Are you going to have it custom made? I know the local guy I use would be able to incorporate them into the mirror frame. Don't know how many tags you have - so maybe 4 corners or staggered all the way around, etc.

Perhaps add a couple of vintage rubber swim caps? :)

That smell of chlorine, rubber swim caps and the old metal wire lockers and baskets always remind me of the very old swim club (now torn down) in the small town where I grew up ....

As for the tags -- could they be mounted in a shadow box with old black-and-white photos of your family/friends on swim vacations?

This is a photo of the guest bathroom at our house -- it has a vintage photo theme ..... and everybody loves these old (reporduction) photos of gals in old swim suits!

Allison,

I am assuming so. I have a few but I was thinking of buying some more. The issue is how to attach something that is usually structured like a brooch.

So far the only idea I have is to use a mirror with a wooden frame, put two ibolts across the bottom with a wire, and hang them on a wire?

I'd use a skinny stainless color frame....and simply put hooks along the wall above and hang the tags on the hooks. If the hooks are a little rusty, so much the better....oh and spray some clorine bleach for atmoshpere!
I think you need a wooden bench and perhaps an old locker or 2....or even a couple of cubby holes....with numbers below.
Sounds cute!
Linda c

The tags are like little brooches, some plastic, some metal. An example is below. They are too small for a hook, but do not lay flat, either. Hence the conondrum.

Chlorine bleach, LOL.

LindaC, this is a small bathroom, no bench! But I will have a lot of hooks.

Teacats, love your photos! The bathing suit photos are a cute idea! I just worry how they will hold up in a bathroom with a shower stall...

Here is a link that might be useful: old beach tags

You will need a hot glue gun and slow set lower temp glue sticks for the gun. The fast set glue sticks may melt plastic and will melt your hand as well if you are not experienced with fast gun work. You will get glue strings when doing this project, don't worry they can be taken off at the end. Do alot of over-lapping when adding your tags. Think about adding other locker room or swimming related objects : )

Well -- our photos -- including more family photos and a tray full of old cameras -- have stood up nicely to use in a family bathroom with a tub and shower .....

Yes -- those tags would look amazing in a shadowbox against an old local map and a family photo or two!

Here is a link that might be useful: PB -- example of a shadow box

Sorry I should have mentioned this above. If you have a lot of sticky outy looking things glued on and you want to give them more of a finished look...check out fabric stitch paint. You can use this on many projects not just fabric. Its a raised paint in a squeeze tube with a fine tip. You can build up an area around the tag glued section with pewter, rust, a color or many metal shade options. Set it like a diamond or build the area around tag to look like it evolved over time. You have to make sure to shake the tub often so you don't get watery blobs.

Gotcha. Thought maybe they were flat. The Florida panhandle never required beach tags. ;D

Wonder if a shadowbox would get steamed inside. Is there a shower?

I like the idea of incorporating swimming photographs into the room -

Here is a link that might be useful: etsy example

Thank, Jterri, I had never heard of that!

Allison, Don't you love that photograph? Love etsy, too. I think beach tags are a Northeast phenomenon. A lot of beaches are private to keep away the teeming urban masses, I suppose. Yes, there, is a shower, so steam will be a problem.

But I love the idea of family swimming photos and will have to think of options to use them. I have a print of the old Sutro Bath in San Fran in the area near the pool entrance, where it is safe and dry. I love the detail in it! Thank goodness I found a repro of it, I first fell in love with one on 1st dibs, an original, that cost more than a car.

Here is a link that might be useful: bath print

Me again, adding on between cooking.

The last step, see above for the rest.

To me the final stage is the most important, top coating the final project with a flat, satin, semi gloss or high gloss clear coat. It makes it all come together with a professional look when the whole project has the same sheen. You will be amazed at how this last procedure changes the whole appearance into a wonderful professional piece of art.
The clear coat part sounds simple enough but requires patience and care. I personally like about three light coats of clear. Make sure you have any glue strings off (it's a little sting that sometimes happens as you glue and bring the gun back up) once you get the hang of the glue gun you can quickly melt the string off at the base with the hot tip of the glue gun before it lands on anything or just cut them off at the end. Make sure everything is dust and debris free, dab with plain water or you can use a hair blow dryer to blow it clean. Lightly sand between clear coat applications (don't skip that part). Again make sure its dust free before applying another clear coat.
This is a fun project and once you start it will be hard to stay away from.

LOL, Jerri, thanks again. I will keep this in mind whenever I have a project with "sticky outy looking things".

Hehe, I used to sell collaged recycled mirrors as well as decorative boxes and such to the mega wealthy Jupiter Island and surrounding area crowd at an art boutique shop north of me. However, I used dried bits of double pigment metallic paints, metallic stitch paint and high gloss clear coats on the double pigment chips to make it look like glass. This was years ago though when my kids were young. My inspiration at the time was the beautiful colors in antique stained glass works and cathedral windows.

Will you have a shower curtain, or is the shower glass enclosed? I am thinking that I would make a shower curtain out of some fun beach towels (with a plastic liner behind it for showering) Then remove the pins from the tags and use white or natural twine to attach them to the curtain. You could bring the two ends of the twine from the back, through the front holes on the tag, and then knot in the middle. Or you could sew them on like buttons.

For a pool mirror, I just always envision a chrome framed mirror, very utilitarian bathroom look.

I think attaching those to a mirror would make it hard to clean. Maybe? I like the shadowbox idea. You can find those anywhere.
Or, how about attaching them to the shower rings?
I did a pool house a while ago, and I painted the mirror in a "beachy" theme.

maybe amongst your hooks you could buy and hang a really cute beach bag and put the tags on that (like lots of us did/do)...make it functional by holding supplies/towels???

I still really like your idea of the swimming tags and maybe some other related items around a mirror frame.

This is not my mirror but I do like the balance of design with larger items in the corners and mid sections. This same concept could be used on a narrow mirror frame with smaller pieces such as your swim tags and maybe some larger related things in the corners and mid sections. With your size house you probably have a maid to clean but other wise since it would have several clear coats you can clean with plain water or just vacuum it off with a vacuum brush. The first idea is of course with shells but you can have a great look using just about anything. You also can leave some of your mirror color frame showing.

Jterri,
Your pieces sound pretty, and very "Florida".

Les,
I'm usually all about utilitarian, hence using a concrete floor. The bathroom has a shower but it is not enclosed -- just one wall of glass, and otherwise open. So no shower curtain. I'm usually all about utilitarian, which is why I might just stick w my idea, ie attach a wire or plain white rope between two eye bolts and just pin them on to that.

Painter,
Cute room. Given the humidity from the pool room and from the shower, i think a shadowbox wont hold up, alas

Busy bee, cute idea! If I cant find a workable way to incorporate them in a mirror, i will go that route.

Jterri,
You are right, the larger shells create a nice balance!

Saw this today in Pier1 - it may be over-the-top in terms of the hand mirror idea you have, but thought I'd post it for you to see....

Here is a link that might be useful: Dreaming mirror

How about a mirror with a metal frame and attach magnets to the backs of the beach tags?