Our family will be heading out on a vacation soon, so I dug up an old file I’d created years ago for luggage tags. You know how everyone’s suitcase looks the same as it turns the corner on the airport luggage carousel. It’s good to tie something distinguishing to your bag. The first time I used this graphic for tags I printed them on cardstock and laminated them with Scotch Bag Tags, which works great and can be found at a drug store chain and in office supply stores. 
But today I changed them up a bit. I found a free old canning tag image on The Graphics Fairy and using my very weak Photoshop skills, erased the printing on the tags, lightened the background a bit and left the cool hole-reinforcement graphic, which I filled in the center to avoid any white area when hole punching later. (Ok, that was a VERY weak erase job, but when reducing and covering with text, it’s not noticeable at all.)
I added my graphics (changing a few personal numbers for the sake of this post,) and printed two per tag onto a printable ink-jet fabric sheet. Only peeling the paper backing from one piece to keep the final tag a bit sturdy, I lined the two up pieces back-to-back using my high-end light table (sliding glass door) and taped them together.
Then I sewed through the labels in a couple of places and all around the edges and trimmed them out.
I added a brass grommet and looped it with a piece of left-over gold elastic cord from the holidays then frayed the edges of the tag a bit.
Now with a nice note to the luggage handlers printed on the tags, surely our personal belongings will arrive safely to our destination…eventually.
Feel free to use any of the images from this post. Be sure to pop over to The Graphics Fairy for more great images and projects!
Wow Cathe these are great, and don’t apologize for your “weak” skills any changes on photoshop are a mystery to me so I am very impressed! I have no idea how to do erase and change text from a graphic, maybe one day you’ll do a tutorial for us?
thanks for the inspiration! We’re going to Italy next month so they’ll come in handy.
WOW. You are so inspiring!! LOVE these. Thanks so much.
I think they look really good!
PussDaddy
Very cool, as per your usual coolness with all things graphically artistic, my friend!
That is so original! I just love it!
What a clever idea! Not a thing wrong with your Photoshop skills. I love visiting The Graphics Fairy, lots of neat graphics.
What a fantatic project, thanks for sharing.
You will have the best dressed luggage! Too perfect..wish I had these when I went on my once in a lifetime trip to Europe.. we found our luggage last:(Coming home.
I love your creations Cathe!
Wow! How cool! You are amazingly creative!
eeewww! Super Cute!!! HOpe the read the little message..lol..
The tags are fabulous!!! You can do more in photoshop than I can. Especially since I don't have photoshop. lol! Have fun on vacation & hopefully your bags won't get lost. But if they do, at least the airline will know where to return them to.
Cathe… you are AMAZING!!!! I love seeing what you come up with…you are always an inspiration!! xxoo, Dawn
Wow, over the top once again!! Have a great time on your spring break, hope it’s somewhere exciting!
That is really cool. What is the paper you use for that? I can’t find a good paper to print on for fabrics. It just peels off.
Luv this project – hope your luggage is given the care they deserve.
Cathe, you are very creative and full of great ideas! I love this one. When I used to travel for business, I tied a brightly colored bandana around the handle of my bag. It worked well when I was bleary-eyed. 🙂
Love your creations Cathe!
Love, Love the tags!!! I would buy some if you sold them.
That is just awesome!! Tooooo funny!
You and that sewing machine of yours! Those tags are amazing. They put my plastic Target ones to shame. 😉
What a wonderful idea…very creative!!! tfs
This is a brilliant idea and the outcome of your project is wonderful. I’m definitely going to give this a try for my own travel adventures. Thank you!
ingenious!
Cathe, I found you on The Graphics Fairy. Very creative and fun idea for luggage tags. Thank you for the inspiration.
Mermaid Debbie
Fab idea, looks very classy. Must try this myself sometime.:)
xoxo
I want to be YOU when I grow up! I am so amazed not only by how artistic and creative you are, but you are so resourceful. I am becoming addicted to your blog in trying to catch up on old posts. Thanks for sharing such detailed instructions and photos for visual learners like me.
Great Idea – i'm making some for our next trip – thanks for sharing your wonderful graphics -I love this site!
I have been unable to save several of the freebies from your site after the first download. What am I doing incorrectly?
Thanks
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Wow! You are one of the most creative people I have ever seen, with an eye for the unusual, and an ability to make even simple mundane objects beautiful. Thanks for sharing.