Things to do with a Laminator

A while back, I bought a small laminator (this one, if anyone is curious) since it was really cheap for a limited time only. I hadn't really used it much, but since we now have 3 kids and need to keep them quiet during church, I wanted to make some file folder games. I had made some in the past, but I had used velcro to make the pieces stick and it seemed a little too noisy for church.

Anyway, I made some more magnetic file folder games with my laminator, then decided to find more projects- since laminating is addicting, as everyone knows. 

These are some of the games I have made so far. I still have several that are just about done, but I need to add the magnets. Jack helped when he could. He liked to use the "lemonader," as he called it. "What else do we need to lemonade, Mom?" 

I found the file folder games on Pinterest. If you are not familiar with Pinterest- it's basically like bookmarking a bunch of websites you like and sticking them into categories. You can also see what other people have bookmarked (or "pinned"), and you can collect their bookmarks, too. I have been using it for recipes and ideas for the kids, but you can use it for anything and everything.

I also made some reward charts for the kids. We've been having some behavior issues, so we implemented a system using marbles the kids can earn throughout the day, and if they collect enough marbles, they would get a treat (a starburst). Then I decided to make it a little more visual and personalized, so I made Jack an astronaut who has to make it across the chart to his rocket, and Callie is a princess who has to make it across her chart to the castle. So far, so good!

Another project for church- family picture cards! All our extended family lives so far away and all over the country (well, plus China), and it's hard for the kids to learn names and faces. I made picture cards for aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and our own small family. We have about 50 cards! The kids are already learning several names, though, so it's been worth the effort. I also color-coded them by family, and wrote "Dad's sister" or "Mom's  brother," so it would make more sense to the kids (hopefully). 

I had to scour facebook and family blogs to find a good picture of everyone's face, and that took longer than making the cards themselves! It seems that certain members of our family don't have a lot of close-up pictures of themselves on the internet. :o)

I found this project idea on the previously mentioned blog, http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com/. I just printed big close-up pictures of our family members and laminated them. Then we got dry erase crayons (you could also use markers), and the kids can color on our faces! Then we just erase the coloring and start over again. Jack and Callie thought it was absolutely hilarious to see Mom and Dad and themselves with funny glasses or crazy hair. 

Since I mentioned Pinterest, I thought I'd also share these cookies. I need proof that I made them, since I will probably not make them again! They're just sugar cookies, but they take a lot more effort. Pretty, but too much work for my taste.