How to Laminate Paper at Home

Pouch laminator

Laminating paper protects the paper from spills and normal wear and tear. It also makes the paper appear more attractive. Some things you may want to laminate are awards, certificates, paintings, special drawings or homemade place mats. If you are a homeschooling parent, there may be times when you want to laminate paper like they do in public schools. Laminating paper from home is easier than you think.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Clear contact paper
• Ruler
• Marker
• Scissors
• Laminator
• Laminator pouches

Laminating with Contact Paper

1. Purchase a roll of clear contact paper. You can buy at almost all department stores and craft stores.

2. Measure the paper you want to laminate or place the paper on top of the contact paper.

3. Add 1 inch around all of the sides of the paper you want to laminate and mark the contact paper to reflect this size. You can draw on the side that peels off.

4. Cut the contact paper out on the lines that you made and then get out a second sheet of contact paper. Cut another piece exactly the same size as the first.

5. Peel the paper off of the contact paper to reveal the sticky side. Carefully place the paper you want to laminate in the middle of the sticky contact paper.

6. Peel the paper off of the second sheet of contact paper. This step is a little trickier. Flip the contact paper upside down and place it over the paper you want to laminate. The contact paper will then cover the paper you want to laminate and create a 1-inch seal all the way around when it connects with the other piece of contact paper.

7. Smooth the paper out with your hand, moving from left to right. Trim the edges with scissors so that they look neat.

Pouch Laminator

1. Buy a pouch laminator (see Resources). There are other kinds of laminators, but you won't need anything expensive or heavy duty just to laminate a few paper items at home.

2. Turn your laminator on and wait for the red light to come on. That indicates that the laminator has heated up and is ready for use.

3. Slide the paper you want to laminate in to one of the laminating pouches. One end will be closed with the other three will be open. Position your paper in the middle.

4. Insert the pouch in to the laminator with the closed side going in first. Once the machine senses you inserting the pouch, it will take over from there and pull the pouch through the machine.

5. Catch your paper out the other end. It will now be completely laminated.

6. Trim the edges with a pair of scissors, if you want, or leave the laminated paper the way it is. Turn the laminator off when you are finished with it.

Tips & Warnings

• You can laminate photos as well. Glue a few pictures to a piece of paper to make a collage and then laminate it when the glue drys.

• If you don't smooth out your contact paper you will end up with air bubbles.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Laminator.com: Pouch Laminators