Laminate All of the Things!

Just like the title implies, I almost wanted to laminate everything in sight with the Fellowes Saturn 2 95 Laminator. I started thinking of plenty of ideas along the way. Oh, this would look pretty – laminate! Well, this would make the perfect….. laminate! WELL, I certainly didn’t think of doing this before – laminate!

It doesn’t just make the perfect back-to-school must have (flash cards, schedules, art projects, chore charts, maps, calendars, important documents, and certificates), but it is also good for a myriad of things, such as recipes, handwritten letters, craft projects, magnets, and business cards, to name a few. The versatility is practically endless.

No bulky, eyesore of a machinery here! This laminator is stylish, compact, and lightweight.

I had never used a laminator before, but using this laminator is a no brainer. You almost don’t need to glance at the instructions to know how it works. It will automatically be on the cold setting once you switch the power button on, which is located on the back. Only keep it on the cold setting if you want cold lamination, otherwise select the pouch thickness (3, 4, or 5 mil) for the hot lamination. More often than not, you’ll just need to use the 3 mil setting, unless you’re needing superior protection or want to laminate a large document. You’ll definitely need stronger sheets to use the highest setting, though.

It is recommended that you have it placed on a stable surface that has an ample amount of clear space (min 20″), which will ensure that items can pass through freely, making sure the item doesn’t jam and get disfigured in the process. This happened to me twice, but I think it’s because I didn’t have the items aligned correctly. Sadly, it was my son’s artwork that I was trying to laminate. I quickly pressed on the Jam Release Lever to avoid further damage. I’m glad that it wasn’t an important document that I was laminating. Otherwise, it would have been a lost cause, so I’ll definitely make sure that I’m extra, extra careful when laminating documents!

HeatGuard™ Technology: Double-walled insulation keeps heat inside so laminator is comfortable to touch, making it safe for homes with children.

Advanced Temperature Control: Hot and cold laminating capabilities ensure consistent, smooth results every time.

Jam Release Lever:  Permits easy removal or re-centering of stalled pouches.

Business Cards
The foldable business cards for my fashion blog were already pretty, but I must admit that the lamination gave the cards more pizazz and personality. You can see a significant difference between the laminated card (top) and the non-laminated card (bottom). For this blog post, I added the mustache graphic to conceal my phone number.

Magnets

I find numerous inspirational quotes and funny pictures on a daily basis. Therefore, I thought it would be fun to print out a picture, such as this funny, vintage-esque picture, laminate, and apply magnets on the back. Voila! I’d love to print out a few Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe pictures, along with their inspiring quotes, and do the same. Not only is it fun and decorative, but it would make a great gift for gal pals.

Old Cards and Note Cards

A few years ago, I received the most gorgeous hand-crafted cards from Hope for Women. These cards were handmade by women who resided in El Salvador’s highland cloud forest, which was destroyed by a devastating earthquake. I couldn’t find it in my heart to part with these cards, because they are beautiful and had a special meaning.

I always kept them in their package, because they’re fragile due to nature of them being adorned with real wildflowers. I was a little hesitant to have them laminated, because I didn’t want to accidentally damage these cards. However, they came out just as beautiful! I will probably do the same with other old cards (i.e. Birthday, Christmas, Just Because, and so forth) to preserve their memories. I wouldn’t really recommend doing that on cards that you plan on giving, because they wouldn’t look nearly as good as you would like them to be since they would be hard to fold properly.

Art
I have many pictures that my son has drawn and/or colored for me. I plan on keeping them for years to come. Laminating them will help keep them in pristine condition, so they won’t easily get worn and torn over the years.

You can buy the Fellowes’ Saturn2 95 Laminator for $149.99 at Staples.