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:

1. Lay out 5-6 cards on a counter top leaving about 1/2 between them.


2. Pull out enough tape to cover (don't cut the tape off, leave it on the roll).
   


3. 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.


4. Cut the tape end - hang on to it or you will have a hard time finding it again!!!


5. Flip the cards and tape over and repeat the process.


6. 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