The following is going to sound like one big sell for a certain product but I promise I bought this product on my own dime long before I started blogging, so this is strictly my personal opinion that has not been bought in any way, shape, or form.
I just have to say—as I use it yet again—my favorite thing to use when crafting—so far!—is my laminator. I use it All The Time. Ask my husband. I laminate everything.
I use it in large part to preserve memories, but I also use it for lots of craft projects.
Here are some examples:
Laminate Valentines sent to everyone this year so I have copies in my memory box
Laminate to do list and food planner so can use with dry-erase markers
Laminate pictures I love for decorations that I could never afford to have framed
Laminate banner bits so they’ll last longer
Laminate coloring and activity pages for use again and again with a dry-erase marker (though I have found if you don’t wipe the marker before putting it away, this is harder to clean without an alcohol wipe)
Laminate pictures or art for bookmarks
Laminate daily schedules to check off throughout the day
Laminate memory game cards
Laminate any homemade printable games, play roads, magnetic toys so they’ll last much longer
Laminate pictures then attach magnets on back for homemade magnets
Laminate old calendar and book pictures then cut into puzzles
The list goes on and on!
Now, I’ve made some really important discoveries in regards to the difference between a heated laminator and contact paper. I used to think contact paper was just the cheaper, easier way to do it but this is SO NOT TRUE.
The biggest difference is that when I laminate something, I can cut it out and it stays together without needing to make sure it’s sealed on all sides like I do with contact paper. Case in point: We made these tissue paper window ornaments for Easter (see “Stickerphobia and Contact Paper“) and they definitely did not stay together as nicely as I’d like because I just cut them out without making sure there was a border of contact paper sealed together around the edges. I just didn’t have time for that. But on the other hand, I made these laminated puzzles (see “A Year of Homemade Gifts”) out of old book pages and did the same thing—just cut them right out—and they’re holding together great!
So, lesson learned: contact paper and lamination are NOT equal!
How do you use lamination to preserve or create? Please share your ideas!