How to Always Find Your Suitcase

I have a red bag, the exact size, style, and color of approximately 400 billion other suitcase bags that all seem to merge from the airport baggage carousel at the same time.

I tried tying all manner of weird and bright ties to the handles. This did not make my bag easier to spot, because other people were doing the same thing. However, I have finally found the solution to making a suitcase remarkably easy to spot on the baggage carousel, with no questions, ifs ands or (is that my bag, let me check, nope not my bag.)

Behold:


The decoration has lasted through 1.5 trips through the checked luggage system (the last time I brought it to Louisville, I carried it on the plane on the way there and checked it on the way back.) It made it through Air China's baggage handling system, with only two little corners slightly peeling off (and it will be easy to fix, more glue anyone?) These photos were taken after the vacations were over (today in fact...:)

I will tell you exactly how to turn your bag into an unmistakable beacon, but on one condition: You absolutely positively can not buy the same design of tape as me and decorate a red suitcase with it! That's right, I hereby call this suitcase of the color red with flowers and butterflies unofficially copyrighted. I love having an unmistakable suitcase and it must stay that way! Luckily, there are so many awesome packing tape designs in the world, I don't think mistaking mine or your suitcase will ever be a problem again. :)

Okay, now that's out of the way, here is how you make your suitcase unique out of the billions of bags that all look the same:
You will need:
* Decorative Packing Tape. I chose the butterflies and flowers, which you will not if you have a red suitcase. :) I love Tapeswell, they have awesome designs.
* The most heavy duty clear packing tape you can find.
* Tacky glue, E-6000, or some other sort of glue stronger than Elmer's.

1. Take your boring suitcase and the decorative packing tape. Decide where you want your embellishment to be. Try to choose relatively flat and hard spaces, like the back, the sides, or the bottom of the pockets on the front. Measure how long the pieces of tape will need to be (or just use the tape like I did, measuring is not my particular style. It might work for you though!)

2. Be very careful not to get the packing tape stuck to itself. Lay it down on the suitcase where you want it.

3. That comes off really easily doesn't it? That won't work! So now that your pretty packing tape is positioned, lift it up a little bit at a time, taking care not to crinkle, wrinkle, or fold it, and put down tacky glue on the suitcase. I used Aleene's tacky glue because it was what I could find. You might have a better kind of glue to use and I bet it will work too. Glue down the tape.

4. Take out your clear packing tape. We are going to put this over the pretty packing tape to protect it and make sure it does not get scratched. One thing I've discovered about the pretty tapeswell packing tape is that it scratches and shows any kind of fold or crease. This will prevent it from getting destroyed quickly. Cover the decorative packing tape with the clear packing tape. I glued the edges of the clear packing tape down on my suitcase.

5. Let the suitcase dry. If there are any places along the edge of the packing tape that are coming loose or are not flush with the suitcase, glue them down and let them dry again.

6. NEVER have a problem finding your luggage again!