Best way to laminate? | Autism PDD

So, I ordered some PECS cards a long time ago (when dd was nonverbal,
and not progressing w/ signing). I have a lot of basics & our visual
schedule and all is ready to go. Of course, I need to make a few cards
on my own & some small schedules for dd. Anyway, can anyone recommend
(aside from a laminator) the best way to laminate? I took some to Staples
last week, and once I cut the cards, the laminate came apart! I have
some Avery sheets, that are okay, but wanting to see if anyone can
recommend something better.Clear contact paper. I use it all the time. The hardest part is actually peeling the back off of it. I have little problems with bubbling under the laminate and it stays stuck together because both sides are sticky and stick to the paper.

I've seen the suggestion to glue the picture to an index card and then use clear contact paper over the top.

I use the laminating machines at Kinko's all the time. If you laminate small
items, just cut them BEFORE you laminate and leave at least 1 inch between
the cards. Good Luck.

I Laminate with a cheep home machine ,the plastic sheets cost alot but they go along way,Make sure to cutout your cards so the edges seal, is about the only thing i can think of.

Linda

I always use the cold lamination sheets, like the Avery ones. But I cut out the items FIRST and use a small size portion of the lamination sheet. I am not laminating tiny PECS cards, though. For that, clear Contact will probably work best. Or use the small hot lamination machines. They are not that expensive. I love the cold lamination sheets for many jobs around here. I have a 3x5 list of things my husband must not forget before he goes to work laminated and affixed to a chest by the front door. It has saved me MANY trips to his job to bring him things he's forgotten as he goes out the door at 5:30 a.m. I also have a laminated phone list in large print of all my most frequently called numbers. I have a permanent, routine to-do list. I have a "get ready" list for my son. Countless things are more helpful when laminated with these 8.5x11 cold laminations sheets. And, as I said, they work on small items if you cut the smaller items first and laminate them with smaller pieces of the cold lamination sheet.The best suggestion I have is if you have a children's bookstore in your town which is a place for teachers to get supplies and they usually specialize in children's books see if they laminate. I made my own PEC cards a few years back and the laminated all of them for like 5 dollars. It was something like 2.50 a yard for the laminate. You have to cut them out yourselve because they come out in a sheet but I haven't had them come apart yet. Also contact paper works the only problem is that it sticks to everything and is hard to get all the air bubbles out of. Avery self adhesive laminating sheets. I get them at walmart. I use them on small cards bigger cue cards. Laminating the papers that come in the dvd boxes(favorite stim) I have had no problem with them coming apart. My inlaws got a cheap small laminator at Big Lots or some closeout store like that that works well. And pretty inexpensive.. I use the index cards and contact paper...the first time I tried it with just the contact paper they were too flimsy...so I added the index cards and it works great...just cut the index card to the size of the picture and then leave a little edge of contact paper around it so it doesn't come apart...VERY CHEAP and works great!

They have 3 sizes..small, med, large..I would put as many pics on one sheet and run it through the melting machine:)

They have a cool slicer thingy to cut them into perfect squares..I did this at least 1-2x a week in ABA program. They are so sturdy & last forever...I made pics and printed on reg. typing paper to laminate; really simple:) Cheap too:)