Small Numbers for Ephemera

I am often asked where I get the small numbers I use on my ephemera, in a nut shell, they're free and you've possibly already got them.
Here are some hints and tips on where to find them and how to harvest them.
Happy Crafting
Ceri
Etsy shop, Ceri The Crafter www.etsy.com/u...
FaceBook @Ceri Griffiths Creative Designs
Website www.cerigriffi...

[@NigezzaCreates]

Now sorting my junk Mail is going to take even longer 🤣 great ideas thank you 💜

[@CeriGriffiths]

Lol......have fun.

[@maryannemilak7438]

Ceri, you definitely have me looking at things differently. Thank you. We all need a new perspective at times.

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you Mary Anne

[@ida.anthonisen8662]

Watched this today. Now I see numbers EVERYWHERE! So many good ideas from your videos. Thank you

[@CeriGriffiths]

Wonderful

[@lindamoore9729]

I love your ideas! Our creative brains are so, so amazing I think. There are endless possibilities.

[@CeriGriffiths]

So true!

[@jillcrapo7159]

Ceri, thank you so much for all that you do! You have such a calming voice, and sincere personality. In a world where there is so much dishevel, you show us how to have fun, and relax, in a systematic way and make something beautiful and interesting. Thank you! I always look forward to watching your presentations of ideas! Jill Crapo

[@CeriGriffiths]

Wow, thank you Jill, much appreciated.

[@bethbacting6835]

Ceri, you are so fabulous! I love watching you create. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.

[@CeriGriffiths]

You are so welcome Beth.

[@elsieb3176]

Thanks for the tips. A little number is often just the thing for a spot on a project, isn't it? And I have a little metal ruler like yours. It was my father's from the 1940s and is an advertising item from the Ahlberg Bearing Company in Chicago. It's my favorite ruler.

[@CeriGriffiths]

I like the small metal ruler when I’m travelling, as I’m always working on something.

[@jesseb5112]

This type of art changes the way we look at the world

[@CeriGriffiths]

It certainly does.

[@phyllisj73]

I have done this on and off but you still managed to give me more ideas such as using the punches and cutting the columns of numbers up into blocks. Tyfs 👍🏾

[@CeriGriffiths]

Wonderful

[@julieanneworth9886]

Wow! Thankyou Ceri, I will never look at a phone book the same! Nothing is now safe! Great video and ideas.

[@CeriGriffiths]

Glad it was helpful

[@daphnewright5110]

Oh Ceri, when I started to follow your wonderful creative art it was only to snoop. But now......harvesting is not the word. I'm even saving cupcake boxes and my husband thinks I've gone totally mad. Life is so filled with wonderful possibilities and I'm churning on a terrific idea, which I'm sure will include numbers. Thanks for all that you do.

[@CeriGriffiths]

You're so welcome Daphne

[@katherine-ow9mm]

Ceri, you are such a bright spot in my day. Thank you for reminding me to look deeply at the ordinary. Perspective is truly everything💕

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you Katherine.

[@LynneWilliams101]

Excellent reminder, thanks Ceri! Also a light bulb moment for the use of my small square dollar tree punch that I have never used.

[@CeriGriffiths]

Perfect

[@annnemeth8259]

Thank you for opening my eyes to the whole picture. LOL .I’ve been sourcing books for their lovely illustrations but never considered page numbers, table of contents, etc.

[@CeriGriffiths]

Glad it was helpful Ann

[@bette-annflood835]

Thanks for all the fresh ways of looking at books.

[@CeriGriffiths]

My pleasure

[@shirleymccluskey1164]

Ceri thankyou for this I am now on a mission to harvest numbers, I never realised what a great resource I had right under my nose! xxx

[@CeriGriffiths]

Enjoy

[@ludmilaschicchi8278]

Thank you Ceri. Once again another wonderful source for creating journals. I look at books and many other things a lot more carefully. You really are an amazing teacher and artist. Can’t thank you enough for being here for us.

[@CeriGriffiths]

It’s pleasure, thank you Ludmila

[@elainet5870]

Great video! Nice reminder about harvesting numbers! Another source is magazines. I sometimes buy vintage magazines for collaging and I love the old ads. There are lots of odd numbers to be found in them! Thanks again! 😃❤️

[@CeriGriffiths]

You’re so right Elaine

[@HobbesRN]

"Look at things in different ways". Well, of course! Sometimes I need to be reminded of this. Thank you, Ceri for the reminder!

[@CeriGriffiths]

You are so welcome

[@jukes243]

Ha! Of course! Numbers found in books! Perfect! Who doesn't like numbers (and alphabet letters) for their ephemera. Thanks! Mr. Ceri. (big smile)

[@CeriGriffiths]

You’re welcome

[@InHappinessandDistress]

Love this! What a great ide, I will most certainly see the numbers now and save them in a small box. Sometimes we are blind to things before someone else points them out. Just the other day I made a masterboard, i am sure I threw away some page numbers I could have saved. 🙌🏼

[@solewestren3218]

Ceri being a beginner. Thank you so much for this information. I love watching your video. I just love you. Have a great day Diane

[@CeriGriffiths]

Have a great day. Diane

[@kathysaleeba3397]

Hadn't thought of the ticket numbers. I have several of those tickets. Thanks Ceri!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Any time Kathy

[@betcherspiritdance]

ohh thanks for this Ceri! I had been stuck on how to number my pages for the up coming 100day project. Now I know exactly how I will number those pages.

[@CeriGriffiths]

What’s a great idea thank you

[@nickiscraftingcorner4265]

This is exactly what I do for numbers as well as words. Made two videos recently about how to harvest a manual for labels! Thank you so much for sharing!🙂 Greetings from Germany! Nicole 🌼

[@CeriGriffiths]

That is awesome, great minds think alike.

[@spencerbucci4479]

Thank you Ceri! Can you show us some more ways to use up the numbers?

[@CeriGriffiths]

I’ll try and incorporate them in future videos more.

[@chuckkolb1270]

Telephone directories are an excellent source as you indicated with all sizes of numbers. In fact I used some larger red one for Valentine card backgrounds. May I suggest last year's calendar or before. Large ones and small and they can be cut and combined to utilize larger numbers than 31. Harvesting is a perfect word to employ while searching for ephemera Nicely done video.

[@CeriGriffiths]

You’re right Chuck I’ve harvested calendars and diaries in the past as well.

[@christiconant9756]

Cari, Thank you so much for the numbers idea! I grabbed a few of my books and BAM! So many numbers to be had! I usually throw away the occasional phone book but not now!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Great news

[@zinniapatch2488]

Awesome video! You really got me at the "phone book" I NEED TO WAKE UP! LOL I've got stacks of those, and never once thought of using it for numbers! Thank you so much for this info. and have a happy day!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Phone books make great backgrounds as well for mixed media.

[@genevievelimozin4714]

Another great idea's video. Thanks Ceri. Sometimes we just need these things pointed out to us.

[@CeriGriffiths]

Just sharing.

[@yvonnesaunders550]

Great tips. As I watched you, I noticed a couple bar codes on the things you were looking at. These days, everything we buy has a bar code on it. And they all have numbers. Also, puzzle books should have lots of numbers, and many other interesting bits, as well. Thanks for getting me thinking!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Yvonne also look out for calendars, diaries, and children’s mathematics school books.

[@cathyleblanc3838]

Hello Ceri. Coincidence, I was harvesting numbers from a lottery ticket when this video showed up in my feed 😂 but You showed me other sources for numbers. Thank You Ceri. I really enjoy Your videos. I learn so much from You. Enjoy Your Day. 😊

[@CeriGriffiths]

I love using numbers, thank you for your comment.

[@cathyleblanc3838]

You're welcome Ceri 😊

[@belindasmith3881]

Kiddos to you Ceri! Such great ideas for looking for numbers differently. You made me remember that I can cut numbers with my label maker. Then I remembered: zip codes, bar code scanner numbers, numbers of my prescriptions, etc. I even saw the label number on your cutting mat!! Thanks so much for your inspiration and great ideas.

[@CeriGriffiths]

Yup they’re everywhere and because we’re so used to seeing them they’ve become invisible.

[@melinda4815]

Oh Ceri, These tiny, little, numbers made a great big, wonderful video on "where too and how too" get the good "stuff". What a great way to use those punches. Thanks Ceri. I hope you and yours have wonderful days ahead.

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you so much Melinda and you have a great day too.

[@debbiev.1311]

Ingenious ideas...TYFS!! 💙 Just bought that slot punch yesterday - will now be harvesting numbers with it too!! 😉

[@CeriGriffiths]

Perfect

[@lindaroberts2282]

Wow, what a useful group of tips! Thanks so much for sharing this video.😊

[@CeriGriffiths]

You are so welcome Linda

[@marnyr9610]

Thanks for this Ceri, I used to save supermarket dockets for the numbers but now I've discovered if I glue them together they make great paper, sometimes I put washi tape over the joins, I figure I spend enough at the supermarket I might as well get some fun out of it too.

[@CeriGriffiths]

Sounds like a great idea Marny

[@melissacastle4924]

Very interesting video which has got me thinking of ways to harvest numbers! Thank you 😊😊😊👍👍👍

[@CeriGriffiths]

You are very welcome Melissa thank you for watching.

[@cynthiahamm48]

Wow, this really helped. I just never thought of this.

[@CeriGriffiths]

Have fun with it.

[@donnaswisher8408]

Funny you did this now...I just harvested some numbers from a newspaper. Grocery store ads and car dealership ads are my go to places but there will be a plethora of numbers in a newspaper. Magazines are another great source. Never thought of using my tag punch though so thanks for the idea. 😊

[@CeriGriffiths]

Fabulous Donna.

[@katiebarnes2232]

As usual, fantastic sharing! Thank you! Exactly answering my most recent question!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Wonderful thank you Katie

[@maureenwilson6951]

Have started doing this as well and cutting out words as well.

[@CeriGriffiths]

And they’re all free.

[@aimeemorgado8715]

I found a stack of astrology magazines from 1930. Numbers and sun and moon signs, times. And dates, plus astronomical signs galore. I have been having a ball with them as I create a journal with a back story of the original owner.

[@CeriGriffiths]

Sounds great Aimee

[@conniec4629]

Thanks Ceri. Wonderful Ideas!!!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Glad you like them Connie

[@beverlynielsen6714]

Thank you for sharing this Ceri. I will be checking things out now. 😊

[@CeriGriffiths]

Great news Beverly

[@PMartistStudio]

Brilliant! Great information and so cool to see the variety.

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you

[@annelawver2703]

Another fabulous idea and clear instructions! Thank you n

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thanks so much! 😊 Anne

[@CarolRichards-fy7rz]

What a really great idea thank u for sharing !!!

[@cathyputtick8235]

I love this!!! Thanks so much, Ceri!!

[@CeriGriffiths]

You are so welcome Cathy

[@rebeccamartin3744]

Lol, I just got a yellow pages phone book yesterday! Great idea!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Wonderful timing.

[@barbaracabrera207]

Great video. I cut out numbers like you do from books. TFS Austin TX USA

[@CeriGriffiths]

Awesome! Thank you Barbara

[@bastelkugel817]

Das is ja eine tolle Idee und dann noch alles umsonst. Vielen Dank für deine super Tipps. Hab dir ein Abo dagelassen. L G von Bille🙋‍♀️

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you Billie and welcome to my channel.

[@cherylemery8594]

Fabulous idea Ceri! Thank you

[@CeriGriffiths]

Glad you liked it, thank you Cheryl

[@anonymishap]

These are great ideas! When you were flipping through the telephone book with all the different coloured numbers in the advertising section, I felt rather silly as I'd been using one as a glue book 🤦‍♀️ Now I want to go through and see how many I can salvage 😅

[@CeriGriffiths]

Use it as both.

[@heidemarielorch-schmidt7620]

Das ist eine gute Idee mit den Zahlen

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you

[@risamateo8003]

Thank you for sharing this phenomenal tip

[@CeriGriffiths]

You are so welcome

[@NatalieSerrato]

Absolutely brilliant! Thanks for sharing!

[@CeriGriffiths]

My pleasure Natalie

[@cassfonnesbeck8057]

Thanks for this! Yes indeed, it was very useful!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Great to hear, thank you Cass

[@lssphx]

Definitely an eye-opener! Curious, do you have a favorite way of organizing your ephemera?

[@CeriGriffiths]

I’ve had many ways over the time and seem to keep changing my mind so currently I’m in clear boxes so that I can see the contents at a glance.

[@lssphx]

@@CeriGriffiths Thanks for the reply… what I didn’t ask clearly was deciding what category to put each type of ephemera in… some of my ephemera seems to fit into two or more categories

[@Bluewaterpinessantarosabeach]

Thank you ever so much for alll these sourcing films! The manner in which you accumulate resources is excellent. Appreciate you and your pleasant company!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you so much.

[@EddieMakesArt]

I haven't seen a telephone book in years. I didn't think they still existed. Great video Ceri. Lots of great tips!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thanks so much Eddie.

[@deb.e.mixedmedia]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@CeriGriffiths]

You are so welcome Deb

[@adeledirker1548]

Thank you so much for this video. It is brilliant, I loved it.

[@CeriGriffiths]

So glad, thank you Adele

[@emilyrogers3271]

Great idea. Tfs!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thanks for watching Emily

[@simone9623]

Thank you Ceri for sharing this very handy tip. I have just use some book pages for a project end what's left of it I will look through with new eyes.🤭 ( I hoop my English is correct. ) Greets Simone

[@CeriGriffiths]

Simone I understand, thank you.

[@Bluewaterpinessantarosabeach]

Yes the hole punch!!!!!!!!!!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you

[@kelliecorum5427]

❤️ TFS! I love this idea!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you Kellie.

[@rebeccamartin3744]

Your local dollar store should have kids math books!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Great idea.

[@jangodfrey9994]

Thank you so much as i am just starting i need more ways for things as i am on a budget 👏👏👏👏👏

[@CeriGriffiths]

I do my best to help keep things to a budget and show them alternatives, glad you liked it thank you for watching.

[@gwentodaro2074]

Great information!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you Gwen

[@susanbrowning4193]

Thanks Ceri!

[@CeriGriffiths]

You are so welcome Susan

[@cathymoore1935]

Great ideas! Thank you!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you Cathy

[@annitajarrett504]

GREAT!!!! Your awesome!! THANK YOU!!

[@CeriGriffiths]

You're welcome Annita and thank you.

[@JamieLOVEUMOREJOURNALS]

Great ideas!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you! 😊

[@lindahyem5804]

Thank you. I am going to get a magazine and go to work!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Wonderful Linda

[@lynnmartin5141]

Clever, Thank you Xx😁

[@CeriGriffiths]

You’re welcome 😊

[@karenrtodorov1386]

Brilliant thank you, great ideas

[@CeriGriffiths]

You’re welcome 😊 Karen

[@brookerohleder6769]

Thank you for sharing. ❤️

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thanks for watching Brooke

[@michelel3372]

Great ideas, Ceri!! So many things that you mentioned had never crossed my mind! Thank you so much for sharing. ❤

[@CeriGriffiths]

You are so welcome Michele

[@annwoleben5439]

Thank you - great idea!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you Ann

[@lucyfanning7496]

Thank you so much,a really inspiring video

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you Lucy

[@jaynecowsert4641]

Love this idea! My next addiction😂

[@CeriGriffiths]

Lol.....have fun.

[@heathertermer300]

Great idea! Thank you

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you Heather

[@starmerrill4691]

Great ideas! THX.

[@CeriGriffiths]

You are so welcome

[@CherylsCreativeWorld33]

Thanks for sharing this, I’ve never really thought of using the numbers from a book. I will now! Thanks :)

[@CeriGriffiths]

Glad it was helpful

[@ChicagoDreamer5]

Loved this. Thanks so much.

[@CeriGriffiths]

You are so welcome

[@kathyeverage1714]

Thank you this really helps

[@CeriGriffiths]

Glad to hear it, thank you

[@nancyludlum2646]

Thanks

[@k.rpkimpolten]

This is AWESOME! Thank you, Ceri. I was making tickets over the weekend, and was on the hunt for numbers. I hope you don't mind if I share the link to this on my channel as I have another couple of ideas of where they can be found.

[@CeriGriffiths]

Sounds great, the more we share knowledge the more other ideas will be inspired….we all learn along the way. Thank you

[@k.rpkimpolten]

@@CeriGriffiths thank you.

[@ExploringPaper]

Thank you for these ideas, I've been ignoring all those available numbers!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Glad it was helpful

[@nikkimeldrum7448]

Great tip on harvesting numbers, have been doing the book pages & chapter numbers but hadn't thought about the phone book or numbers in other areas of the book. Thank you

[@CeriGriffiths]

Glad it was helpful Nikki

[@kristenhimslhunter4072]

Genius!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Thank you Kristen

[@julielakey594]

Awesome idea. Thanks for sharing 😊

[@CeriGriffiths]

My pleasure 😊 Julie

[@blaaaaaaarrrrr]

What a great idea. Heading off right now to harvest numbers from my books. 🏃‍♀️ PS: You still get telephone directories? Astonishing. Haven't seen one since years here in Germany.

[@blaaaaaaarrrrr]

3 hours later: Just harvested lots of numbers. I happened to have very old math, geometry and accounting books with lots of numbers. I've used pages from them but You gave me new ideas. Will now look to find an old telephone book. Hunting and harvesting is part of the fun for collage and junk journal making. 👏👏

[@CeriGriffiths]

Great news yes childrens math books are a great resource as well.

[@brant8642]

Great points! Thank you 😊

[@CeriGriffiths]

You are welcome

[@SusanMJB45]

Thank you so much !!! I was looking for some rubber stamps that would give me very small numbers for the faux postage stamps that I am about to try making. You have solved my problem !!!! Perfect. I am off to harvest numbers. Question: how do you store them? Do you have small boxes/containers where you store them by size? i.e. one box for tiny numbers. One for small numbers.... medium, large and jumbo....? Or you just throw them all in one box and rummage around in the box when you are looking for a particular size number?

[@CeriGriffiths]

Susan I store mine as you've suggested small, medium, large, xtra large it prevents the small ones going to the bottom of the box and me damaging my numbers by digging through them

[@tmcconnell4484]

Hey I read that series that was a good read. Love what you do and your ideas. DO you use a different book for creative ideas or just your journal?

[@CeriGriffiths]

I have several books and journals just to get the ideas down on paper and out of my head.

[@tmcconnell4484]

@@CeriGriffiths Ok so I am not the only one. I have a Madori style junk journal that I call my idea book, a daily planner and quick idea journal and my personal record memories, thoughts and feelings journal. Nice to know that I am not the only one. I have so many ideas and need a place to put them all!

[@mindybruno5675]

Crossword books have big number and word

[@CeriGriffiths]

They do

[@kathiehatfield7852]

Do you have a good storage idea for these small numbers?

[@CeriGriffiths]

I keep them in a shallow clear box.

[@quinbee_creates]

Nooooo! Not the Discworld book!

[@CeriGriffiths]

Oh believe me I’ve read the whole series several times and I also have this book on my kindle.

[@quinbee_creates]

@@CeriGriffiths I was laughing as I typed the comment because junk journalling has definitely changed my attitude towards physical books. Twenty years ago, I would have cried about any of them being mutilated, especially the oldest one, but now I see them as raw materials. Except the Pratchett. How perspectives change!