Mini Screens and Clothing Labels

My biggest concern with branching out from my online store was that I had to come up with a way to better label my clothing so it meets FTC requirements. I don't like putting any type of tag in Lil Blue Boo clothing for comfort reasons (Kids can be pretty sensitive to anything with tags).....so I came up with an easy way to silk screen all the information using little handmade "mini" screens.

Shopping list:

Let's get started!

I found these little $1.00 wood photo frames at my local craft store and knew right away that they would make the perfect little screens. I purchased about 20 frames and I ordered a pack screen printing fabric sheets.

Getting started

Step 1: I cut the screen printing fabric large enough that it would wrap just around the edges of the frame.

Trim up your screen fabric

Step 2: I used binder clips to stretch the fabric as tight as I could across two sides of the screen.

Using clips I stretch the fabric

Then added 2 more clips on the other sides. It is important to work across and around the frame to get the fabric as tight as possible.

Working around I add more clips

I stretched the opposite corner last to pull out every last bit of slack.

Get the corners as well

Step 3: Using waterproof wood glue......

Waterproof wood glue is a must

......I used a brush to apply a thick layer of glue all the way around the wood screen, using pressure to work the glue through the fabric.

Slap on a thick layer over the fabric

After the glue was COMPLETELY dry, I removed the clips and applied glue to the spaces where the clips had been and then once the glue was dry I trimmed all the excess fabric off using a razorblade.

Wait for glue to dry and add more glue where the clips were

Step 4: I applied emulsion to each frame using a tiny squeegee (the one I am using is from the Yudu line).

Emulsion time

...and stuck push pins into the bottom for the screen to rest on as it dried in the dark.

Pins act as feet and keep the frame from being smeared

NOTE: You can find my entire photo emulsion silk screening tutorial here for all the details of this process because I am kind of glossing over a few details.

Step 5: I set up my registered trademark, sizes, and clothing information for each label and printed it onto transparency film:

Print out your labels

Each label was exposed onto a screen. I made one screen for every clothing size that I regularly produce:

Get your label on your screen and expose

Washing out the emulsion after exposure:

Washout gently - you don't want to mess up your lines

Now with a little ink and a tiny squeegee I can easily add my logo, size, Made in USA and all the care instructions to every piece of clothing!

Time for the ink

Very professional looking!

Good lines!

It might seem daunting to make so many screens, but if you do it in an assembly line manner it isn't as much work as you think. It took me one Nanny McPhee movie with Boo to stretch and glue all of these screens!

Having one for each size is handy!

Total cost for 20 screens? $47


Customer Comments
Image of a notebook and pencil
 

If you'd rather speak with a human, please call toll-free from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada M-F 8am to 5pm PST

Phone: (800) 542-5227

Your item has been added to your shopping cart   Item Added to Cart
Your item has not been added to your shopping cart   Item Not Added

About Tiered Discount Levels

You can combine cotton and rayon clothing & accessories to get the greatest discounts. Your discount is figured on the total number of cotton and rayon items we ship, not how many of each type, style or size. Mix and match them to get the best discount.

Example: adding 4 each of 3 different T-shirts in any sizes will give you the 12+ price on all 12 shirts.

Visual aid for discount details

Visual aid for how discounts will look in cart

Some products may be excluded from discounts, and / or may discount only with themselves. If you have any questions at all please contact us toll free at 800-542-5227 (no buttons, just humans).

Drag and Drop chips to the Palette first.

ssl test img