Spruce Up Dad’s Gift with a Custom Label
I love gifts that are personal and homemade. But making a gift for my husband is always a challenge for me. Anything too cutsy is just not him. Every once in a while I hit it just right… like the year I made him a reading/TV quilt. He uses that a lot.
This year I have been thinking for weeks about what I could make for him and I finally had an idea…
My husband loves to shoot Trap with his buddies… so I thought I could make him a ammo bag.
But then I found out they cost $14.99 at Cabelas and I wasn’t sure I could save a lot of money by making one… once I bought the fabric and the belt and clasp. But the Cabela’s bag isn’t that great looking. Maybe I could spruce it up with a custom label.
I’ve been wanting to try a technique for making labels for a while now. The kids and I headed to Cabelas to pick up an ammo bag. And then I set to work to make a label.
To complete this project you need:
- Muslin fabric (or similar fabric that you want to print on.)
- Freezer paper (available in the grocery store near the wax paper)
- a printer (both ink jet or laser)
- a fabric for the backing if desired
1. Cut your fabric into a rectangle approximately 9 1/2 inches by 12 inches.
2. Cut a piece of freezer paper slightly smaller… approximately 9 inches by 11 1/2 inches.
3. Place together the wrong side of fabric to the waxy side of the freezer paper. The fabric should be centered over the freezer paper.
4. With the fabric side up, iron the fabric and freezer paper together. The wax of the freezer paper will melt and fuse the fabric to the paper.
5. Cut your fabric down to 8 1/2 by 11 inches (a standard sheet of paper.) I used a piece of paper as a guide.
6. Create the document you want to print. You can get fancy and create it in Photoshop or do what I did and create something simple in word.
7. Set your printer settings to the high resolution. Feed your fabric into your printer making sure the fabric is on the side that will print. If you are not sure what side your printer prints on, make a mark on a piece of scrap paper and then feed it through. This will show you which way to feed the fabric in.
8. Once printed, I ironed the fabric on high to heat set the lettering. You can also peel the freezer paper off the back at this point. I choose to keep it on to give stability to the label.
9. Cut your label to desired size.
10. Cut your backing fabric to desired size. I ironed on some Wonder Under to the back of my backing fabric to give it stability and to make it easier to adhere to bag.
11. Stitch the label to the backing fabric. I used a small blanket stitch. You can stitch it by hand if you don’t have a sewing machine.
12. Now iron your label to the bag if you used Wonder Under. Then stitch your label to the bag with a blind stitch to secure. (If it fits on your machine, you could machine stitch it on using a decorative stitch.)
This technique can be used for all sorts of projects… making labels for luggage, for a backpack or lunch box, or any sewing project like an apron or clothing.
The ammo bag turned out great… much better than saying “Cabelas”. And I know my husband will get a kick out the label… the guys have a long running joke about whether “Real men like Parfaits.” My husband is in the loving breakfast parfaits camp…
I just heard on the news that today is “Man Day.” So you better go out and eat a parfait.
wwwwwwoooooooooowww..thanks for info..
[…] Custom printed fabric labels are easy to make using an inkjet printer and freezer paper. Make It Do shows how to do it. Get the tute. […]
Great idea!!! Anything can become a personalized gift with a custom fabric label! I posted a link to your tutorial at Craft Gossip Sewing: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-custom-printed-fabric-labels/2009/06/15/
–Anne
Smart Smart Smart! LOVE this – thank you for sharing!
Oh my gosh! This is AWESOME! I have been looking at that printable fabric that is like $25 at the craft store for making tags for my bags and other things, this may be better. THANK YOU!
May I link you on my blog once I do this?
Go right ahead. best, Calli
thank you, I’m not afraid to try it since it doesn’t involve spending money on special backed fabric
What a brilliant idea! Such a simple thing yet it makes all the difference in the world. Thanks for sharing. (Hmmm… got me thinking about what I can label for DH!)
[…] for those you keep wondering how to print your own label here the tuts as reference. same idea with printing fabrics though print your own label (not washable) […]
Great tutorial, thanks for the info. I think anytime you can give a friend or loved one a personalized gift, they cherish and appreciate it much more.
Hi, I followed your tutorial, making a small label for a quilt. Sewed it on the quilt, washed it and poof, my writting was gone!
Any ideas what I may have done incorrectly?
Thanks! I made another one the same way and I am afraid to sew it on the quilt and wash it.
Hi Sandy, did you heat set the label after printing? best, Calli
I was also wondering how these would hold up to washing. It seems like the laser printed labels might hold up better, but if I want color, I will have to use my inkjet. Has anyone else made these on an injet printer and washed the labels?
Hi Jennifer, I apologize for the long delay in getting back with you. I was waiting to hear back from a friend who is more of an expert on making labels. The label I made was a first time project and I have not washed it. It was printed on a laser printer that went on an ammo bag for my husband…. and I doubt it ever will get washed. My friend recommended using a product from either Indygo Junction or Electric Quilt if you want something that needs to be or is meant to be washed. Here’s a few links: http://www.electricquilt.com/Shop/Printing/Fabric.asp or http://www.indygojunctioninc.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=829 and I think these products are available at the craft store. Good luck with your project. Cheers, Calli
hi Calli..what a saving cost tutorial :)..now i can do my own pretty label :)..oh btw, can we use freeze paper to print our own fabric design?
regards.
I was pointed here from another blog and all I can say is I am happy for this nice article. Now I’m in the process of gathering the right materials for this custom label. Thank you!
What I would do if I made a label that needed to be washed is to print on transfer paper and iron it on a plain or colored piece of material then follow the rest of the directions. I have made picture quilts that hang on the wall thisway and it’s really simple to do.
Great idea! Thanks for the wonderful tutorial. :)
I’m curious as I have a Dell color laser printer but you didn’t mention it. Can I use cotton fabric? Wouldn’t the printer be too hot for the material? I don’t want to start a fire; I can see it now. LOL Thanks for the info. :)