Laminating My Kids Artwork To Use as Placemats?

[summerrluvv]

Has anyone done this? I'm wondering if I go to say Staples to get soe of them laminated, if they will hold up as placemats for the kiddos to eat on?

 

[ah1126]

I've never done this, but I think it's a great idea! They would also make great gifts for grandparents/aunts & uncles.

 

[zoemurr]

We do this for the kids at my preschool. However, don't do it with anything "priceless". After a bit (especially if they spill on it more than once) they will begin to look ratty, and liquid will seep through. Out of 22 kids having snack off them 3x a week about 1/2 of them survived the year. (We did this w/our laminating machine. Maybe Staples is a bit heftier? I'm not sure.)

HTH

 

[kismet1003]

That is such a cute idea!!!

 

[Squishypig]

My mom just sent me a bunch from my preschool days. Most are fine and I'm 30 years old. A couple if them had been trimmed too close to the edge so that the plastic peeled up but otherwise, they are in remarkable shape.

 

[LovetheGoof]

I do that with my students for special occasion gifts like Mother's Day and Thanksgiving. I still have the one my son made 4 years ago. They really hold up well especially if you have them use the thicker laminating plastic. Try a teacher's store or an office supply place. Good Luck.

 

[Chicklogic]

I do this with maps! Like Dis park maps, Seaworld, Brevard Zoo etc. My kids love to "revisit" the parks at meal times (also helps with map reading skills )

 

[npmommie]

I have done this with artwork too. at staples.
i was thinking of doing the kids footprints, the baby ones from the hospital. but afraid something might happen.

 

[Chicklogic]

I have done this with artwork too. at staples.
i was thinking of doing the kids footprints, the baby ones from the hospital. but afraid something might happen.

Why not make a copy of the footprint page and laminate the COPY? No worries about the originals getting ruined kwim?

 

[zoemurr]

does it cost to do one?

 

[tinkntraining]

A cheaper alternative to getting them laminated at Staples or another store, is to cover them yourself with clear contact paper (very cheap) that you can buy at Walmart or Target. Over the years, I turned several pieces of my kids' artwork into placemats using contact papers. They held up really well. Just make sure to cover both sides, and overlap it enough to completely seal the edges (gives the artwork kind of a clear border, if ykwim?)

 

[mamalle]

that is a good idea. I just spent $13 a piece on 8x10 frames for the kids artwork they did in school. Im putting all of them in the playroom. they were 8x8 and a tad off but with the white background you really cannot tell..

 

[loveabargin]

You can back them on heavy duty paper...get artist pads in the art section of any craft store and find the heaviest paper weight you can. I do this with my kids, but i have them paint/draw directly on the art paper...I'd just stick it on the paper if I were you...then get them laminated.

 

[summerrluvv]

does it cost to do one?

If I remember correctly, Staples charges $1 to laminate something up to 8x10. That was several years ago though, so it might have gone up. I'm going to to go through it all this week and pick out some stuff to laminate. We have 9 years worth for DS!

 

[npmommie]

Why not make a copy of the footprint page and laminate the COPY? No worries about the originals getting ruined kwim?

thats a great idea

 

[nunzia]

Check with your school system's resource center. Our school district will let you come in and laminate items. My total cost was 28 cents, and the machine had very long laminating width..about 28 inches wide, and on a roll so you could make it as big as you wanted, then just cut to size.

 

[WendyisDarling]

I had a paper laminated at OfficeMax a few weeks ago and I think it was around $2.

My nephew's school did this for a nursing home. I thought that was a sweet idea.

 

[Sandy321]

There are 2 different thicknesses for lamination -

I never laminated or framed their artwork, but I did tape it on the inside of my kitchen cupboards!! I have stuff from my sons' elementary years! (one just graduated college!)

 

[Chicklogic]

There are 2 different thicknesses for lamination -

I never laminated or framed their artwork, but I did tape it on the inside of my kitchen cupboards!! I have stuff from my sons' elementary years! (one just graduated college!)

When my Son graduated we served our family dinner on different pieces of artwork that he had made as a young child! We laminated them and gave each family member a different placemat. He was embarrassed......but also touched that I would have gone to the effort

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I have a family tree one of the ds made and a few others from way back when. Give some to the grandparents too., they would just love them for sure. Heah Summer - a little OT, but guess what , my youngest ds was filling in for the lifeguard at guess where, should I say it, no I wont say the word of the place where you used to live but did you live in Building 8 because we saw a really creepy guy coming out of 8I I think. Its not his regular pool but he just filled in for the day, only 6 people came all day as it was a really overcast day the other week. It took a while for us to find the pool as we didnt expect it to be in the middle of the place. My ds said there sure are alot of dogs here for sure!!