Labeling canvas tote bags?

[joenali]

I just ordered canvas book bags for my students. In the past I’ve used puffy paint to write their names. But a couple of months in the puffy paint was peeling off the bags. Is there something else that I could use besides puffy paint or sharpie marker to write names on the bags? I thought about iron on letters, but that would take forever.

[dochas]

I came here to say puffy paint. That's all I got!

[cabbagecabbage]

Acrylic paint is nice and permanent on fabric, especially if you brush it on thin so it sinks into the fibers. It's also cheap. You'll have to paint it on or maybe put it into some sort of tiny squeeze bottle.

[TBM]

Aug 30, 2019 10:34:34 GMT -5 cabbagecabbage said:

Acrylic paint is nice and permanent on fabric, especially if you brush it on thin so it sinks into the fibers. It's also cheap. You'll have to paint it on or maybe put it into some sort of tiny squeeze bottle.

This. Or maybe an opaque acrylic paint pen?

Also, if you heat set the paint after it has dried, it really won't go anywhere.

[sometimesrunner]

DD's preschool requires everyone use a canvas bag to take to/from school. The school uses permanent marker to write names on each bag.

[mswax]

They sell fabric markers that work really well

[OG Jo]

You could order pre-made decals out of iron on vinyl and then you'd just have to iron them on yourself? How many kids are we talking about? I might be able to help you out...

[af1212]

Aug 30, 2019 10:51:43 GMT -5 sometimesrunner said:

DD's preschool requires everyone use a canvas bag to take to/from school. The school uses permanent marker to write names on each bag.

This is unusually specific. Any idea why they have the requirement?

[sometimesrunner]

Aug 30, 2019 11:46:06 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Aug 30, 2019 10:51:43 GMT -5 sometimesrunner said:

DD's preschool requires everyone use a canvas bag to take to/from school. The school uses permanent marker to write names on each bag.

This is unusually specific. Any idea why they have the requirement?

They have limited space and it's a Montessori school, so they have enough experience to know that they can hook one of the loops on their coat hook, and take out their lunches independently. 

[af1212]

Aug 30, 2019 11:58:36 GMT -5 sometimesrunner said:

Aug 30, 2019 11:46:06 GMT -5 af1212 said:

This is unusually specific. Any idea why they have the requirement?

They have limited space and it's a Montessori school, so they have enough experience to know that they can hook one of the loops on their coat hook, and take out their lunches independently. 

Oh it’s a specific canvas bag that’s all the same! That makes total sense. I thought you meant on the supply list it indicates that your backpack must be canvas. Like my school does not allow backpacks with wheels but I have not heard of one requiring a specific material! 🤣

[sometimesrunner]

Aug 30, 2019 12:02:29 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Aug 30, 2019 11:58:36 GMT -5 sometimesrunner said:

They have limited space and it's a Montessori school, so they have enough experience to know that they can hook one of the loops on their coat hook, and take out their lunches independently. 

Oh it’s a specific canvas bag that’s all the same! That makes total sense. I thought you meant on the supply list it indicates that your backpack must be canvas. Like my school does not allow backpacks with wheels but I have not heard of one requiring a specific material! 🤣

Ha! I get what you mean! Yeah, that would be weird. Her school provides the canvas tote.

[joenali]

Aug 30, 2019 11:27:27 GMT -5 OG Jo said:

You could order pre-made decals out of iron on vinyl and then you'd just have to iron them on yourself? How many kids are we talking about? I might be able to help you out...

I like this! I was just seeing single letters to iron on which would take forever! I could iron on a single name easily. Where would you recommend ordering from that won’t break the bank? I need 24 names.

[cereal K]

Something like this:

smile.amazon.com/Avery-Printable-Fabric-Printers-03384/dp/B0000C0CJZ/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2U7BWVWTRPRL3&keywords=iron+on+printer+paper+for+fabric&qid=1567185742&s=gateway&sprefix=iron+on+print%2Caps%2C332&sr=8-4

You could print out the names, cut, and iron-on. Still some time with 24 of them, but better than individual letters.

[orval]

Aug 30, 2019 12:23:10 GMT -5 cereal K said:

Something like this:

smile.amazon.com/Avery-Printable-Fabric-Printers-03384/dp/B0000C0CJZ/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2U7BWVWTRPRL3&keywords=iron+on+printer+paper+for+fabric&qid=1567185742&s=gateway&sprefix=iron+on+print%2Caps%2C332&sr=8-4

You could print out the names, cut, and iron-on. Still some time with 24 of them, but better than individual letters.

These totally work.  I had to make a flag on muslin for Cub Scouts.  I printed the picture, ironed it on and it looked great.
you could easily print muliple names per page depending on how big you want them

I think I used this one 

 smile.amazon.com/Avery-T-Shirt-Transfers-Inkjet-Printers/dp/B00006B8FS/ref=pd_bxgy_229_3/145-0020243-6757872?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00006B8FS&pd_rd_r=c17941be-8d23-421a-9009-d63cebb01dce&pd_rd_w=wuPZK&pd_rd_wg=FNEBn&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=BYQ4XDYFW77VTJFRXWVY&psc=1&refRID=BYQ4XDYFW77VTJFRXWVY

[cmeon]

Aug 30, 2019 12:14:51 GMT -5 joenali said:

Aug 30, 2019 11:27:27 GMT -5 OG Jo said:

You could order pre-made decals out of iron on vinyl and then you'd just have to iron them on yourself? How many kids are we talking about? I might be able to help you out...

I like this! I was just seeing single letters to iron on which would take forever! I could iron on a single name easily. Where would you recommend ordering from that won’t break the bank? I need 24 names.

Avery makes printable sheets of iron-on, they work great on cotton (not as well on cotton/poly blend, though).

You could just print names on cardstock, laminate them, punch a hole in the top and string some yarn through them to hang them off the handles, though- then they could decorate their bags.

[lilac05]

It seems like almost every SAHM around here has a side business putting vinyl on EVERYTHING. Do you have a pool of friends or parents of your students who you could ask for help? It’s not a huge ask of someone who has the right tools.

[joenali]

Aug 30, 2019 13:39:48 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

It seems like almost every SAHM around here has a side business putting vinyl on EVERYTHING. Do you have a pool of friends or parents of your students who you could ask for help? It’s not a huge ask of someone who has the right tools.

I don’t need them for the first day so my plan is to have a parent do them. I need to take some pressure of myself.