How to Laminate in Scrapbooking

Laminating has long been used to keep important documents and signs from becoming destroyed or worn. This same idea is now being applied to scrapbooking. The idea behind scrapbooking is preserving memories, and many scrapbooking enthusiasts feel that one excellent way to preserve photographs, newspaper clippings and special announcements is by laminating them. When you laminate your mementos, you may be able to avoid wear and tear from excessive handling, fingerprints and exposure to air.

Things You'll Need

• Scrapbook page
• Laminator

Instructions

Laminate in Scrapbooking

1. Plug in the laminator and turn it on.

2. Take the object you want to laminate and slide it into one of the laminate envelopes. You can cut the envelope down should it be too large for your item. Any excess materal may be reused on a smaller item.

3. Insert the laminate envelope into the machine. Carefully guide the envelope through the machine from the back end, without pushing or using too much force. The goal is to keep the envelope from getting sucked into the machine at an angle.

4. Let the envelope come all the way out of the machine before you touch it. You may need to let it cool for several minutes before you can use it in scrapbooking. While you're waiting, keep the laminate envelope on a cool, flat surface.

5. Re-size the laminate envelope by cutting off any excess material. You can use regular scissors, or speciality scrapbooking scissors for a decorative edge.

6. Make sure you have proper adhesive. Laminate is heavier than most scrapbooking paper, so you'll need sturdy glue or thick double-sided tape to secure the laminated item to your album page.

Create a Laminate Scrapbook Page

1. Assemble your page completely, making sure all decorative materials are fastened securely.

2. Put the entire scrapbook page inside a laminate envelope.

3. Put the whole page inside a laminator, taking care to guide it until the page is halfway through the machine.

4. Let the page cool for several minutes on a flat surface.

5. Insert the page in your album. The laminate envelope may already contain holes you can use to fasten your page, but you can always make your own with the help of a hole punch.

Tips & Warnings

• Although laminators are widely available to consumers, they should still be treated with caution. It is easy to get burned or injured by a laminator, especially when proper care isn't taken during operation. Never stick fingers or other objects inside the laminator.