Look Familiar?
“It’s not mine?” Sound familiar?
Well, someone had to put it there…
I am on a quest to control the towel ‘dropper’ of the family. You think I could figure it out from the streaker, but little ones can run so fast!
I found these towels for $3.50 at Walmart. They are huge and fluffy and white and did I mention $3.50? Why white?…one word BLEach. {{O they look so cozy}}
A little bit of vinyl on the wall so that each child knows where his/her towel should go.
No more, "I don't know where to put it."
(The vinyl is 1.5 inches tall and I used the ‘my name is honey’ font.)
If you need vinyl, strips, or a cutter click here to find out more about where to find it.
Then came the towel labeling. AHHHHHH! Doesn’t this picture scream clean, simplified organization!?!
I know there are a couple ways to label towels
1. Embroidered Towels, but I don’t know how to do that…or where to do that.
2. Use a sharpie marker…that’s what my mother used when I was a girl to label our towels{{ she tells me she likes the look of these better though:)…thanks mom! She always knows how to make me feel good!}}.
3. Buy each kid a different color of towel and they are assigned that color {{I can’t even remember my kid’s names, let alone a color that is supposed to be associated with them}}
4. Heat Transfer Paper… ?!
I used heat transfer paper from Silhouette
If you have a craft cutter it is really easy to use. If you don’t, you can use scissors or an exact o knife. I cut out my letters using the Silhouette…don’t forget to mirror the image after you design it or it won’t cut backwards and that’s what you want. Place the shiny side of the heat transfer paper down and then cut.
I didn’t use that much. I could make a lot of wedding presents with this. Monogrammed towels in a basket full of toiletries. I just need someone to get married!
Pull the excess heat transfer paper off…just like when you ‘tweeze’ vinyl. It comes with it’s own ‘backer’ paper. That’s the clear stuff you see.
Lay it down on the towel. I did the ‘M’ first.
Iron for about 60 seconds.
Pull the clear plastic off. You can then lay the next color on and then iron the next part. 
Yea…organization and simplicity! Missy and Shelley both asked me if they wash off…so I tried it. I used bleach, hot water and a vigorous wash cycle and they came out just fine.
This total project took me under an hour…
and you know how much time it’s going to save me???
…busted!
Jen says
Love these…and all the uses for craft cutters…need a good way to hint for Mother’s Day 🙂
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Getting Crafty… =-.
jill says
A wonderful new product! Love the black and red
Pam @ Design Fanatic says
Very organized! I bought the Walmart $2.50 towels after my girls ruined an expensive good set. I was surprised that they washed up well & the band didn’t shrink up like the more expensive set they replaced. I also have a mystery person at our house who does things whose name is “Not Me”. Not Me does a lot of things people don’t own up to! I’d like to send him packing!
.-= Pam @ Design Fanatic´s last blog ..Prom Day =-.
Heather says
This is AWE.some. I love that! I need some heat transfer paper now…too bad I have no cricut! LOL, I have fabric transfer paper and that would probably work as well….Off to try this! I read this to my husband and he loved it as well, unfortunately my boys have their own bathrooms with their own towel colors….but still with Mother’s Day around the corner…I’m thinking my Mom is going to get a spa basket with this towel idea in it! Great post!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Have you met Iris? =-.
Jen Bradshaw says
What a great idea! I can’t wait to try the transfer paper!
Morgan says
These look fabulous! I can’t believe they stayed on through the wash.
Callie Perkins says
This is fanTAStic!!! I’m going nutso thinking of all the things I’d use this for! Yipee!
Julia says
I would love to try the paper…where do I get it?!
Alison says
Julia Check out our post on https://howdoesshe.com/silhouette-craft-cutter-heat-transfer-giveaway and you’ll see where to get it and even get a chance to win some!
Yea for free!
sarah dybash says
This is a great example with hundreds of uses!
Ellen says
man, just when I think I can’t want a silhouette any more than I already do!!!
.-= Ellen´s last blog ..Rubber Ducky, You’re the One…. =-.
Shannon says
I love this idea for gifts!!!
Carrie Regan says
I am thinking that this would be great for hooded towels for the beach! Or even beach bags made out of a terry-cloth towel. OMG my mind is SPINNING!
Katie says
Love It! Thanks for the idea! 🙂
.-= Katie´s last blog ..Celebrity in the House… =-.
Robin says
Cool, what an awesome idea! I just got the silhouette using your discount code. Would love the transfer paper! Now that I know they withstood bleach and hot water, I can’t wait to get started =)
Nikki says
So it really does withstand the bleach? That’s exciting! I’m a white towels and sheet girl too because I havvvvve to have my bleach!
Melissa says
love it!
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Freebies…. =-.
tiffany says
Perfect gift for tweenagers too.
Lisa says
Great idea as my kids fight over who’s towel is whose.
🙂
Kathryn says
I love everything about it! From the vinyl on the wall to the letters- so cool- and I love the organizational aspsct of it. I think my next towels will be white- since I do bleach my towels- the only thing I bleach, but sometimes it’s just gotta happen. Thanks for such a fabulous idea, I feel calmer already just looking at your towel rack and wall! (and it’s not even mine!) 🙂
.-= Kathryn´s last blog ..Cards for the Women’s Retreat: Pictures =-.
Michele McDonald says
I would be all over some brown heat transfer paper!
Kelley says
This is SO going into my “to do” pile!!! I have to give this a try.
.-= Kelley´s last blog ..NO! The "birds and the bees" already? =-.
Alicia says
I LOVE this idea and having three boys who readily respond with “Not Me” I can see it would be a saver as well!
Margot Perry says
I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before! Brilliant!! I would LOVE to try this out. I hope I win!!! You ladies always think of the coolest stuff! Thanks!
Jane T says
I need to win this so I can mark the beach towels that my grandchildren leave in the yard when they finish swimming. This way, I can just leave theirs in the grass and they will have to deal with it and everyone else will have a dry and clean one. I love this idea.
Judy R says
Oh my gosh I have to get some of this and do towels for my family reunion coming up in July…..I wanted to do something special now with your Idea and the heat transfer paper, I can do it and keep in my budget ….thanks for sharing
Debbie Smith says
Great idea! Now you should nab that mystery messer upper! I love that font, too!
Wendi says
Super cute!!
Check out my website http://www.alphabetsoupembroidery.com for cute embroidered gifts (including towels.)
Dana says
How fabulously simple! I love it!
.-= Dana´s last blog ..Caardvarks Celebrating Core’dinations Monochromatic Challenge =-.
Gwen B says
I don’t have a silhouette machine to make the mirror image but I do have a cricut. Is it possible to stick the shiny side up on the machine when you cut so the letters come out correct or will that mess up the adhesive on the transfer paper? Has anyone out there tried the sure cuts a lot program (the MAC version)???? It is supposed to let you use any fonts that are downloaded on your computer and I know that you can “weld” letters together. I’m guessing that it might let us cricut users do the reverse imaging technic too. I would love to get it but am waiting to hear if it has any bugs since I only have mac books.
Thanks
Alison says
Hi Gwen
Here’s the answer for the shiny side up: No you can’t stick the shiny side up…that’s is what is used for the protective clear sheet that you iron over with.
And the question about…MACs? I have never used one so I am going to leave that one up to our readers. Can anyone answer this that has a MAC?
Gwen B says
OK, I see that the paper has a backing paper on it like the vinyl. I guess having the shiny side up would not work to get the letters to come out rights…..foiled again.
Jen says
Great idea!! Looks so nice & organized. If it worked for you, maybe it will for me, too. Now, if you could tell me where to get a self-cleaning bathroom. Evidently, my family thinks ours is.
Melanie @ Whimsical Creations says
What a cute idea.
.-= Melanie @ Whimsical Creations´s last blog ..Take Me Back Tuesday & Flashback Friday =-.
Anne Marie says
This is fantastic – love it.
Nikki says
I love white towels. That crisp clean spa-like feeling. How fun to put the names on the bottom!
.-= Nikki´s last blog ..Who needs a flashlight anyway? =-.
Liz@HoosierHomemade says
Super cool! I’ve been thinking of buying a different color for each family member. But this is sooo much better!
Thanks for always having such SUPER neat stuff! I could just spend ALL day here!
BTW – I LUV your new picture! I really wish I had your hair! All of you 🙂
~Liz
.-= Liz@HoosierHomemade´s last blog ..Decorating for Spring with Flowers =-.
Alli Garlich says
I was also wondering how to go about doing this with a cricut machine? Is there a way for the cricut machine to print backwards?? Anyone know??
.-= Alli Garlich´s last blog ..Bowling, 50th Birthday, and the Zoo! =-.
Christian@rengoeringstips says
Cool idea. I think all parents know the problem with towels on the floor. Do you have an idea on how to get kids to clean up their toys?? 🙂
.-= Christian@rengoeringstips´s last blog ..Rengøring af termokande =-.
Jessica says
I am in LOVE with this idea!! My kids love to have their name or initials on anything and everything!! And I LOVE it when my husband and I get monogramed personalized gifts.I will certainly have to do this project when we get moved into our new house this summer. Thanks!!! I also love the contrat between the dark and light blue colors you used. Very nice and it will work great in the predominantly “boy” bathroom my poor girls have to share LOL..
Tina says
I just have to leave a comment on the towels. I saw those at my Walmart–they were white with lime green stripes at the bottom and some with aqua at the bottom. They were $3.50, I couldn’t believe it! And, they are BIG & FLUFFY! I was very surprised! I love them in my bathroom!!!
Emily @ Help Emily Lose Weight says
Hey, can you tell me how the heat transfer material is holding up on these terry cloth towels after washing? I have some frog towels for my boys and want to put their names on them but I am afraid it will come off the terry cloth too easily and then they will look crappy.
.-= Emily @ Help Emily Lose Weight´s last blog ..The Baby Shower =-.
Alison says
Emily…I have washed mine now about 10 times and it’s still on. I’ve used hot water and the put it on the towel cycle. So it has stayed on for me:)
Emily says
Alison,
I still haven’t gotten around to doing this but I still want to! Are your towels still holding up? Thanks!
BTW, I bought Siser Easy weed heat transfer material and it is GREAT!
Emily
.-= Emily´s last blog ..Eating out =-.
Alison says
Emily
I haven’t heard of siser easy weed. What is it? I’m interested! The towels are great. I had an one edge lift a tad, but I just re-ironed it, using the back plastic that it came on and put a towel over it so I didn’t ruin my iron and it stuck! Easy enough and I still love them!
Carrie Regan says
I made these, but the letters are lifting on the edges.. Any advice?
.-= Carrie Regan´s last blog ..Bathroom…. =-.
Alison says
Re-iron them, but make sure to use the plastic from the heat transfer paper and put a thin fabric over the top so it does not melt on your iron:)
Tricia says
I love that idea! It amazes me how anything ever ends up on the floor because no one used it and it doesn’t belong to anyone. Great idea! Thanks
Denise says
What an awesome yet teaching responsability idea!!!! I wish I had a SILHOUTTE!!!!!!!!
Kimm Geria says
What is the name of the font you used on these? Very cute.
Holly says
I would live to know the fonts. I finay bought the Silhouette (with heat transfer !!) and I’m in deep with the font choices. 🙂
pennysmom says
VERY CUTE! But between my two teenage boys there would still be a problem… “it’s MY towel, but J put it there”
Kristy says
Hello!
Love this idea! I’m new to the Howdoesshe blog and I’m addicted! I am currently researching some ideas for my daughter’s birthday party.. and I am trying to find good quality heat transfers. Since Alison says she’s washed her multiple times and the wordings have not fallen off I was quite excited! I will be making aprons for the kids but wanted to haven them personalized.. Do you need the Silouhette Printer in order to prinder images onto the heat transfer paper? If yes, are there any other good quality heat tranfer paper that I am able to use?
Thank you!
Kristy
Missy says
So happy you love the site! The Silhouette just cuts the transfer paper into whatever shapes you want. You can order heat transfer paper right from the Silhouette website and cut it yourself if you want, maybe use stencils to get the shape you want.
Rana says
I am SO excited about this tutorial! I just received a Cricut for Christmas and now I have a reason to use it! 🙂 THanks so much for posting this! LOVE IT!
Sara T says
Love it. How has your heat transfer material held up in the wash on the terry cloth!!!
Suzanne says
Thank you so much for this tip! I have 5 kids at home and they drop towels like crazy. No more dropped towels here:)
Connie Lichtenberg says
I’ve been looking for a way to mark my cleaning cloths, towels & rags. I don’t want to use the cloth for the outside of the toilet for the sink. I also don’t want to mistakenly wipe up a cleaner that has ammonia with a cloth containing bleach..I’d also rather not use 4 different cloths for each of my bathrooms, kitchen, etc. This is a EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for!!! Now to find out what hear transfer paper is & how to do this without a cricut.
Kristina says
That is a great idea. I’m wondering, though, how they’ve held up over time? I made my son an elephant T-shirt with heat transfer, and it wasn’t long before it got messed up. Hopefully you have better luck! And for those who don’t have a Silhouette, it wouldn’t be hard to appliqué an initial onto a towel. Just print it out from the computer, cut it out, use that to trace it onto your fabric, use double sided fusible web to attach it to the towel, and sew around the edges. (I have a Silhouette now, but it used to make me so sad to read all the great ideas for them before I had one.) Filing this away for when my boys don’t have different hoodie towels. 🙂
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kat says
I was just wondering how long this held up with washing and drying??