What are address labels?

Address labels are handy little labels that are used for making the addressing of envelopes, packages and boxes a lot easier. As a bonus, address labels provide a uniform look for envelopes, packages and boxes, and ensure proper deciphering by postal workers. Address labels are a big hit with a lot of online store sellers and online ebay sellers, where a lot of items are being shipped in and out every single day. Time can be of the essence, so it's important to use address labels to ensure proper spelling and capitalization. Also, address labels are often quicker to fill out than regular handwritten labels.

What do address labels look like?

Address labels can take on many looks and styles, from traditional to contemporary to somewhere in between. But first, let's focus on the dimensions of address labels. Address labels can be 1.5" x 0.5", 1.5" x 1", 1.75 " x 0.5, 1.813 " x 0.5", 2.5" x 1.563", 2.625" x 0.875", 2.625" x 1", 3.5" x 0.75", 4" x 1", 4" x 1.33", 4" x 1.4375", 4" x 2", and 4.25" x 2". As you can see, there are a lot of sizes of address labels to choose from! And in addition to dimensions, you can also choose the type of border you would like for your address labels. Some people are happy with square corners, while others may prefer a slightly rounded border, or a strongly rounded border.
So, what size of address labels should you use? That largely depends on what information you'll be including on the address label. If you only need to put text on two or three lines, then smaller address labels should do fine. On the other hand, if you have more text to include on your address labels, would like to use a larger font, and/or want to include some sort of image on your address labels, then you should definitely opt for the larger sizes.

How can I create address labels?

The easiest way to create address labels is to use a computer, a printer and address labels creation software, with the matching address labels template. Assuming you already have a computer and a printer that is supplied with ink, you'll next need to find software or a word processing program that includes templates for address labels. Microsoft Word, Open Office, Hallmark products and Avery products all have address label templates pre-loaded into them. With these programs, it is very easy to create address labels.
Next, you'll need to find address labels templates. These are sheets that have the adhesive address labels positioned on them evenly. These sheets are usually sold in packs of three, five, eight, ten and twenty, and are available for purchase at many discount retailers and office supply stores.

Can I purchase address labels?

If you would rather not make your own address labels, either bcause you don't have the time, the supplies or the desire to, then you can definitely purchase address labels. Many websites specialize in doing custom printing orders for a variety of stationery related items, including business cards, and of course, address labels. Oftentimes you can purchase several hundred address labels for just a few dollars. On these websites, you'll be able to specify a lot of the options for your address labels, including dimensions (see two paragraphs up for the available dimensions for address labels), borders (straight, slightly curved, rounded), and then the colors and fonts used. You'll have a lot of options for colors -- just about every color of the rainbow is available, including black, silver and gold embossing. You can choose the type of font your text is displayed in, and will most likely have several choices between serif and sans-serif fonts.
Once you have determined the colors and fonts, it's time to customize the text that will be displayed on your address labels! Assuming you are doing return address labels the following format is best:
Your first name, your last name
Your street address
Your city, state and zip code
Phone number (optional)

Using return address labels

Return address labels are a great way to complement your stationery, envelopes and mailings. If you are a business, you can use custom return address labels that use specific colors and styles to reflect those of your company's brand and logo. If you are an individual or family, you can choose return address labels that are traditional, whimsical, religious, classic, seasonal, or anything else you can think of! For families in particular, one great option for return address labels is to use stick figures to represent all family members, and choose a childlike font, such as Comic Sans Serif, for the writing.
Return address labels, when ordered from companies, typically come in quantities of 100 or more. This is because companies use industrial machines and materials to create their address labels, so it doesn't make sense to put such equipment to work and charge you for shipping and handling on a small number of return address labels. So, expect to receive address labels in quantities of 100, 150, 200, even 500 or more. And many companies offer discounts on return address labels and other supplies if you order more than you would normally.

What are personalized address labels?

Personalized address labels are address labels that are personalized to reflect the personality or traits of the person who created the address labels. Personalized address labels might be used for mailing address labels, or even return address labels. Some companies often use personalized address labels as a way to enforce their company logo. This is known as logo or image branding, and it helps consumers to associate a certain image or color with a company.
People often choose to use personalized address labels for their own personal mailings because they're a fun way to express themselves. Personalized address labels are not very expensive, nor are they difficult to make or purchase, and one design can mean several hundred or even several thousand personalized address labels. Personalized address labels can be customized to match a specific theme, a specific season or even a specific holiday. Many people who celebrate Christmas not only send Christmas cards, but they use Christmas themed stamps, and also personalized address labels that reflect the holiday at hand.

Creating personalized address labels

With a computer or laptop, a printer that can accept adhesive labels and a word processing program, you can easily create your own personalized address labels. Stores like Wal-mart, Target, Office Max and Staples all carry address label templates that are ready to be fed into your printer. Then you just need to open up a word processing program or label making software program, and look for the option to create a mailing label (this is usually found where you can create envelopes).
Once you have chosen the template that corresponds with the address label sheets you purchased, you are ready to begin the design of your personalized address labels. First, start with a border, if you're going to have one. You can do a solid border, a dashed or dotted border, or another type of border altogether.
Now it's time to put in the crucial information for your personalized address labels: the name and address. If you are doing return address labels, then you can create one label and choose to have the program replicate its information for all of the labels on the to-be-printed sheet. If you are going to be creating mailing labels, then unless you are sending fifty or more mailings to one person, you'll only need to do it once.
Either way, the information that goes onto your personalized address labels is the same:
Name
Street address
City, state, zip code

Ideas for personalized address labels

Many software programs will have pre-made designs that you can use for your address labels. If these aren't to your liking, many online sites and stores will have templates available for download that you can use for your personalized address labels. If you're still stumped for ideas, consider purchasing personalized address labels from a company that makes them. They hire designers to create address labels, so you'll have the best ideas at hand.

Creating adhesive labels

Jump on board with getting your life organized with the use of one simple and affordable piece of electronic equipment: the label maker. With a label maker and adhesive labels, you are well on your way to a more organized life and routine! Creating adhesive labels with a label maker is a breeze! Of course, if you really want to, you can create adhesive labels with the use of a printer, but when you're only doing a few labels, a printer, which is usually set up with label sheets, is not a good idea, since any given print job can churn out a hundred or more labels! Also, a larger printer will use more ink, and if your paper is mis-aligned by even a half of a centimeter, your entire sheet of labels will be off, and depending on how "off" they are, will need to be scrapped. A label maker, on the other hand, makes the printing of adhesive labels to be incredibly easy. Simply make sure the label cartridge is loaded into the printer, provide the label maker with power (typically a power cord, though some label makers can run on batteries), turn it on, use the integrated QWERTY keyboard to type in your desired text. Yes, it really is that easy!

Use a printer to make adhesive labels

On the other hand, if you do want to create an entire sheet of adhesive labels, or even several sheets of adhesive labels, then you may want to consider using your computer, a word processing program or other type of label making software, and a printer and store purchased label template sheets. So long as you align paper properly, make sure your printer is stocked with ink and connect to your computer, and are using the appropriate template in your word processing program, then making adhesive labels with your computer shouldn't be too tough to manage.
One very easy way to create adhesive labels with a computer and printer is to use Microsoft Word. Microsoft Word is notorious for being stocked with dozens of label templates, all of which are sized perfectly, and are even titled according to the corresponding model number of label templates! This means if you purchase a pack of no. #5319 Avery mailing address labels in the store, Microsoft Word will have no. #5319 mailing address adhesive labels template in its stock of templates. How much easier can it get?
In Microsoft Word, once you have chosen the desired adhesive labels you want to make, you'll be prompted to input whatever text you want to show on your label. You can choose to have this show up on one label, or on all of them! Customize your text, then hit print when you're ready. That's it -- you're done!

Putting adhesive labels to use

So now that you know six ways from Sunday how to create adhesive labels, you may be wondering just what you can do with them! Allow me to lay out some examples and ideas for what you can use adhesive labels for. First, look around your home: let's start with the kitchen! How many times has your husband or child asked you which container contains the flour and which one contains the sugar? It is tiresome to tell them to open the containers to look/smell/feel the difference, so why not use adhesive labels to solve the problem instead? Use adhesive labels to label all of the containers and jars in your kitchen. But don't stop with baking supplies -- you have many condiments and spices that can often by mistaken for one another! Don't make the mistake of mixing up refined sugar with powdered sugar, or white vinegar with apple vinegar -- used adhesive labels to ensure that everything is clearly defined by its correct name!
Is craft making one of your hobbies? If so, then you probably have at least several boxes of supplies -- yarn, thread, beads, jewels, string, jewelry bits and more. Don't mix everything up or go hunting around for the right box. Use adhesive labels to easily distinguish from one bin or box to the next!

Address labels

Label Printing

Label Printer

Label Maker

Label Templates

Mailing Labels