Make Laminated Bookmarks

Description: Laminated bookmarks are easy to make with a computer and a laminating machine. A great gift idea!

I started making laminated bookmarks a few years ago to raise funds for a local charity. They had a laminating machine in the office and I had just bought a new digital camera.

I decided to use the camera to take some photographs of local sights and try using them to make bookmarks.

I design my bookmarks on my computer and I quickly worked out that it is best to use 4 or 5 photos to form a vertical column for the bookmark. I usually add a little text underneath saying where the photos were taken. This makes especially nice bookmarks if they are being bought as souvenirs or being given as presents.

I find that I can fit 5 bookmarks onto a sheet of A4 paper or thin card. The trick is to change the page into landscape mode before you start to lay out the bookmarks on the computer. You need to leave sufficient space between the bookmarks to allow them to be trimmed before placing them in a laminating pouch. You will also need to cut off the top and bottom of the bookmarks before placing them in the pouch. Remember that the laminating pouches are also A4 size and each bookmark needs to have around half a centimetre of lamination all around it.

Once the laminating pouch and bookmarks have passed through the laminating machine you will need to trim each bookmark to size. You will need a paper cutter or guillotine to do this as it is almost impossible to cut them straight using scissors. If you don't have a laminating machine of your own and you only want to make a few bookmarks, your local print shop or stationery store might offer a laminating service.

Once you have started making bookmarks you might find it becomes addictive. On many a nice day I am to be found with my camera around my neck taking photos. I make bookmarks and sell them at craft fares. They are popular at all times of the year. You can make little gift sets with matching bookmarks and greetings cards. If you do become hooked, invest in a laminating machine. They aren't expensive and you will find it quickly pays for itself, especially if you decide to sell the bookmarks at craft fares or in local shops.

Bookmarks are easy to make and fun for all ages. Remember to supervise younger children as laminaters get hot and paper cutters/guillotines are sharp. With just a little investment you can enjoy making personalised bookmarks which make an excellent, low cost present for almost anyone.

I am an IT teacher specialising in teaching beginners and mature learners. I have written a fully illustrated ebook giving step by step instructions on how to make laminated bookmarks. It is written for MS Word 2007 users and shows you how to insert and lay out the photos, how to resize the photos, how to copy the bookmark to place 5 on a page and how to trim and laminate the bookmarks. I have taken photos at each stage of the process to illustrate the ebook. You can find it at http://www.itschristmas.org.uk/Laminated_bookmarks.html

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