A heat-transfer label assembly and method of using the same. In one
embodiment, the assembly is particularly well-suited for decorating
flexible plastic articles and comprises a paper substrate overcoated with
a layer of polyethylene, a skim coat of wax overcoated onto the
polyethylene layer, and one or more spaced apart, heat-transfer labels
printed onto the skim coat. Each label is bondable to the article when
activated by heat and consists of one or more ink design layers, each ink
design layer comprising a mixture of polyester resins, a pigment, a
cross-linking resin and a catalyst. When initiated by label transfer, the
catalyst causes the cross-linking resin to partially cross-link the
polyester resin to an extent that the label is endowed with protective
properties while still retaining sufficient flexibility to avoid cracking
when the article is flexed.