There are (many) moments in life when I look at something and think:

I can make that.

There are other moments when I should think:

Maybe there’s a reason people buy the right tool for the job.

This was one of those moments.

The Lamination Hack

After reading about a lamination hack, I had to give it a try.

After all, I had a paper template I’ve used quite a bit to make baby bibs.

I thought to myself, “Self – this could be reused over and over if I laminate it!”

How I mucked it up

It started out simple enough.

Cut the sheet protector on the two sides – this makes it easier (in my brain anyway) to sandwich the paper in smoothly without any folding or wrinkles.

Solid logic, right?

Then cover your lamination sandwich in parchment paper.

Placing parchment on the front and the back protected both my iron and wool pressing mat from any permanent damage.

Again, SOLID LOGIC.

I just knew this would work.  It was a well thought out plan.

I carefully started pressing.

Pressing – NOT Ironing.

There’s a difference.

Pressing means you place the hot iron flat on the object.

You don’t sweep it side to side like you might with an article of clothing, that’s Ironing.

Just Press.  Hold.  Lift.

Move to the next spot.

Repeat.

And for a few seconds, things looked promising.

Then I lifted the parchment paper.

The plastic had certainly changed.

Had it become laminate?

No.

Had it become a warped, wrinkled little monument to misplaced confidence?

Absolutely.

Did I stop here?

Of course I did not. 

Take Two – Try it again

I assumed it was user error.  I decided that it got wrinkly because it cooled too quickly without a firm surface to hold it in place.

Think of the Shrinky Dinks we made back in the 80s.

(and if you don’t remember those, I’m sorry… you missed out on a lot of fun, toxic fumes, and permission to use the oven.)

30+ years of using hot rollers in my hair has taught me that things are malleable when hot, and hold their shape when cooled.

So I tried again.

Sandwich a new paper template in a new page protector.

Sandwich the template/protector combo between parchment paper.

Press.

Hold for countless Mississippis. (probably 30 seconds or so.  This isn’t a real science lab so close is close enough)

But THIS TIME, I used my handy dandy sewing clapper to hold it flat while it cooled.

That had to be the trick, right?

(And if you didn’t have a handy Clapper nearby because your amazing sister-in-law didn’t get you one for Christmas when you started your sewing journey, you could also use a heavy book to hold it in place)

I envisioned how brilliant this tutorial was going to be.

I took all the pictures.

I went to bed to make sure it had PLENTY of time to cool.

The next morning, I entered my sewing room/office to unmask my brilliantly laminated sewing template ready to cheer and celebrate my brilliance.

I was wildly underwhelmed and disappointed.

Apparently Plastic Is Not Just Plastic

This is the part where science rears its ugly head and laughs at you, ruining a perfectly good cheap craft hack.

Apparently, laminating pouches are designed to react to heat and bond together. Specialized laminating machines apply consistent temperature and pressure for superior results.

Sheet protectors are designed to…

well…

protect sheets.

At room temperature.

Inside binders.

Far, far away from a hot iron.

Heating my sheet protector didn’t magically transform it into laminating film. It mostly made it shrink, wrinkle and reconsider its life choices.

So if you landed here because you were wondering:

Can I use sheet protectors instead of laminating pouches?

Allow me to save you a sheet protector and wasted time that could be otherwise invested in crafting shenanigans.

No.

At least not with an iron.

But I Saved Money!

Technically, yes, but I didn’t save time.

And the cost of a laminating machine and supplies isn’t THAT expensive anyway.  (Roughly $50 at the time of this posting)

Instead of buying laminating pouches, I destroyed two sheet protectors and spent too many minutes, ironing office supplies.

The Wonky Truth

Sometimes the cheap workaround is genius.

Sometimes you discover a new use for something you already own and feel like MacGyver with a rotary cutter.

And sometimes…

you just need to buy the damn laminating machine and pouches.

Save your page protectors for storing your patterns.

Lesson learned.

Probably.