Mabel's Labels are back to school essentials for me

It's that time of year again.  As hard as I try to ignore all of the advertising, in store promotion and my calendar, there's no denying that the school year is looming around the corner.  With a new school year comes new school stuff.  Stuff that needs to find its way home for the rest of the year.

I'd first assumed that we'd outgrow name labels when the kids hit the age where they can recognize their own belongings.  Apparently not.  As they get older, things get shared.  Lots.  Things like clothes with best friends.  Things like geometry sets.  Things like snack containers.  Enter my friend Mabel!

We're going to need some Skinny Minis™ by Mabel's Labels.  These dishwasher / microwave safe and UV resistant labels have outlasted some of our lunch and snack containers.  They're fabulous for stationery supplies and especially for food containers.

Tag-mates™ are also on our list.  They're washer / dryer safe and best of all stick tight to clothing labels without ironing.  Some of the clothes are worn and faded, but the labels are still going strong!

Growing feet mean new shoes and boots too, which means new shoe labels are in order.  Some Teeny Tags™ will round things out nicely, to tack onto pencil cases, lunch kits or backpacks.  (I may place a separate Teeny Tag™ order personalized with an ICE (In Case of Emergency) phone number to hang off clothing for use as personal identification.  They also double as great ID for kiddos who are too cool to wear 411 Wristbands.)

It looks to me like I'm in the need of their Ultimate Back to School Combo!

Post by Mabel's Labels.

If your kiddos are too cool for Mabel's fun designs, they can graduate to the snazzy new Stylish Scholars Combo.


I should also add that their customer service department is one of the best I've had the pleasure to deal with.  They go above and beyond to make sure you're happy with your order.

You all know that I'm a huge fan of Canada's own Mabel's Labels.   I've been writing about them here since 2007 and I was a direct sales agent with them prior to that.  So it shouldn't be a big surprise that Mabel's Labels Ultimate Back-To-School Combo is on my list of things to get before school starts.

Ordering my Mabel's Labels is one back-to-school task I actually look forward to doing!




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Disclosure: I'm a Mabel's Labels Buzzmama and I receive free products for my involvement in the program.

Coupon code for 10% off the Limited Edition Camp Combo (LECC)

Buy 2 or more Limited Edition Camp Combos and save 10% off your entire purchase!

Coupon code: Kids2Camp!

Available only until June 22, 2012, the Limited Edition Camp Combo (LECC) is back and includes two free friendship bracelets!

The LECC includes:

• Sticky Labels
• Skinny-Minis™
• Tag Mates™
• Shoe Labels and
• Bag Tags™

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Disclosure: I'm a Mabel's Labels Buzzmama and I receive free products for my involvement in the program. I'm also a Mabel's Labels web affiliate and I earn a commission if you use the following link to purchase your Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!®

Two free friendship bracelets!

Available only until June 22, 2012, the Limited Edition Camp Combo (LECC) is back and includes two free friendship bracelets!

The LECC includes:

• Sticky Labels
  
• Skinny-Minis™
  
• Tag Mates™
  
• Shoe Labels and
  
• Bag Tags™

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Disclosure: I'm a Mabel's Labels Buzzmama and I receive free products for my involvement in the program. I'm also a Mabel's Labels web affiliate and I earn a commission if you use the following link to purchase your Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!®

Only five days left!

Only 5 days left to grab the Ultimate Back-to-School Combo at last year's price of $39

Read all the details at the website of Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!®

I've already placed my order!





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Disclosure: I'm a Mabel's Labels Buzzmama and I receive free products for my involvement in the program. I'm also a Mabel's Labels web affiliate and I earn a commission if you use the following link to purchase your Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!®

The UBTSC (classic or colourful) is back!

Yes, I know. I'm just getting settled into the rhythm of summer and don't want to be thinking about back-to-school.

I thought you'd want to know that this year there are early bird savings to be had by ordering in July!

Also new this year you can order 40 extra skinny-minis for $11.95.

Available only until September 30th this combo includes:

• 50 Tag Mates™
• 40 Skinny-Minis™
• 16 Shoe Labels
• 2 Teeny Tags™

Choose from 6 limited edition Classic colour palettes or 27 Colourful Label Out Loud™ designs, plus 6 exclusive Ultimate Back-to-School Combo motifs available for both lines.

Read all the details at the website of Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!®

I've already placed my order!





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Disclosure: I'm a Mabel's Labels Buzzmama and I receive free products for my involvement in the program. I'm also a Mabel's Labels web affiliate and I earn a commission if you use the following link to purchase your Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!®

Iron-ons vs Tag-mates™

Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!® clothing labels withstand the wear and tear of laundry and children beautifully! But should you get iron-ons or tag-mates?

	Iron-ons	Tag-mates™
	Iron-ons are the classic choice for clothing labels.	Tag-Mates™ are ideal for quick labeling – no iron necessary!
Size (approx)	46mm x 12mm (1-3/4" x 1/2")	21mm x 10mm (13/16" x 3/8")
Photos	(In contrast to the above photo, iron-on labels are currently manufactured with rounded corners.)
Method of application	ironing onto fabric	stick to clothing labels
Time to apply	3-5 minutes	5-10 seconds
Durability	Withstands washer and dryer. If label begins to peel, can reapply with iron. (Following original application instructions.)	Withstands washer and dryer.
Ease of removal	Many people are able to just pull them off by picking at a corner that has come loose over time. By design, however, the iron-on label ever so slightly melts to adhere to the fabric.	With a little effort, comes off cleanly. (Clothing in this case had been through numerous cold water washes and regular dryer cycles.)
Text size	The identical text will always appear larger on the iron-ons than the tag-mates.	It is possible to have larger text-size on tag-mates if you order the labels without an icon.
Limitations	Fabric must withstand the heat of an iron.	Clothing item must have a clothing tag. (Many tops are now made without tags.)
Advantages	Can be used on clothing, whether or not a tag is present.	Quick and easy to apply. Can be used on non-clothing items.
Hacks	- Double your iron-ons! - Removing iron-ons - Help! I've got more than one child! See all iron-on hacks.	- How do I label boots? - Larger size text for Tag-Mates™? - What else can I do with Tag-Mates™? See all tag-mate hacks.

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Disclosure: I'm a Mabel's Labels Buzzmama and I receive free products for my involvement in the program. I'm also a Mabel's Labels web affiliate and I earn a commission if you use the following link to purchase your Mabel’s Labels – Labels for the stuff kids lose!®

What else can I do with Tag-Mates™?

Mabel's Labels Tag-Mates™ (stick-in clothing labels):

• are ideal for quick labeling – no iron necessary!
• resist the wear and tear of laundry and children beautifully!

But that's not all! Here are some ideas I've heard about (but haven't tried)*:

• Tag-Mates™ are the perfect size for Leapster / GameBoy cartridges. (I've heard that Skinny-Minis™ work well for this too.)
  
• Used by the elderly residing in assisted living centers. (Name and room number on the label.)
• Identifying baby soothers.
• Use on fabric sandals (beachy ones) with clothing tags in them.
• Hockey gear.
  

An additional note, if you order the labels without an icon, the text tends to be larger and easier to read.

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*Your mileage may vary!

Larger size text for Tag-Mates™?

Mabel's Labels Tag-Mates™ (stick-in clothing labels):

• are ideal for quick labeling – no iron necessary!
• resist the wear and tear of laundry and children beautifully!

But what's a person to do if you find the text too small to read?


Solution:

Order the Tag-Mates™ without an icon!

The image to the left shows the approximate sizes* of text if you order the label with an icon or without an icon.





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*Text size will vary with name length. For example in the image without an icon (bottom) the text size for "Nicole Lee" would be smaller than is shown for "N. Lee."

The image is not an actual photograph of the Tag-Mate product. (It is an approximation of the actual product.) The actual product has rounded corners.

How do I label boots?

Pint size boots all seem to look the same. How can you label them so it's obvious to the teachers and the children which boots belong to whom?

Here are some ideas that I've seen work (in no particular order):

• stick Tag-Mates™ on the sizing label on the inside of the tongue of the boot
• stick a Skinny-Mini™ on the sizing label on the inside of the tongue of the boot
• stick a shoe label (with protective cover) on the sizing label on the inside of the tongue of the boot
• stick a shoe label (with protective cover) on the lining on the (inside) side of the boot
• stick a shoe label (with protective cover) into the insole of the boot (it may be difficult to see depending on the style and size of boot)
• stick a Skinny-Mini™ on the outside on the back of the boot (shown in photo to the right)
  

Hope you found a solution that meets your needs!