Welcome to the first day of my Nesting Series!
Today, I’m going to share a project of my own, that will benefit many of the other projects I’ll share during the rest of the series.
I am learning to make clothing for my kids and only my kids really. So I don’t want to invest in commercial tags that require you to buy in bulk.
But…my kids and husband don’t like it when they can’t easily tell which is the front and which is the back to my creations when they put them on- and frankly neither do I!
These easy tags solve that problem, cost almost nothing to make {they just use scraps and stuff you likely have on hand} and make my handmade creations look just a little more polished.
Up to this point, I’ve either been omitting the tag, or taking scraps of knit t-shirt fabric and writing “love Mom” on it with a sharpie.
I like the idea of my love being infused in each piece of clothing, so I kept with that theme by rounding up some Valentine stamps to decorate my tags with.
I’m sure you could carve your own…and I know I will one day. For now though, I’m keeping things easy.
All you do is take strips of scrap fabric and serge or zig-zag up both sides. I bet you could just cut up the sides with pinking shears as well.
Cut them up {3-4 inches is about right} and iron them in half. It doesn’t take long to get lot.
Then grab some fabric paint. I used this textile medium to convert my regular acrylic paint into fabric paint. You simply mix two parts of acrylic paint with one part textile medium.
Then brush the paint on, do a test stamp on paper and then stamp your tags.
I found brushing the paint on to be better than dipping the stamp directly into the paint, because dipping caused the paint to collect around the sides and just got clumpy.
If you’re wondering…this stamp is from Stampin’ Up. I got it at a garage sale over the summer.
Some of the tags turned out better than others. I just ditched the ones I didn’t like…it’s just a little scrap after all. Some came out distressed or a little dark but I didn’t mind that. Whatever works for you.
I also painted some hearts on smaller tags by hand. A little more time consuming but not too bad.
Now let it dry for a full day, press with a hot iron and you’re done!
This is the first pair of leggings that I tried a new tag in.
Success!
Now our baby girl will have a happy Mom and Dad who won’t have to spend five minutes figuring out if we put the leggings on right or not. 🙂
LOVE this idea, such a nice personal effect! Can't wait to try 🙂
Great idea 🙂
Very cute! 🙂 I can't count the number of times my hubs has put our daughters' clothes on backwards! It happens, a lot! 😉 The funniest time was when we were at a family party and he put our 2 year olds swim suit on backwards, haha, it was a one piece with a v-back… she toddled out of the house looking like a Borat!
I love the idea of putting a little message on it. I have used ribbon in the past and just wrote the child's name on it, but ribbon can be itchy at times. I will try using fabric and stamps and a little message in the future.
now that is the easiest tag tutorial I have seen. Some are with the iron on transfer paper and stuff, and frankly I don't have it and am not going to go out and buy it just to make tags! I love the fabric paint idea, and I also use fabric paint medium-it's awesome because I can use my paint for wood and fabric! 🙂
Great idea! I never thought of making my own tags before. These will be great on the pajama pants I make for my son!
this is awesome. Pinned it so all my friends can see how great you are. Thanks for sharing your talents with us 🙂
These are so cute! I like the hand-painted hearts a lot!
Those are great!!! I love the idea, and the contrasting colored threads make them look very cool!
How great are these! Love this 🙂
I love this! Super cute!
What a great idea! So easy and practical. I have been using ribbon scraps, but I like this much better.
I love this idea. I've always just folded a piece of twill tape to place in the back, but the "Love" is so sweet. I'm going to make some today! Thanks for the idea! P.S.- It was super fun meeting you this weekend! You are just adorable!
cute delia! what a fun idea!
Great idea! I'll have to make some as well one day, thanks for sharing.
So inventive! and cute. You make everything look like art.
What a cute idea! Love the little hand-painted hearts and those cute little leggings 🙂
I love this! What a fun way to add a little love to something. Can't wait for the rest of the series!
I L.O.V.E. this idea so much I am making this kind of labels today!
What a great way to do tags….love it!!!
I absolutely LOVE this idea. I am the same, I never wanted to pay for tags because I never plan on selling them, but I wished there was a way to insert a tag easily. This is perfect!! I'm thinking I could easily pick up some number stamps and add the size to the clothes as well. THANK YOU for this great idea.
This is a great idea. Thank you for sharing! Didn't know there was such a thing as textile painting medium. Learn something new every day! 🙂
Wow those are so clever and cute!
This is such a cute idea! My 4 year old keeps asking for tags in his pants that i make him. This would definitely solve that problem 🙂 Thanks for sharing!!!
I LOVE this idea Delia!
Hi Delia!
I did something similar to make my business tags, though I mostly use them for mommyness 🙂 I bought a custom stamp with my shop name CrosStitching from this etsy seller http://www.etsy.com/shop/BlossomStamps, a Versacraft Black Permanent Ink, and 5/8" satin ribbon. Then you just stamp onto the satin ribbon and cut your tags. I threw my tags in the dryer on High to heat set
These are so cute! Love the ones with the serged edges!
Love these! I really really like the heart one 🙂
I'm about to make these right now! I'm going to put them in pj pants I'm making my girls. I'm going to use number stamps so I know the size, my girls are only two sizes apart and the pants are made out of the same fabric so these are a must. Thanks so much for the tutorial!
Jen : )
I am going to try using a wide strip of cotton, cut on the bias. This should eliminate the need to sew the edges of the tag. I didn't know about textile medium. It would save $, not having to buy another set of paints. Just discovered this blog today. Love it!