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Fun Laminator Projects for Kids
Are you looking to turn a lazy afternoon into a smorgasbord of creativity and giggles with your kiddos? Then you’re in for a treat! Your laminator is the perfect tool for family fun and priceless memories! We have lots of DIY laminator projects to share that your kids will absolutely adore. From vibrant bookmarks to personalized gifts, there’s a world of fun just a bit further down this page.
In this article, we’ll cover some creative projects like:
- Homemade bookmarks
- Reusable coloring pages
- Colorful stickers
- Games
- Backpack and luggage tags
By the end of this article, you’ll be armed with a bunch of things to laminate for fun at home and in the classroom.
Homemade Bookmarks
Bookmarks aren’t only there to mark pages. They can make for a fun-filled afternoon with a laminator! Gather some colorful paper, stickers, glitter, and your kid’s favorite drawings or photos. With these simple materials, your kids can create laminator crafts that are functional and burst with personality. They can even double as cute little party favors or class gifts!
Family Calendars
Keeping track of family events doesn’t have to be boring. Print your own blank calendar pages, grab some favorite photos and colorful markers, and go to town! You can design each month with themed photos, such as beach snaps for July or spooky costumes for October. Once it’s decorated just like you want, run it through the laminator for a durable, glossy finish and hang it on the wall. This fun project helps keep everyone organized and gives the whole family a monthly reminder of cherished memories. You and your kids can even use dry-erase markers on the laminated surface to add or change events.
Reusable Coloring Book Pages
Ever wanted to bring your kids’ favorite coloring pages to life again and again? Matte laminating pouches make dreams come true! Simply download some fun coloring pages from the web (or design your own educational gems like this vibrant flower math page), print them out, insert them into the pouch, and slide them into the laminator. Now you’ve got pages ready for endless use with dry-erase markers! And here’s a nifty tip: Bind these pages with loose-leaf rings to create a reusable coloring book. Your kids can color and express their creativity to their heart’s content.
Colorful Stickers
You can also create colorful DIY stickers using sticky-back pouches. No more sticky fingers and messy glue smudges ruining photos. All your kids have to do is design, laminate, cut them out, and stick them to whatever surface they want (with your permission, of course). Colorful stickers are perfect for jazzing up scrapbooks and personalizing lunch boxes, notebooks, and more!
Flowers & Leaves from the Park
What better way to commemorate those fun outdoor adventures than preserving them? Next time you’re out on a park adventure, let your little explorers bring home some of their favorite flowers and leaves. Plants have to be dried out so they don’t get moldy, so you can either flatten them and let them dry between the pages of a thick book for one week or use this cool eight-minute ironing method. Then, place your dried beauties between two sheets or in a pouch and laminate them for a stunning keepsake. Turn this into a ritual for family vacations, choosing a plant from wherever you are visiting and gluing a magnet to the back to make a memorable keepsake.
Make Cards, Prints, Notepads, & More with Laminating Foil
All projects deserve a little shimmer and shine, and laminating foil delivers in spades. It transforms ordinary prints into dazzling masterpieces that catch everyone’s eye. It’s pretty simple to do. Print your chosen design using toner-based ink, then lay a sheet of colorful foil over the areas you want to sparkle. Pop it into a pouch carrier, then run it through your pouch laminator. The foil sticks to the ink and creates a gleaming effect. With foil laminating, you can create anything from cards for family members to frame prints for kids’ bedrooms and more.
Note that you can only use laminating foil with certain laminators. They’ve got to have heat settings that go up to at least 300°F, adjustable speed, heat rollers, and the ability to laminate pouches up to 10 mil thick.
Games
Long journeys can be a drag for energetic children, but the hours will fly by with a little laminated magic. Grab some colorful markers, cardstock, and a laminator to create boredom-busting games that keep the “Are we there yet?” questions at bay. Maybe you’d like a “Dots & Boxes” game where players take turns connecting dots to form squares. Or what about a classic game of hangman, complete with quirky gallows and a spot for those used letters? If you’ve got some tween girls, a MASH template may be just what they need to pass the time. The possibilities are endless with a little creativity and a laminator. And here’s a pro tip: Use washable markers to make the games reusable for endless fun on the go!
Homemade Gifts
With a laminator, kids can craft heartfelt presents that make friends and family beam with joy. Think personalized photo frames with doodles and laminated stickers or a set of custom-designed, laminated coasters for grandma’s tea time. If you have future chefs in the house, they can laminate their own recipe cards, complete with hand-drawn pictures. For budding artists, you can turn their masterpieces into placemats or durable framed photos. Add a touch of foiling, and you’ve got beautiful gifts that will delight for years to come.
Backpack and Luggage Tags
With some cardstock, scissors, markers, stickers, and a dash of creativity, kids can design their own backpack and luggage tags that represent them perfectly. From superhero emblems to magical unicorns and fairies, the possibilities are endless! Once they’ve designed their tag, laminate it and punch a hole to attach a colorful ribbon. You can even add a secret pocket at the back to slip in a little mini-photo or note.
Laminate Kids’ Artwork
Every piece of a child’s artwork is a precious momento of their boundless imagination. So isn’t it heartbreaking when they get an accidental tear or spill? The laminator steps in to save the day. Simply place those beautiful masterpieces in the laminator and get tear-proof, spill-resistant keepsakes within moments! For an added twist, you can even cut them into pieces to transform them into jigsaw puzzles. Laminators do more than preserve art — they create memories that last a lifetime.
Safe Laminating Tips
While diving into all the DIY laminating projects and laminator hacks is a blast, there are a few safety tips to follow for the safest experience. With these best practices, you’re all set for a fun, worry-free laminating adventure.
Choose the Right Laminator for Kids
Did you know that there are two main types of laminators? You can choose between heated and cold/pressure-sensitive laminators. Cold laminators are great for younger kiddos since they don’t use heat. You don’t have to worry about the machine or the cold pouches burning their little fingers.
However, using a heated laminator warrants helicopter parenting. In other words, you should provide adult supervision when a child uses a heated laminator or simply allow them to watch as you operate it. Whichever you choose, guide your child through the process to make it a bonding moment you both enjoy.
Craft in a Spacious Area
Next, set up your laminating station in a spacious area away from spills or trip hazards. That gives your creative projects plenty of room to breathe and prevents mishaps. Plus, having ample space means you can lay out all your materials and let your imagination reign.
Make Sure to Cool Down
Finally, you’ve got to let a heated laminator cool down after using it. You don’t want to burn those cute little fingers! The same goes for the thermal pouch — always let it rest and cool completely before you let your kid touch it.
Make the waiting period fun! While the laminator takes its little nap, you and your child can talk about what you’ll do with the project or have a quick, tasty snack. The laminator will be cool and ready for more crafting action before you know it!
Have Fun Laminating!
Laminating is more than just preserving paper — it’s a journey of creativity, learning, and exploration. It brings joy to see precious works transform into something durable and reusable. And when a child sees their name, artwork, or ideas laminated in the classroom or home, it empowers them, making them feel valued and important.
Are you ready to tap into the endless possibilities of fun a laminator can bring? Take a look at MyBinding’s high-quality laminating supplies to get everything you need to start your adventure.
Have questions? Give us a call at 1-800-944-4573.
