Lanyards are an important identification tool for teachers, helping kids and other adults understand who’s in charge. Utilizing lanyards at your school or childcare facility gives you a professional appearance, and personalized DIY teacher lanyards are a fun, friendly touch. 

We’ll explain how to make teacher lanyards DIY, including the information you need to include, the supplies you’ll need, and the process of bringing it all together. Be warned, though - this can be a time-consuming process, especially if you’re making lanyards for lots of teachers!

Here at CustomLanyard.net, you can create personalized lanyards with no minimum order quantity. Choose from our templates or upload your own unique designs for professional, fast, easy lanyards that have the same personal touch you’re looking for. Start designing today!

Why Make DIY Teacher Lanyards?

DIY teacher lanyards are a nice, personalized touch, especially if you’re working with younger kids. Here’s why learning how to make teacher lanyards DIY benefits your school community. 

Helping Students Identify Faculty

DIY teacher lanyards make it easier for students, especially younger ones or those new to the school, to identify teachers and staff members who they may not recognize by face yet. 

By featuring a school logo, name tag, or even bright colors, lanyards can serve as a quick visual cue for students needing assistance. This is especially helpful during field trips, large school events, or in busy hallways where teachers might need to stand out.

Building Community and School Spirit

DIY teacher lanyards can be designed to reflect school colors, mascots, or themes, helping to foster a sense of community and pride. When teachers wear coordinated or themed lanyards, it shows unity and school spirit, which can inspire students and create a positive atmosphere. 

Cost Savings and Convenience

Sometimes, learning how to make custom lanyards yourself is cheaper and easier than ordering lanyards from a company. The materials are often easy to find, and as long as you have the time, you can create something that perfectly matches your style or needs. 

What Should a Teacher Have on Their Lanyard?

If you want to learn how to make teacher lanyards yourself, start by figuring out what to put on a lanyard. By organizing essential items on their lanyard, teachers can save time and stay prepared for their tasks. So, what is a lanyard used for, and what needs to go on it? Let’s take a look.

ID Badge

In many schools, ID badges are required for security reasons, allowing teachers access to the building and classrooms while identifying them as faculty. Having it displayed prominently on a lanyard makes it easy to show when entering the school, attending meetings, or interacting with students and parents.

One of the biggest benefits of a wristband vs lanyard is that you can keep a full ID badge on a lanyard. Learning how to put an ID card on a lanyard is straightforward - you usually just need a card holder with a clip or hole for the lanyard to attach to. 

Keys to Classrooms or Offices

If you’re wondering how to use a lanyard besides for an ID badge, you can also put your keys on it. Many teachers have keys for classroom doors, storage rooms, or office spaces that they need to access throughout the day. 

Attaching keys to a lanyard is a convenient way to avoid misplacing them and ensures they’re always handy, especially during transitions between classes. A secure keyring or clip can be easily added to most different types of lanyards.

Helpful Accessories for Teachers

Beyond the basics, there are several useful accessories that teachers can add to their lanyards. A small whistle is handy for outdoor activities or recess duty. Some teachers include a USB drive to easily transfer lesson plans or presentations between computers. 

Others attach a pen holder, sanitizer bottle, or even a small notepad, ensuring they’re always prepared for the unexpected during the school day. Adding these accessories makes the lanyard like an extra pocket that’s always full of the things you need!

How to Make Teacher Lanyards: Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s talk about how to make teacher lanyards DIY. Follow these steps to learn how to make personalized teacher lanyards that are as fun as they are functional. 

What Do I Need to Make a Teacher Lanyard?

Before starting, gather the materials you’ll need for your DIY teacher lanyards. Most lanyards can be made with a few simple supplies:

  • Lanyard cord, ribbon, or fabric strips
  • Lobster clasps or badge clips
  • Jump rings (for attaching keys or ID holders)
  • Beads, charms, or other decorations
  • Scissors and glue or a lighter for sealing ends (if using fabric or cord)

You might also want to add a keyring, retractable badge reel, or name tag holder, depending on what you plan to use your lanyard for.

Step 1: Choose Your Lanyard Base

The first step in making a teacher lanyard is selecting the base material. You can choose from various options like nylon cord, leather, ribbon, or even a pre-made lanyard that you personalize. 

Think about how durable you want it to be, as well as the style you’re aiming for. Nylon or paracord is ideal for a sturdy, long-lasting lanyard, while fabric ribbons offer a softer, more customizable option.

Step 2: Design and Gather Supplies

Now it’s time to think about the design. Do you want to add beads, charms, or other decorations to your lanyard? Think about your school’s colors, favorite themes, or personal details that reflect your style. 

Once you’ve settled on a design, gather any extra supplies you need, like beads or charms for personalization. If you’re adding a school logo or mascot, you might want to create or purchase a small charm or button with the image.

Step 3: Assemble the Lanyard

Begin assembling your lanyard by measuring and cutting the cord or ribbon to your desired length, usually around 36–40 inches, depending on how long you want the lanyard to hang. If using beads or charms, string them onto the cord, making sure they are evenly spaced. 

Secure each end of the cord to a lobster clasp or badge clip by tying knots or using crimping tools, depending on your materials. Be sure to test the strength of your knots or crimps to ensure the lanyard is sturdy enough for daily use.

Step 4: Finishing Touches

Once your lanyard is assembled, add any finishing touches, like keyrings or name tag holders. If you’re using ribbon or fabric, you can seal the ends with a small amount of glue or by carefully melting them with a lighter to prevent fraying. 

Double-check that all the attachments are secure, and if you’ve added beads or charms, make sure they won’t slip off with wear. Finally, test your lanyard to confirm that it's comfortable to wear and holds your ID badge or keys properly.

Save Yourself the Hassle of DIY With Professionally Personalized Teacher Lanyards!

Learning how to make teacher lanyards isn’t for everyone - it takes time, effort, creativity, and also comes at a cost. If you don’t have the resources, you might prefer to order custom ID card lanyards instead. Here’s why opting for professionally personalized teacher lanyards might be your best bet.

Why DIY Teacher Lanyards Aren’t Always the Best Route

Although DIY lanyards let your creativity shine, they can sometimes be more challenging than expected. Finding the right materials, learning how to assemble the lanyard securely, and achieving a professional finish takes time and patience. 

DIY projects can also become costly if you need to purchase tools or supplies in bulk - it’s amazing how quickly the cost of craft supplies can add up! If you have a busy schedule or limited crafting experience, the DIY route might not be the most practical choice.

Plus, while handmade lanyards can be unique, they may not always be as durable. A professionally-made lanyard is built to last, with stronger stitching, high-quality materials, and secure attachments that can handle everyday wear and tear in a school setting.

What Makes CustomLanyard.net the #1 Choice?

So, where can I make custom lanyards that offer the same level of personalization as the DIY variety? At CustomLanyard.net, we specialize in high-quality, durable, fully customizable lanyards that come in different styles, sizes, colors, and shapes. 

With no minimum order quantity, 24/7 support, fast production, and even quicker shipping, there’s nowhere easier to order your lanyards. Plus, with the lowest prices, you might even save money compared to the cost of buying all your own materials!

We don’t just offer lanyards, either - we also have custom wristbands, custom ID cards, office supplies, and so much more. Check out our site today to explore what’s on offer and start creating your own custom teacher lanyards!

Tips on Bringing Your Personalized Teacher Lanyards to Life

The first step in how to make personalized teacher lanyards is choosing the lanyard material type and style. At CustomLanyard.net, we have a huge range of custom lanyards to choose from, including: 

Once you’ve chosen your style, you can choose the width, length, and quality of the lanyard. Then, you can choose from our many premium lanyard designs, or upload your own for a fully-customized lanyard. 

Then, select your quantity, customize your message, and add any notes to your lanyard order. Finally, choose the attachment style of your lanyard, add an optional card holder, and place your order. It’s that easy! 

Final Thoughts on How to Make Personalized Teacher Lanyards DIY

So, that wraps up our guide on how to make teacher lanyards. Making personalized teacher lanyards is a fun, creative way to add a unique touch to your everyday work accessories, but not always practical if you’re short on time or need to make a lot of lanyards.

At CustomLanyard.net, our durable professional lanyards can be fully customized, allowing you to create personalized lanyards in a fraction of the time it takes to make them. With fast shipping and the best rates, we’re your go-to for all things lanyard-related! 

Create a safer, more professional school environment with customized, personalized teacher lanyards from CustomLanyard.net. Start designing today! 

For more tips, check out our guides on how to make PVC ID cards and how to make ID cards for students