3 ways to make custom labels for your jars

Whether you’re making homemade pickles for Christmas gifts or just wanting to give your jams a personal touch, nothing will set your jars off like your own custom labels. If you’re feeling creative, and have the technical know-how, you can get your basic equipment from specialist supplies such as http://www.southeastlabels.co.uk and make stunning labels using programs like Photoshop on your computer. But you don’t have to be a designer to make beautiful labels.

There are simple ways to customise templates, downloadable designs and even the possibility of using beautiful scrapbook paper to make your labels. Here are three ways to create custom labels that will make your homemade food jars look fantastic.

Using just paper

Whether you use some shop-bought patterned scrapbook paper or print a design onto plain paper, it’s easy to make your own jar labels with just paper and clear packing tape.

1.     Measure around your jar. If you want your label to meet, you’ll need paper strips a tiny bit longer than this. If you don’t mind a gap then make them shorter.

2.     Make sure your clear packing tape is about a quarter of an inch taller than your paper. If your label is 1 ¾” you will need 2” tape.

3.     Lay your label on the table and measure a length of tape just longer, then place it sticky side down on your label. You should have tape showing over the edge of the label on each side.

4.     Pick up the label and tape (which are now one) and carefully guide it round your jar. Your custom label may not be fully waterproof, but will be fine to go in and out of fridges and survive a thorough sponge down.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamjar/7230185740/

Using label templates

With a little creativity, a computer, printer and plain labels on rolls or labels on sheets, you can create distinctive labels for your home-made jars of jam or pickles. The process is similar using either Microsoft Publisher or Word, but as it’s easier for the beginner, this step-by-step guide uses Publisher as an example.

1. From the Publisher Catalogue choose Labels and then select Jar/Product before clicking Start Wizard. You don’t need to fill in the information requested so click Finish.

2. Clean up the bits you don’t want on the template by selecting and cutting them. Cut the boxes for Business Name, Date, logo and the line in the middle of the white box.

3. Select Colour Schemes and choose one you like.

4. Next add some text by clicking the Label Title and choosing your font.

5. You can add pictures using the Insert menu. Change the size of your image by clicking its corner and dragging it in or out.

6. Print on 3.33 x 4 inch shipping labels – or the option that matches the labels you have.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/4012455676/

Downloading label templates

There are a number of sites that will allow you to download your own jar templates. Simply find the ones you like, download them and then print them onto your labels. Personalisation here is done the old fashioned way ─ with a pen!

Resource box

Downloadable jar label templates

Find hundreds of ready-made designs to download

Design labels using Word

Learn how to use Word to create your jar labels

Inspirational jar labels

Browse classic designs of famous labels for inspiration

How to make American pancakes

America’s pancakes are slightly different from the ones we make in England; they even have restaurants that are specifically just for pancakes! IHOP is a famous American pancake house, below is a simple recipe on how to make pancakes just as good as theirs!

Prepare

Get everything you need first; Frying pan, Whisk, Mixing Bowl, Sieve, Flower(135g) , Caster Sugar(2tbsp), Egg(1), Milk (130ml), Butter(2tbsp) and a pinch of salt.

Mix

Sift the salt, baking powder caster sugar and the flour into the mixing bowl and then break the eggs into the middle. Melt the butter and then start whisking the egg and milk in a separate bowl, once the butter has melted whisk it into the milk and egg.  Pour the two mixtures together, beat with a form making sure that there aren’t any lumps.

Frying

Heat up the frying pan, add some butter and wait for it to melt. Once it has melted add some of the mixture onto the frying pan and make sure that it is thick.  Once the pancake has started to bubble, turn it over , leave it to cook for a few minutes and it should then be golden brown. Repeat this until the mixture has been used up.

Eat

They are at their best straight from the pan, but you can always re heat in the microwave once they have been cooked. The pancakes can be served with butter or syrup depending on your preference.