Backpack Tags for your kids?

I thought that it would be cute to make backpack tags for my girls with their names on it but I'm stumpped for ideas!
Has anyone made any for there kids?
Post them here so we can all get some inspiration! I love making little things for my kids and you think that a tag would be super easy- but I am having a creative block!

Tags- how big are you thinking?

You can get shrink plastic sheets, cut it to a tag shape and decorate and then shrink it- they're pretty tough after they're shrunk. Be sure to punch the hole BEFORE you shrink it!

What about doing chipboard and coating in mod podge?

Or if you want- balsa wood and doing mod podge over it?

What about buying a plain luggage tag and do your design on paper and slide that paper into the part where someone might slide their contact information? That way it is protected from dirt, water, etc.

Here's one I did last year for my daughter; she's only in pre-school so her backpack doesn't get a lot of use. I like Candace' idea about altering a luggage tag.

Sara, that is darling! Any girl would love that. I have no ideas myself, but would definitely consider laminating the tag or something. My kids' backpacks looked totally abused by the end of each school year!

I think you're idea is a great and I would totally do it if I had kiddos. I work with little ones and at the beginning of the year I tie name tags to back packs for the first week so I know who belongs to which backpack. I did have one mom who got upset because she was concerned about strangers knowing her kids names. So I took that kids tag off so she wouldn't worry. I think she was right but your idea is so darn cute.

I love the idea of the luggage tags. I teach 1st grade and there are so many backpacks that look alike. It would be great to be able to see at first glance whose backpack is whose....I suggest also putting your child's name on the inside somewhere inconspicuous with permanent marker. Believe it or not, I had a parent last year claim someone else's backpack as her child's....until we found the name on the inside.

• daezee Said:

I never thought of backpack tags...I usually put my kids' names on their backpacks on the inside of the straps (the part that's against them when they put them on, NOT viewable to everybody) with fabric paint. It stays on all year, and I can use colors that coordinate with their backpacks.

Never thought of fabric paint. Great idea.

I'm thinking of putting some bling on my daughter's backpack, even though she already used it for three weeks. (She had a three-week pre-kindergarten program that just finished up yesterday.)

I used the laminating ones and made the tag then put in the laminate. My kids love them, wish I could share a pic but no scanner on this computer and no easy share here either.

I wonder if you could make them and then run them through one of the big laminating xyron s?

• BlingQueenRia Said:

I agree with Bling Queen here --

Not to be the wet towel in this discussion, but...
it's not a good idea to have the kid's name visible on their stuff, especially very young kids.
A child may be lured by a stranger using their name. ("He knows my name, he must be okay.")


When my daughter was about 4, we went to Disneyland. As we got off a ride, the operator called her by name and asked how she liked the ride. It completely freaked her out, "how does he know my name?!" I had to remind her we had it stitched on the mouse ears she was wearing.

That is adorable! Makes me sometimes wish I had a girl and a boy. Boys just dont appreciate the frilly stuff!! (But we love them anyways!)

• debib55 Said:

My DS's school discourages large name tags for the same reason the mom mentioned above did. SO now we always put something on there so he knows what is his but doesn't have his name on it. Last year I did a circle that looked like the face off circle in hockey and put some hockey sticks on it. I have made ballet slippers etc for some of the girls, We put their info on the inside. Since our kids have lockers from Kindergarden on up it is not that big of a deal.

There is a luggage tag kit that is in the section with the laminators. YOu could use that as a tamplate and then laminate it.

I understand about not wanting your kids name visable for strangers but last year when my daughter was in preschool her teacher wrote everyone's names on the front of their backpack with a sharpie! (In a very bad handwriting and without asking permission!) I was pretty upset because we had sprung for the expensive Lands End backpacks! Our kids go to a very small private school and a lot of the kids have their name embroidered on their bags. I'm going to try some cute tags and see if we can avoid the Sharpies!

Very cute but I'd worry about stragers knowing there name.

• Bxr-Linda Said:

That's why I said I put their names on the INSIDES of the straps. When they wear their backpacks, their names are against them and NOT visible to the general public.

• momof3girlz Said:

Why on earth.... ???
I am speechless!

OMG!! I would have thrown a fit!!!!

• BlingQueenRia Said:

I caught that! Great idea!

I put my kids' names INSIDE too.

• Bxr-Linda Said:

We're told to put our kids' names on the backpacks so they know whose is whose, but then for safety's sake we don't want everybody knowing our kids' names. That's how kidnappers/pedophiles get them. By calling their names. So when my son started kindergarten I came up with this new place to put his name. However, it IS a pain in the neck to get the name there in the first place and get it to dry. But it's worth it, IMO.

• Bxr-Linda Said:

I would've demanded a refund for my purchase price of the backpack.

This thread has inspired me, though, to do a tag for my daughter. Elizabeth is in love with her first initial, so I am considering a tag for her backpack with a big "E" on it. And JUST the "E." I'll have her full name in the usual place.

• BlingQueenRia Said:

Now that I think about it, is there any way you could alter it? Maybe with a fabric applique? (You can make your own, you know, with fabric of your choice and Wonder Under.)

• Bxr-Linda Said:

Oh man! I'm with you here! My dd's preschool makes sure we have an outer name tag on her backpack, or they'll take the liberty and use sharpies. Once she had a substitute and came home with her FULL NAME written on the outside (not even the bottom or inside) of her white leather shoes with a black sharpie. I was LIVID, to say the least.

• ScrapperSara22 Said:

WTH?? That's INSANE!

• seaexplore Said:

Wow - did this thread get off track.

I can't believe these things! Crazy.

Our elementary school used to 'pool' the school supplies and then dole them out to the kids as needed. So, for example, although I specifically purchased Crayola for my kids, they may end up with some cheesy dollar store supplies.
This used to tick me off, so I would put my kid's name in BIG Sharpie on them.
I know, a little OCD!

[quote=Bxr-Linda][quote=s eaexplore][quote=Scrapper Sara22][quote=Bxr-Linda][ quote=momof3girlz]... but last year when my daughter was in preschool her teacher wrote everyone's names on the front of their backpack with a sharpie! (In a very bad handwriting and without asking permission!) I was pretty upset because we had sprung for the expensive Lands End backpacks!
[/quote]

Why on earth.... ???
I am speechless!

OMG!! I would have thrown a fit!!!!
[/quote]

Oh man! I'm with you here! My dd's preschool makes sure we have an outer name tag on her backpack, or they'll take the liberty and use sharpies. Once she had a substitute and came home with her FULL NAME written on the outside (not even the bottom or inside) of her white leather shoes with a black sharpie. I was LIVID, to say the least.

[/quote]

WTH?? That's INSANE!
[/quote]

Wow - did this thread get off track.

I can't believe these things! Crazy.

Our elementary school used to 'pool' the school supplies and then dole them out to the kids as needed. So, for example, although I specifically purchased Crayola for my kids, they may end up with some cheesy dollar store supplies.
This used to tick me off, so I would put my kid's name in BIG Sharpie on them.
I know, a little OCD!

[/quote]

I would be furious if any teacher wrote Lizzie's name on her shoes...Lizzie is all girl and partial to Mary Janes, and not just any Mary Janes, but patent leather ones. I'd be LIVID and I'd be raising serious cain if anybody did that.

I label my kids' stuff, too, because I want them to have THEIR school supplies. I buy them Crayola school supplies because for kids, Crayola is the best.

[quote=Bxr-Linda][quote=s eaexplore][quote=Scrapper Sara22][quote=Bxr-Linda][ quote=momof3girlz]... but last year when my daughter was in preschool her teacher wrote everyone's names on the front of their backpack with a sharpie! (In a very bad handwriting and without asking permission!) I was pretty upset because we had sprung for the expensive Lands End backpacks!
[/quote]

Why on earth.... ???
I am speechless!

OMG!! I would have thrown a fit!!!!
[/quote]

Oh man! I'm with you here! My dd's preschool makes sure we have an outer name tag on her backpack, or they'll take the liberty and use sharpies. Once she had a substitute and came home with her FULL NAME written on the outside (not even the bottom or inside) of her white leather shoes with a black sharpie. I was LIVID, to say the least.

[/quote]

WTH?? That's INSANE!
[/quote]

Wow - did this thread get off track.

I can't believe these things! Crazy.

Our elementary school used to 'pool' the school supplies and then dole them out to the kids as needed. So, for example, although I specifically purchased Crayola for my kids, they may end up with some cheesy dollar store supplies.
This used to tick me off, so I would put my kid's name in BIG Sharpie on them.
I know, a little OCD!

[/quote]



I don't blame you, you paid for the best and someone else using it!!!! Nothing like a box of Crayola Crayons!!!

On the name thing, to my children I always wrote their names inside their backpacks for safety reasons and with a red sharpie I drew a heart outside. That way they knew it was theirs and it was a constanly reminder of my love to them.

But it is a great idea of the personalized tag with out names.

are school does the same thing they put everything into bins for all the kids.. i buy my kids stuff and the kids parent that can not afford or refuse to buy them use my kids stuff and then i have to send it in all the time.. i complain this year to the vice super about it. because it is getting bad like every week glue bad..

she said they are haven a meeting about it because she did not know that was going on and she does not feel it is right . there is enough programs out there to help people that can not afford the suppiles..


she also stated that this year for summer school the kids that missed less than one day got free school suppiles and she did not buy everything on the list because she thinks the list is out of this world.. my reply was really i have 4 kids i am buying for.. she said that list is going to be changed for next year if she has anything to do with it..

Yup. I'm thinking if I do a tag for Lizzie's bag, it will just have her initial on it. The child is in LOVE with her "E."

• Bxr-Linda Said:

Unfortunately, some school systems require their students, in particular bus-riding kindergarteners, to were a big bus tag around their necks or on the outside of their bookbags anyway in order to ensure that the child gets on the correct bus both before and after school. So this is something that cannot be avoided a lot of times.

At least what is being offered here are just first names and not FULL names as some of our schools subject our kids to.

• CMLeach Said:

Ours has the child wear a colorful bus on their shirt with the number on it. The children are grouped by what bus they ride, and the teachers help the kids get on the right bus.

I agree with Bling Queen here --

Not to be the wet towel in this discussion, but...
it's not a good idea to have the kid's name visible on their stuff, especially very young kids.
A child may be lured by a stranger using their name. ("He knows my name, he must be okay.")