. I didn't have to worry about the fit, because these boxes are made for covering in crafting. You can buy these papier mache hatboxes at places like Hobby Lobby and Michaels for about $5..that's the original price on the bottom of mine, but she paid .50.Try to smooth out all the air pockets, but I wouldn't worry about it too much, it all flattens out once it starts drying, it just might have a few wrinkles, which would be perfectly okay if you want an antique look. Then I used the water/glue mixture to paint it, like you would use Mod-Podge. I only used two coats on the hat boxes, it was plenty. Brown age spots showed up, but they pretty much go away once it dries. Also I sprayed it with a clear spray you can find by regular spray paint, about a dollar a can at WalMart. Two coats of that. The star pattern link is on my blog,too,but I'll add it here :D I cut out two stars, and one piece of white posterboard. I scored the posterboard according to the directions, then glued the map on one side, trimmed it, and glued the other side and trimmed it, then folded it along the scored lines. I happen to have a metal star just like it, so I took it off the wall and laid my paper star over it to dry. You could put something under the center of your star to hold it up a little while it dries. The roses........now those are just GORGEOUS! I've never seen any more realistic in my life! I saw this on Martha Stewart, and the nice lady Cassie has the pattern there with directions. Of course you could buy the kits, or buy them ready made,too,from her site. I still don't have my green floral tape, so I haven't really made any yet, just that practice one with no tape on it. star pattern http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.homehints.com.au/images/steps/noimage/step/step4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.homehints.com.au/Calendar/966/how%2Bto/make%2Byour%2Bown%2Bornate%2Bchristmas%2Bstar&usg=__W7290yH-1cZakLHg-QJUgj2sbc8=&h=156&w=208&sz=5&hl=en&start=17&um=1&tbnid=JRrgywH9FAnRJM:&tbnh=79&tbnw=105&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhow%2Bto%2Bfold%2B3d%2Bstars%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN I made mine bigger, that's why I needed Hoss' math skills :D Check links on my blog for more! Here is a link that might be useful: cone coffee filter roses

I think you've gotten some great advice; hope you don't mine me chiming in with more luggage stories. I have never had trouble identifying my luggage, as one case is avocado green and the other is purple paisley. But my daughter reported that someone, maybe Rockybird's dad, had tried to grab my soft-side avocado green bag. Fortunately, they checked the tag and put it back on the conveyor. My daughter then saw them pull a forest green hard-sided case of the conveyor belt that was apparently the correct one. It looked nothing like mine. Just goes to show, even if your luggage is distinctive, you aren't safe from people who have no idea what their luggage looks like.