Laminating

Flash cards need to be laminated in order to flash them very quickly like this:

 http://downsyndromeupupupandaway.blogspot.com/2011/05/fast-flashing-method.html

Here are a few examples of different ways to laminate cards:

Packing tape Method

This method is the least expensive.  It is the most time consuming though & the finished product is  not nearly as nice.  Cards laminated in this way won't last as long & tend to stick a little sometimes. I also find it hard not to make wrinkles sometimes.

 

I just lay 2 long strips of tape across my kitchen table, lay the cards on top, then seal with another 2 layers of tape before cutting the cards out. 

Laminating Sheets

I purchased this at a dollar store.  It was inexpensive, at only $1.00, but the rolls are not very big, especially when you have to double it over itself to laminate both sides.  

I just laid all of the pieces cards out, cut the laminating sheet, & lay the rest over top & cut them out.

These turn out pretty good, but are a little more flexible & flimsy than regular laminating & therefore a little more difficult to work with.

Laminating

Laminating sleeves are easy to find at local department stores or stationery stores.

I bought this laminator at a local department store when I first started making flashcards.  It was the cheapest one that I found  because,at the time, I wasn`t convinced that babies could really be taught to read.  Am I ever glad I was wrong!  Although it was the cheapest laminator on the shelp, it is still going strong thousands of flashcards later!

Cards that are laminated in this way are the most expensive to produce, but they are really easy to work with & fast flash.  The cards flash quickly & don`t stick together. I also laminate home made books so they stand up to a lot more love & abuse:)

Here is just a sample of what this laminator has accomplished in the last 3 years!

Don`t be intimidated by the number of cards here.  It doesn`t seem like a lot when you are just doing a few at a time.