How to Laminate With Space Saver Bags

Salvage any clear plastic bag for laminating.

Just a couple years ago, Space Saver bags were your closet's best friend. But after hundreds of uses, the bags have lost their air-tight seal, and now they're just a pile of glorified plastic bags. You could throw them away, but a better solution is to use the clear plastic to laminate wallet photos or two-dimensional crafts. Trash and zippered sandwich bags work for this process as well, but the thicker, more durable plastic of Space Saver bags best protect your laminated items from dirt, dust and moisture.

Things You'll Need

• Space Saver bag
• Scissors
• Picture
• Rubber cement

Instructions

1. Lay a clean Space Saver bag on a flat surface. Cut along the perimeter of the bag to separate the front and back panels.

2. Cut out the clear portions of the bag. Select two pieces of plastic are sized large enough for the photo you are laminating, and cut them into pieces that are both 1 inch longer and wider than the photo.

3. Place a drop of rubber cement on the back of the photo in each corner; this will anchor the photo to the plastic. Press the photo on the plastic sheet right-side up so that the glue dots meet the plastic sheet and the front of the photo has no glue on it. Smooth it down so that the photo lies flat.

4. Paint a 1/2 inch border of rubber cement on the plastic around the outside of the photo. Apply 1/4-inch thick border of rubber cement on the perimeter of the photo itself. The completed rubber cement boarder will be 3/4 inch wide and cover both the edge of the photo and the surrounding plastic.

5. Take the second piece of plastic and hold it with both hands so that it is taut. Lower it onto the photo.

6. Smooth down the plastic by placing the long edge of a credit card in the center of the laminated item and pushing it towards the edge of the plastic. Flip the laminated photo over and repeat.

7. Wait 24 hours for the rubber cement to dry. Trim around the edge of the item, leaving a 1/2- to 1/4-inch border of clear plastic.

References

• "Making Crafts from Your Kids' Art"; Valerie Van Arsdale Shrader; 2005