Day 12... Sticker Maker + Laminator = Happy Me!

I'm beginning to think that if something isn't nailed down (or edible), I am going to laminate it, turn it into a sticker and affix it to something! I bought a new toy instructional tool and I just have to tell somebody about it!

Taking a hint from my pal, Kristen at Ladybug's Teacher Files, I tried a variation on label-making this afternoon. I love Kristen. To me, she is the Bloggy Goddess of Perfection. Everything she does looks like it was born on Pinterest. It is always beautiful and colorful. And it's usually laminated.

Not me. I rarely laminate things other than directions for tasks that are ongoing.... partly because the glare confuses me and partly because "Things to Be Laminated" is an omnipresent category on my To Do list. However, there are some things that get a LOT of use in my classroom, and, consequently, these labels are generally in tatters by Thanksgiving. I must have been channeling my pal, Kristen, from across the continent today when I decided that these overworked labels were the first that should be redone... and laminated.

So I rounded up my tools, which, in this case, included my laminator (no surprise there).

I also needed my newly-purchased "sticker maker" (I got mine at WalMart, but Amazon has them too). While I have seen this item several times in stores, I always thought that it made stickers... not made non-sticky things INTO stickers. I should tell you that this little device was on the shelf below the Mod Podge in the craft section. It is a bit surprising that I didn't just turn around and run...

I wasn't sure how it would work with laminated items, but I decided to give it a try. It was, after all, destined to be an afternoon of firsts!

I printed some labels and then laminated them. Then I ran them through the laminator again--just for the "heat seal"--because... because... well, because I always do it that way. It makes me think the lamination will stick better. I don't know if that is true, but I am more than happy believing that it does!

Then I ran the newly laminated (twice) labels through the sticker maker. It took me some time to get over the fact that there is no plug on this "machine." It is low-tech--just my speed. As you turn the handle clockwise, the label is slowly fed through the machine, and the adhesive is applied to the back. The directions say to complete the process by burnishing the item. I'm not exactly sure what that entails. I don't regularly burnish nor do I own a burnisher... but I figured it meant something close to polishing so I rubbed each label with a cloth before I removed the backing of the sticker.

And you know what?

It worked!

I labeled the larger white board bin first. And I see now that I forgot to put the rest of the white boards back in the bin before I took the picture! I really do have more than eight white boards!

By that time I was on a roll. (Hahaha... A little laminating/sticker-making humor there...). I laminated and sticker-ified these bins too, along with several others that were just sitting around waiting for a label.

Next week I have to decide how to label my book bins in my library. I have been making progress in my classroom, but I am avoiding that corner because I haven't yet decided what I want the labels to look like (and whether or not I will laminate them!)

I still have a few more blogging days left in August, so you can bet you will be reading about those library bins if you return for a visit...  which I truly hope you will.

For those of you already back in school, HAPPY WEEKEND! (These first few weekends after schools starts are always extra wonderful, don't you agree?!) And if you are ready to start back next week (for teacher days or with kids), I hope you can enjoy a few more days of summer bliss before the school year begins...