Friday, August 10, 2012

Laminated luggage tags


we are off on holiday soon and are faced with the age old problem of how to identify our luggage. 



You know how it is..........you wait patiently for the carousel to come round (slowly it seems) with everyone jostling for the space nearest to the black hole in the wall. Then the belt starts to move and, suddenly, there is a sea of arms reaching out for what they think is their luggage!

 You rush round only to find a sea of suitcases the same colour as yours.   It soon becomes clear that there does not seem to be a great choice of luggage tags available on the market and, for that reason, not only are there lots of cases similar to yours but also lots of tags.

so........ I decided to make personalised tags with a funny twist so that, hopefully, we will recognise our luggage the minute it snakes it's way around the carousel. I added our names to both sides of the tags but you could add a contact phone number or address to one side - of course your phone number would suffice as you don't want any baddies looking over your shoulder to know your house is empty lol

the images are from  The Graphics Fairy


I chose this  cute dog with sign for my tags and......

 this - vintage man with trunk  for my husband's

 this project would have been easy peasy if only printed on one side, but, of course, I wanted it on both sides. and that is where it got more difficult!   I had to play around reversing images and text until it all came together ie printed on both sides and placed so that when I cut the tags the front and back images were placed directly on top of each other

I found that it isn't enough just to reverse the image as that meant the script would face the wrong way round and this is what I found worked  out really well

1) Select the images and save in your pictures

2) import the images to a document (I rotated the images to make the next step easier)




Side 1
3) add the text  - you may  have to rotate the text box and/or  image and adjust the size to fit 

6) print




Side 2

5) open the document

4) Reverse the text only and drag in to place on the graphics (or delete the text and add your contact phone number on the reverse in case your luggage gets lost (hope it doesn't but the statistics aren't too good!)

5) insert the card in to your printer drawer with the side you have already printed face up

8) go in to printer settings and click on reverse image

9) print





Laminate & cut, leaving a small border

 Punch holes for ties - this can be quite difficult through laminate so it is best to practice on a blank section first. Don't place the holes too near the edge or the tag may tear with use 

 Add a tie (I used leather cord) and tie on to your luggage

Please feel free to contact me if there is anything I haven't explained properly and, if I can help, I will.




now all you need is the sun - enjoy your holiday!

just a thought....this would be a good option for adding labels to childrens' sports bags or other items. the laminate and leather cord are both strong


oh and......boo hoo I lost all my followers recently when I had to make a new blog - please follow me and make my day!






10 comments:

  1. That's a great idea! I don't travel often, and when I do it's mostly by car. However, the few times I have flown, I've looked frantically around the house for something to use as a luggage tag. Wouldn't it be a great Christmas gift?

    Thanks for visiting my blog. Now I know how to find you!

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    Replies
    1. I was thinking the same Diane - they would make nice little gifts . I have looked at your blog quite a few times and your tatting is gorgeous

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  2. Gill,
    I'd seen these tags on Pinterest & didn't catch that you'd made them! I particularly love the Mr. tag - clever & you'll receive lots of comments as you travel. Thanks for the email letting me know you'd "moved" - I'll have to follow here. Thanks so much for sharing - Kim

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  3. thanks KIm - I am following your blog and must add it to my blog list here
    Gill

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  4. Wow Gill...these tags are so, so cute. I'm definitely going to do this before our next trip! Found you at Brag Monday and I'm happy to be your newest follower. Would love to have you stop by for a visit. Blessings ~ Judy @ www.vintagestreetdesigns.com

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    Replies
    1. Sorry, I thought I had replied to this. Thank you so much

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  5. I dont usually follow blogs but something about your blog attracted me...so here I am. Love the tags so cute. Shelley

    ReplyDelete
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  7. So cute! Do you have a laminating machine? If so, what kind works here?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Patty - I do have a laminating machine. I am in the Uk and I think I got it from Argos. Thanks for your kind comments

    ReplyDelete

thank you for visiting my blog. Please leave a message if you enjoyed your visit, thanks, Gill