What to do with Herb, and Lonnie, and Mel, and Ruhlig??

[beccas_song]

So my husband and I were at an antique store when a mason jar caught our eye. Our conversation went something like: "Is that...?" "No, it can't be!" "It totally is!!" "We are so buying this!"

What were we so excited about? Why a jar full of men's name badges! The fabric kind that you see on mechanics' shirts and the like. Exactly like this one:


Maybe you don't think it's as funny as we do, but they are awesome! In this jar of gems we have Perry, Lonnie, Mel, Fred, Bill, Steve, Chuck, Herb, Dennis, Gary, Sam, and Willie! All the good 'ol boy names are there. There's also a Ruhlig (??), and of course, an Al! There are 31 different names total, and they all smell like a garage.

Now that we have aquired this strange collection, what to do with it? I need ideas! I don't just want to mount them in a frame. I wish my husband worked at a place that would make this funny: sew velcro on a jacket and mount a different badge on it every day to confuse people. But he works in a small office and no one would pay attention. 

Any thoughts? I'd love to hear your ideas! The funnier the better!

[LimeRiot]

I think you should sew a fleet of sock monkey mechanics! You could give them each customized overalls with the name badges .

[sweets4ever]

That's wonderfully awesome!

I'd take some of the particularly fabulous names, punch them twice at the top and attach them with jump rings to make necklaces.

Oh!  Refurbish an old end table and make the top surface these badges embedded in resin.

Orrrr (and yes, I realize I have a strange sense of humor) make place setting cards or gift tags with them.   I love the idea of guests coming to the table to find a bunch of setting cards that apply to no one in the room, haha.

[MissingWillow]

Well... the Willie one definitely belongs on a pair of boxers.    I think the Chuck one would be hilarious on a beef cut diagram hoopla where the chuck roast is.  Herb would be awesome on an altered spice rack.  Is there one with your husband's name on it?  A hoop with an embroidered heart with 'I love (husband's name)' in the heart and a bunch of the others outside the heart with x's marked through them would be fun.  

[Phizzychick]

So fun!

I love sweets dinner party idea, I think that would be hilarious!

I think there needs to be some creative way to use the Al one too, perfect for a Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al...something! I just can't think of anything great at the moment.

[HSG]

These are such a fun find you really have to do something.
So many great ideas already, but let's see.
*How about: quilt or paint (whatever your particular medium is) a family tree and use the name tags for the leaves.
*Make gift tags out of them, and put the real name on the opposite side.

Whatever you do please post the result.

[Nolansmomster]

For some reason, my brain puts them as heads on stick men...

[bookstorebabe]

And now I have the mental image of famous people-Chuck Norris, Perry Como-wearing mechanics coveralls with those name tags. 

[alwaysinmyroom]

How funny that the tags were premade...maybe that place only hired people with those names...if you weren't named "Herb" or "Perry", you did not get hired!

I think they would be hilarious sewn onto a cardigan...it would make people take a second look and wonder what was going on...I also love the idea of sock monkey or other doll mechanics...or you could make pet rocks to sit on the desk and throw when needed...

[LimeRiot]

You could make beer cozies with them or some kind of wine charm so people can identify their drinks at parties .