Cheap Lamination!
by Char Jorgensen.
(Woodinville, WA)
Since I set up outdoors in the Pacific Northwest, it can get very damp which can cause my cards to curl. If they get wet, the color runs.
That is not good for business so I ‘laminate’ my cards on both sides to keep them from curling.
I didn’t buy a fancy laminate machine. I use clear packing tape.
Here is how I do it:
Lay out 5-6 cards on a counter top leaving about 1/2 between them.
Pull out enough tape to cover (don’t cut the tape off, leave it on the roll).
Let the tape ‘bow’ down in the center and line it up to cover the center cards. I then work with my right hand and lay the right side down and smooth the tape over the cards. Then I use my right hand to smooth the left side down.
Cut the tape end – hang on to it or you will have a hard time finding it again!!!
Flip the cards and tape over and repeat the process.
Once this is done it is time to cut the excess tape away. Instead of ‘cutting’ like you would normally do with scissors, try leaning the scissors against the edge of the cards and sliding the sharp edge against the edge of the card. This will save your hands!
The advantages of this lamination method are that it is cheap and keeps the dreaded curling from happening.
You can also use a dry erase marker to mark your prices on your laminated cards, and then wipe them off and re-mark the price.
If you use a labeler to mark your price, you can easily slip a price off and replace it without damaging your cards.
Happy Wrapping!
Char Jorgensen
The Twisted Wire Studio
Comments:
Cheap lamination
by: Marci
What a great idea! I live in a damp envrionment too and am constantly having to toss out business cards, earring cards, jewelry tags, ect. that have curled or turned into a mess from moisture. Thanks for this!
Laminating is Essential!
by: Fire Blessed Art
Not too long ago I also started laminating my cards and tags. It’s amazing how much better they look and I don’t have to worry about remaking the cards. I don’t laminate my business cards, but I do laminate anything that will sit out – price tags, informational notes, etc. I also live right on the ocean (Northern California coast) and since I started laminating, everything looks and lasts so much better – no more curling, for sure! The other great thing is that you can use double sided tape to position your cards and tags, and it doesn’t damage them. I bought a cheap laminator from Staples and it works just fine. I like the idea of the packing tape when I only have a small item, but even then I usually just use the small business card laminating sheets.
Easy cutting method
by: Anonymous
I am just getting started and like the idea of laminating my business cards for certain occasions. I would suggest using a rotary cutter like quilters use for cutting the tape around the cards after laminating. It is very easy to keep a straight edge this way.
Great Lamination Ideas!
by: Rena
What great ideas here – from the quick and inexpensive tape lamination, to the rotary cutter for nice tidy cuts!
Very useful idea!
by: Sally Vonada
Right after I read this tip, I was making cookies from an old family recipe that my mother had handwritten on an index card. The handwriting is fading, and there are some cookie-making spots on it, but I felt I needed to preserve the recipe as a small remembrance of my mother.
Out came the packing tape and it is now “laminated.” Thank you!
Cheap lamination
by: Anonymous
I haven’t tried the rotary cutter but I do know that my scissors get sticky and are easy to clean. Not sure if the rotary cutter would get sticky too! I will clarify that I use business cards to put my products onto – not my regular business cards. I have earring cards that are made from business cards that I cut in half – a suggestion I got from this site! Once they are ‘laminated’ then I cut and punch holes in them for earrings. I tried the small laminator at the craft shop and ended up with a lot of waste and messy cards. The packing tape is the cheapest method I have found! Glad to see there are other uses besides this one!
Also, keep a copy of your medicines laminated and in your wallet for emergencies!
