Talk me into a laminator. :D

[starwarsmomma]

I keep seeing posts where everybody loves their laminator.

 

I want one, but can't for the life of me figure out what the heck I'd do with it.

 

I don't do scrapbooking or paper crafts (they scare me LOL)

 

My boys are getting bigger now, so it's not like we have lots of alphabet cards or anything like that.

 

So what would I use it for?

I really want one, but cant think of ONE major project to justify it. Or lots of little projects to justify it.

 

I hate being practical! ARGHHH!! :lol:

[NanceXToo]

My husband has one that he sometimes uses at work.

 

So far, after homeschooling from March 2009 - July 2010, *I* have only used the laminator one time for homeschooling purposes. That was when my daughter did a project where she collected different kinds of leaves, pressed them for a few days between the pages of a phone book, and then wanted to put them into her science "main lesson book."

 

So we laminated them (with some crayon shavings for some extra color/to make it pretty) and then put them into her lesson book.

 

That's the only time I've ever used it and to be honest if I hadn't had one, I'm sure I could have come up with some other way.

 

So if you don't think you'd use one, don't bother lol.

 

P.S. One other "function" I can see is if you want to make your kids "school ID cards" or some such.

 

But like you, I can't think of anything else I'd do with one either!

[Mrs Mungo]

Schedules, chore charts...

 

Yesterday my middle dd laminated pictures of a mitochondria and a nucleus. She had a science assignment in which the two were having an argument over which was more important. Apparently, her plan is to draw faces on the pictures with a wipe-off marker and make an animated movie of the argument.

[Pretty in Pink]

Schedules, chore charts...

 

Yesterday my middle dd laminated pictures of a mitochondria and a nucleus. She had a science assignment in which the two were having an argument over which was more important. Apparently, her plan is to draw faces on the pictures with a wipe-off marker and make an animated movie of the argument.

 

Love it! :lol:

[emzhengjiu]

So, if I decide I want a laminator, what should I consider? I keep seeing the same posts and also wonder if we would use one. I don't want to spend much money on one or take up valuable space.

[starwarsmomma]

yeah, I was wondering too.

 

I see the laminator sheets at sams, wondered what kind will use those.

 

(I know nothing about that kind of thing)

[LibraryLover]

Oh no, buy a LeapFrog Talking Globe and get stuff laminated at Office Max. ;)

 

Oh wait. I was supposed to talk you into what you wanted....

[duckens]

This is the laminator I have:

 

http://www.completek-12.com/Xyron-900-p/xrn900.htm

 

It was much cheaper on sale from JoAnn's.

 

I laminate flash cards, charts, and games that I make.

 

IF you choose to purchase a laminator, make sure that you have a ready source for purchasing the laminator sheets.

 

I am very happy with our laminator, but when JoAnn's discontinued selling the cartridges, I was forced to buy online and in bulk ($200 purchase at a time). I'm running out of cartridges....so I need to think ahead and budget for this.

[OrganicAnn]

Just do it.

 

Come on. Join the club. You don't have to wear a denim jumper to use it.

[Dawn in OH]

You need to be talked into it? Every time we set foot in a store I remind my husband that I want a laminator. The only reason I don't have one yet is because I'm still shopping for the right one.

[iammommy]

Just do it.

 

Come on. Join the club. You don't have to wear a denim jumper to use it.

 

:lol: Nan

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

I bought the Scotch laminator for just over $20.00 at BJ's Wholesale club. They have the packs of 50 laminating sheets for $6.99.

 

I have used that thing to laminate french vocabulary words to put up around the house, laminated games, flashcards, schedules, etc. Well worth the money!

 

I didn't know if it would work as well as a nicer laminator (I had borrowed one from a friend), but it works just fine.

[JudoMom]

yeah, I was wondering too.

 

I see the laminator sheets at sams, wondered what kind will use those.

 

(I know nothing about that kind of thing)

 

I use the laminating pouches from Sams with my Scotch Thermal Laminator (around $25 at Walmart or Target).

[TXMary2]

I want one too now that I am experiencing the "self laminating pages" - I think a laminator seals the paper to both pieces of laminate and then I am able to cut something out without the laminate falling off.

 

I am using the laminated pages for stuff I don't want to make copies of all the time and for things I want to last long for continued use.

[musicmommy]

We picked one up at Costco for $19.99 and that includes something like 70 pouches of varying sizes. It does hot laminating for 2 thicknesses and also cold laminating. We're using it to laminate art pictures that I've printed up, latin & German flash cards and various other things. Since we have 3 boys, things get used over and over again and the laminating helps to keep it around longer rather than needing to reprint it.

 

I'm thinking of laminating a few different "lists." Shopping, camping, etc. Then I can use a dry erase marker on them. We'll have to see when I get that organized.

[JZMom]

I bought the Scotch laminator for just over $20.00 at BJ's Wholesale club. They have the packs of 50 laminating sheets for $6.99.

 

I have used that thing to laminate french vocabulary words to put up around the house, laminated games, flashcards, schedules, etc. Well worth the money!

 

I didn't know if it would work as well as a nicer laminator (I had borrowed one from a friend), but it works just fine.

 

I have the same one, and ITA- it works very well.

[JeneralMom]

If you laminate something, can you write on it with erasable markers? I could see that as being very useful around here.

 

Hm, guess I am adding laminator to my list of things I want but need to justify (along with electric pencil sharpener to save my sanity because sharpening colouring pencils for 4 kids is driving me batty, giant wall sized world map, colour coded bins for each kid, etc)

[JudoMom]

If you laminate something, can you write on it with erasable markers? I could see that as being very useful around here.

 

Hm, guess I am adding laminator to my list of things I want but need to justify (along with electric pencil sharpener to save my sanity because sharpening colouring pencils for 4 kids is driving me batty, giant wall sized world map, colour coded bins for each kid, etc)

 

You can use dry erase markers. You can also use Sharpies and use rubbing alcohol to remove it. I'm sure you can use wet erase markers, too.

[Melinda TX]

I personally laminate everything that will fit through the rollers! Dance schedules, gymnastics rosters, school calendars, chore charts, you name it! I may not have thought of many things to laminate before I purchased it, but now that I have it, the possibilities are endless!

 

I also have the Scotch model. I think the sheets/pouches are inexpensive enough that I don't worry about trying to "save" them.