How Your Labels Are Made at Love and Labels
When you order custom labels online, it can look like a simple finished product arrives in the mail — but there is a lot of hands-on work that happens behind the scenes before your labels are ready to apply.
At Love and Labels, our labels are made using quality vinyl, not printed paper stickers. Each order is designed, cut, weeded, transferred, trimmed and packed by hand from our home-based business in Mandurah, WA. Whether you’ve ordered pantry labels, bathroom bottle labels, laundry labels or custom organisation labels, the process is detailed, practical and a lot more manual than most people realise.
Step 1: Your Order Comes Through
Once your order is placed, we copy your chosen label wording over into our design programme.
This is where we check the details you’ve entered, set up each label, and make sure the wording is ready to be cut. If you’ve selected a specific font, we apply your chosen font at this stage so your labels match the style you picked on the website.
For products with sizing options, we also follow our label sizing chart so the finished labels are made to suit the item they are intended for. Pantry jars, spice jars, bottles, tubs and storage containers all need different sizing, so this part matters.
Step 2: Your Labels Are Set Up for Cutting
After the wording, size and font are checked, the labels are laid out ready for the vinyl cutter.
This is the part where we try to use the vinyl efficiently while still allowing enough room around each label for weeding, trimming and transfer tape. Some designs are simple and quick to set up, while others — especially script fonts, small wording or lots of individual labels — need more care.
Unlike printed stickers, vinyl labels are cut from a sheet of coloured vinyl. That means the cutter follows the shape of every letter, number or design.
Step 3: The Vinyl Colour Is Loaded
Next, we load your chosen vinyl colour into the cutter.
This might be black, white, gold, silver, matte, gloss or another colour depending on what you’ve selected. The vinyl is lined up carefully so the cutter can cut cleanly and evenly across the sheet.
Once everything is loaded and checked, the machine cuts the label design into the vinyl.
Step 4: The Labels Are Cut
The cutter uses a small blade to cut around each letter and design element.
This part can look quite simple from the outside, but the settings need to be right. If the cut is too shallow, the vinyl won’t weed properly. If it’s too deep, it can cut through the backing paper and make the labels harder to apply.
Once the labels are cut, they are still sitting on the backing sheet with all the extra vinyl around them.
Step 5: The Top Layer Is Pulled Away
After cutting, we pull away the top layer of excess vinyl.
This is where the label starts to appear. The unwanted vinyl around the letters is removed, leaving behind only the parts that will become your finished label.
With simple block fonts, this can be fairly quick. With script fonts, small wording, dots, apostrophes, numbers, fine lines or detailed designs, it takes more time and patience.
Step 6: Each Label Is Weeded by Hand
Weeding is the process of removing all the tiny pieces of vinyl that don’t belong in the final design.
That means taking out the centres of letters like a, e, o, d, p, b and any small spaces inside script fonts or decorative designs. This is all done by hand using a weeding tool.
It is one of the most time-consuming parts of making vinyl labels, especially for custom labels with lots of wording. It is also one of the reasons vinyl labels look so clean once applied. There is no white sticker background around the word — just the cut vinyl lettering.
Step 7: Transfer Tape Is Applied
Once the labels have been weeded, transfer tape is applied over the top.
Transfer tape is what allows you to lift the vinyl label off the backing paper and apply it neatly to your jar, bottle, container, sign or smooth surface. Without transfer tape, it would be almost impossible to place each tiny letter straight and spaced correctly.
The transfer tape is smoothed down carefully so the vinyl sticks to it properly and is ready for application.
Step 8: Labels Are Cut Down with the Guillotine
After transfer tape has been applied, the larger sheet is cut down using a guillotine.
This gives the labels clean, straight edges and makes them easier to handle. We trim the sheet into smaller sections first, then cut the labels down further depending on the order.
This step helps make sure your labels arrive neat, tidy and easy to apply.
Step 9: Each Individual Label Is Cut
Once the main sheet has been trimmed, each individual label is cut apart.
This is especially important for custom label packs, pantry labels, bathroom labels, laundry labels and storage labels where every label needs to be separate and easy to use.
Each label includes the vinyl design, backing paper and transfer tape, ready for you to apply at home.
Step 10: Your Labels Are Packed with Instructions
The finished labels are then placed into our envelopes along with application instructions.
The instructions explain how to apply your vinyl labels properly, including cleaning the surface first, making sure it is dry, rubbing over the transfer tape and peeling slowly.
Vinyl labels apply best to smooth, clean, dry surfaces such as glass jars, plastic containers, acrylic, metal bottles and glossy storage tubs. For best results, avoid applying labels to textured, dusty, oily or damp surfaces.
Why We Make Labels This Way
We make our labels this way because vinyl gives a clean, professional finish without the look of a printed sticker.
There is no clear sticker border, no paper backing left on your container and no bulky label edge. Once applied, your label looks like it has been placed directly onto the surface.
It does take more time than simply printing a sheet of stickers, but the end result is worth it — especially for home organisation, pantry makeovers, bathroom bottles, laundry products, event signage and business displays.
Handmade Custom Labels from Mandurah, WA
Every Love and Labels order is made with care from our small business in Mandurah, Western Australia.
From setting up your wording in the design programme to cutting, weeding, applying transfer tape and packing your labels, each order goes through multiple hands-on steps before it arrives with you.
So when your labels land in the mail, they are ready for the fun part — applying them and finally getting that organised, matching look you’ve been waiting for.
Ready to organise your home or business?
Browse our range of:
Pantry Labels
Custom Labels
Laundry & Cleaning Labels
Bathroom Bottle Labels
Home Organisation Labels
