At the Flea this weekend there was a man selling stacks of these State Express Cigarette tin boxes from 210 Piccadilly London for $1.00 each.
I thought that they were kind of neat...
although most had been defaced with the name of a country written in marker across the front.
I picked out what I thought were the best two...
...not too much of the underlying graphics scraped off...Ceylon and India.
(I have since been able to remove most of the marker).
At the flea I opened one or two and they were empty tins....
...but when I got home I discovered they were both filled with...
old postage stamps!
Don't you just love little surprises like that?
Somebody was an avid stamp collector!
Oh, and I forgot to mention that because I bought a lovely old photo album from this man...he threw the tins in...so they cost nothing! :)
Hmm...what to do with them now...
collage? altered art?
What would you do with them?
...maybe just throw them out?
A heartfelt thank you to all who have left kind comments about 52 FLEA in the last few days...
...and for those who have sent up prayers and good wishes for my Mom.
Your words have warmed my heart...
There are a few days left to enter the 52 FLEA 500th Post Give Back!
The winner will be picked on August 1st!
Have a great night!
...and Thursday...
:)
I am deep in thought about the stamp question ....but I WILL come up with something c.r.e.a.t.iv.e
ReplyDeletelove love love all the faded muted colorings
Shoot, to bad it wasn't where they stored their family jewels!! Until you make up you mind you could just use them for storage. I stumbled upon your blog and love it, I am your newest follower.
ReplyDeleteCarol
Love the tins, but really love the stamps! They are beautiful - the colors, the lettering - and from what I can see on your blog, you will come up with something fabulously creative to do with them. Let us know!!
ReplyDeleteoh, heavens, i would NEVER throw them out!
ReplyDeletehugs!
Some of those stamps may be worth BIG $$$ I hope you look them up on google or something like that.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy old tins. Those sweet cold cream jars look great with your flowers in them.
Warmly,
deb :)
what a neat surprise.
ReplyDeleteblessings,
aimee
how exciting! I love it when stuff like that happens!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Charmaine
Surprises are always fun. The stamps are wonderful and some could be worth $$$$! I love the tins! Being a former teacher, I often remove marker with hairspray. It usually doesn't damage the surface and is a great solvent for the marker. I knew that minor in chemistry would be of use someday.
ReplyDeleteOoohhh those boxes are so so beautiful!I love them! You always find such wonderful things!!!!
ReplyDeleteTank you for your lovely comment!
Have a nice summer you too my friend.
I would cover a small lampshade with the stamps.
ReplyDeleteThe outcome is lovely. And it´s easy: First strip the shade to its bone;) Cover each separate piece with silkpaper (= add glue to the frame, attach the paper and tear along the line). Once the shade is covered in silkpaper, you have a surface to add the stamps.
Oh Laura
ReplyDeleteYou lucky lucky girl.. Look at all those beautiful stamps.. Gee what to do with them.. well not sure.. but something creative definitely!! although I think it would be hard to permanently damage them... Perhaps create a mosaic.. and use the different colours to spell something out.. Like 52 Flea!!
Hope you mum is doing well.. take care and thanks for popping by and visiting the absent blogger!!! xxx Julie
Now !!!! not throw them out.......let them insite.....it is so nice place for stamps..........i hope your mom is doing better Laura............love and kisses for you two.....happy day !!
ReplyDeleteSurprises like this are the best ones! =D
ReplyDeleteHmmm... what would I do with all those lovely stamps??? I would keep them in my paper craft drawers until just the right project called for a stamp or two or ten. ^-^
The tins are super neat too! ^-^
LOVE the surprises, but I also love those tins:) DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT throw them out! You will find something good to do with them or send them to me, hehe!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day my friend! HUGS!
Creative ideas! Create some soldered charms, decopauge them to something, make an altered journal and put some on the pages. Start a stamp collection with a child, someday they will thank you. Frame them,....need I go on, I am excited for you!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
checking for the stamps worth would be the first thing to do... If of little value I would most likely use them in altered art...You could have some of value however..
ReplyDeleteLaura, no! Don't throw them out! Collage, girlfriend! Collage! Or see a stamp person and get their value. Might be worth selling so you can buy more of what you like! ;-)
ReplyDeleteLove the old Abe stamps! Beautiful!
Hugs, Diane
I love surprises too, Laura. You could easily use the stamps in collage art.
ReplyDeleteoh no, don't throw them out, there are so many uses for them!! Even the stamps could be incorporated into a piece with a tin! Do we get to see the photo album???
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI love old tin boxes! A dollar each, wow that´s a bargain!
Wishing you a wonderful day!
Mia
Lucky, lucky you! Maybe decoupage a picture frame with these wonderful old stamps.
ReplyDeleteenJOY,
Kimberly
Oh what a sweet surprise! Maybe a collage of the stamps and frame it in a shabby frame.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you come up with.
Have a great weekend!
I love surprises. And this one is awesome with the price JUST RIGHT! What to do, what to do. Maybe string them on a ribbon or just leave them as they are with one of the tins left open as a display. Conversation piece for sure. Can't wait to see what you come up with.
ReplyDeleteBlessYourHeart
Lovely!!! What a fantastic surprise, I love the stamps.....I am sure I would paint the tins in that black Russian tole design......or something!! They are great for storing threads or anything!
ReplyDeleteHave fun!
Hugs,
Margaret B
I like the idea of baby stamp banners. Maybe with some glue that is not permanent. And the tins...most interesting!
ReplyDeletexo,
Suz
wow! great find! I have used old postage stamps in my typewriter key bracelets (I open the key and use the frame as a template and then cut stamp and insert into keys) - makes for a neat, colorful bracelet!
ReplyDeleteGreat surprise?????? I can't offer up any suggestions other than don't throw them out and enjoy them! You got some good ideas here!Maryanne xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely surprise! I like Nina's idea of using the stamps to cover a lamp shade. I saw one recently and it was charming. I would first find out if any of them are especially valuable though.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
It's a nice suprise! Don't trow the stamps away. You can do plenty of different things with them. I make art with the stamps, like this one: http://justmeandwhite.blogspot.com/2010/06/nieuw.html
ReplyDeleteLove Rianne
How exciting. Love surprises like that, good shopping. Have fun deciding what to do with the stamps.
ReplyDeleteJeanette
Oh no, don't throw them out! There are a million and one things to do with old postage stamps. Mount and frame them. Gift tag adornments. Collage projects. Decoupage them to a mat or picture frame.
ReplyDeleteYou have a treasure there.
Oh no! Don't throw the stamps away. They could be worth lots of $$$. I'd find out their worth and then decide how to use them. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe old stamps are great. Some years ago, I put old stamps over and over on an ugly box. After that the box looks really good :-))) I still have it. :-) Hugs Yvonne
ReplyDeleteLovely surprise. Do not discard the stamps. They are very graphic and one could be worth something. You have very goog suggestions above:-} olive♥
ReplyDeletetreasuresJuly 29, 2010 at 5:33 PM
WOW! What a great and lucky find! I hope that happens to me someday :)!
ReplyDeleteHow about doing a color enlargement of your favs and attaching to art canvas for artwork ~ wouldn't they be vintage lovelies?
Thanks for sharing. You have a beautiful blog.
~ Julie
i have been gone for a week,but it is always nice to think that i have my favorite blogs to get back to. it's just like i never left. please enter me.Bestest,Denise
ReplyDeleteHello Laura!
ReplyDeleteit is very lovely collection of the stamps...if I where you first, I would see if they have any collector value ... there may be some that many are looking for...
Hugs
Magdalena
Definitely a fun find ~ both the tins and the contents within. :-)
ReplyDelete~ Sarah
Oh I absolutely love your tins..and for only $1..wow or were they free:) Never throw the stamps away..what a find!! collage them on the cover of a scrapbook maybe?? Keep us informed on what you do with them!! Continued prayers for your Mother.
ReplyDeleteBlessings....
xoxo Gert
Surprises are always fun. I love the tins! The stamps are wonderful don't throw them out! Some may have value to them. You could create a great collage with them or modge podge them onto something - coasters, pots, picture frames, etc.
ReplyDelete~ Tracy
I would make a special card for someone and put it in the tin instead of an envelope. I love the look of them.
ReplyDeleteGreat surprise.
ReplyDeleteI used to work near Piccadilly and I remember the tobacco and cigar shops. xx
What a great surprise! love tins and old postage stamps. I wonder who owned them before?
ReplyDelete