How to Make DIY Luggage Tags

Do you travel? Then you know how important it is to have tags to identify your luggage. Let me share with you how to make DIY luggage tags.

I’ve been without luggage tags for my last few trips, which is not good. I decided it was time for new ones so I decided to make them myself.

This project is quick and easy. You’ll love that you can customize them to your favorite colors. You can use different colors for different pieces of equipment or different family members.

The most important thing is to have a secure way to include your personal information for identification. Secondly, with so many pieces of luggage looking the same, you want to be able to identify your own luggage with your custom luggage tags at baggage claim.

I’m giving you a few options for making this DIY luggage tag tutorial.

Before I go further, I want to let you know that these DIY luggage tags have other uses. They are so easy to make and very inexpensive.

Places to Use the DIY Luggage Tags

Here are all the ways that I think these DIY luggage tags can be used:

kids’ school backpacks
travel backpacks
kids’ lunch boxes
kids’ toys when traveling
trunks for camp or college
kids’ camp laundry bags (I’m thinking for summer camp.)
carry-on bags
picnic hampers
coolers for tailgating
sleeping bags
camping equipment
yard tools that you lend out
summer travel supplies

I’m sure that there are more ideas you can think of.

DIY Luggage Tags as Gifts

After you make this very simple luggage tag for yourself, consider these ideas to use them as handmade gifts:

kids’ birthday favors
bridal shower favors
graduation party favors
teacher gifts
bon voyage gifts for friends traveling

The Idea for the Homemade Luggage Tag

With an upcoming trip to Atlanta on my agenda, I decided to stop procrastinating and make my own unique luggage tag.

Sweet Shark has leather luggage tags from our Viking River cruise several years ago. Somehow, mine disappeared after that trip. I did buy a very nice leather one at a gift shop about two years ago. I spent way too much on it, then, the leather strap broke after a year.

Since I need at least two luggage tags, I decided I could save a lot of money and make my own tags.

How to do that?

Supplies for the Luggage Tags

A search online for luggage tag ideas turned up these plastic zip-seal luggage tags. They are called “cruise tags”. Four to a package with a secure wired strap perked my interest. The price was very affordable and I could customize them. This idea seemed like a good one.

I like that the straps are sturdy wires that screw together

How could I customize these luggage tags? Here are the supplies that I used. All are available online or at your favorite craft store.

heavy cardstock in the color of your choice
scrapbook paper in a coordinating color
permanent Scotch adhesive tape dispenser or other glue or adhesive
Avery labels

For cutting your cardstock and scrapbook paper you have four options:

scissors and ruler
paper cutter
rotary cutter and cutting mat
Cricut machine

Easy Steps to Making Your Luggage Tags

I’m going to make two luggage tags for both my large suitcase, my carry-on smaller suitcase and one for my computer bag.

Step 1 – Measure the dimensions of your luggage tag. The tags I ordered are 6.5 inches in length x 3.5 inches in width. I like that these tags are large.

Step 2 – For each luggage tag, choose a solid color of your choosing in heavy cardstock and a pattern of scrapbook paper in a coordinating color. I choose blue as my color scheme.

NOTE: This is a great opportunity to use small leftover pieces of cardstock and scrapbook paper.

Step 3 – Here’s where you can decide how to cut your cardstock:

You can use a pencil and ruler to measure the cardstock and use scissors to cut it out.
You can use a paper cutter.
You can measure with a pencil, then use a rotary cutter and cutting mat.
You can use a Cricut to design and cut your cardstock.

The cardstock will be the back of the tag. Regardless of how you cut the cardstock, I determined that it should be 5 1/2 inches long and 3 inches wide.

Step 4 – Cut out your cardstock. I decided to use my Cricut. (I’m getting back into using my Cricut more and have been making a few projects.)

I used Cricut Design Space to design my cardstock at 5.5 inches x 3 inches.

Step 5 – Cut out your scrapbook paper. For the scrapbook paper, I used 4.5 inches x 2.5 inches as my size.

Again, I used Cricut Design Space to design this size. Since I was using 3 different patterns of scrapbook paper, I made three different cuts with my Cricut.

Step 6 – Make your information card. I had a package of Avery labels in the 2-x 2-inch size. The number is 22806.

I picked a cute design from all the possibilities.

I included my name, phone number, and email address. I don’t include my address for security reasons.

NOTE: You can use your business card instead if you like.

Assembling the Luggage Tag

Once you have your three elements, it’s time to connect them.

Step 7 – Set your cardstock piece on your work surface.

Step 8 – Turn the patterned scrapbook piece over and apply the adhesive tape to the entire back. Turn the scrapbook over and center over the cardstock. Press down to adhere firmly.

Step 9 – Remove the label from the backing. Center it over the scrapbook piece and attach it to the scrapbook/cardstock.

NOTE: If you don’t have the Avery labels, you can still print off the design from the Avery website and cut them out with your paper cutter.

Step 10 – Slide your paper luggage tag into the plastic sleeve.

What do you think of these chic luggage tags? I love that they were so easy and so inexpensive. I really like the custom look. It will be easy to find my luggage at the airport. I feel better knowing that my travel bags have my contact information on them.

Final Luggage Tag Step

The last step is to attach the tags to your luggage. It’s really easy using the wire straps. This little tag project was perfect for using small leftover pieces of cardstock scrapbook paper.