Creative Tabs Swatch Ring: Your Pocket-Sized Mixed Media Mood Board
CREATIVE TABS SWATCH RING
There’s something about a well-placed tab that just makes everything feel more intentional.
A little paper flag. A fabric loop. A washi-wrapped edge. Tiny, yes. But somehow, the right tab changes the whole feel of a page.
I’ve been deep in the world of mixed media tabs – and I have to tell you, once you start, it’s very hard to stop.
What I Made
I created a sampler of handcrafted tabs – each one different, each one a little experiment. Fabric scraps, painted papers, stitched bits, washi tape, ink. Some turned out exactly as I imagined. Others surprised me completely (those are usually my favorites).
Then I attached them to shipping tags and bound them together into a swatch ring.
The result? A pocket-sized library of creative inspiration I can flip through any time I need a finishing touch for a journal page, collage, or book cover.
It’s decorative AND functional – which, honestly, is my favorite kind of art project.
Why a Swatch Ring?
Because inspiration is easier to use when it’s right in front of you.
A swatch ring gives your tabs a home. You can flip through them, pull one out, hold it up against a page, and see exactly what works. You can hold a mood board right in your hand.
And the best part? Every ring is completely personal. Mine reflects the colors, textures, and materials I’m drawn to right now.
A Word of Warning
Once you start adding tabs to things, it’s hard to stop.
Journal pages? Obviously. Book covers? Yes. Tags and cards? Of course. Your to-do list? Possibly. Your coffee mug? I’m not saying no.
(I take zero responsibility for any sudden urge to tab-ify everything within reach. You’ve been warned. 😉)
