Do you want to print your files without breaking the bank? Me, too! When printing digital files, I always try to save money without sacrificing quality. Here are my recommendations for papers, stickers, and supplies that work great with my products.
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Bingo Games
I like to print my bingo games in color on cardstock so that I can reuse them from year to year. If you only plan on using the games once, go ahead and print them on whatever type of paper you have on hand. Here's my favorite affordable cardstock.
Lunchbox Jokes - Stickers
All of my lunchbox jokes are now formatted to print on sticker paper or cardstock. These stickers by Desktop Publishing Supplies have a great rating on Amazon, and they are also the best deal. I formatted my stickers specifically to fit on these labels. The more you buy, the better the deal, but it's still the best deal no matter the amount you purchase.
If money isn't an issue, and you'd rather go with a trusted brand, they should also fit these labels by Avery. *I noticed just now that the price on these labels looks really low. ($.01/label) I did the math, and the price per label is incorrect. (It should be $.11/label) That may be fixed by the time you see this post, but be sure to check. If they look cheaper than the ones by Desktop Publishing Supplies, the listing is likely still incorrect.
Lunchbox Jokes - Reusable
It's very convenient to put stickers on lunchboxes, notebooks, and napkins, but if you'd rather reuse your jokes over and over, I recommend printing them on cardstock, cutting them out, and then laminating them. Here are my go-to products:
My go-to products for laminating
- My favorite laminating pouches
- My favorite 9-inch pocket laminators. I like this one by Amazon Basics and this one by Scotch. I prefer the Amazon brand not just because it's cheaper, but because it has a quick-release button that allows you to remove the paper if you put it in crooked.
- Bonus - Amazon Basics 12-inch pocket laminator. It is the same price as the Scotch 9-inch laminator, and it comes with 20 assorted laminating pouches. If I were to buy a new laminator, I'd buy this one. Why? It can laminate documents up to 12 inches wide, so if I accidentally put something in crooked, it will likely still work without damaging the document.
My current laminator is the Scotch brand, and I am happy with it, but I'll buy the Amazon Basics brand next time.
I do a lot of crafting and cutting, so I have a few extra tools I love. When I cut out the bingo calling cards, I use a rotary paper cutter, and when I cut out my lunchbox jokes with rounded edges, I use the paper cutter and a corner-rounder punch. (This one has three sizes, and is so much cooler than mine!). Sadly, they don't make my paper cutter anymore. I love mine because I have a scoring blade, a cutting blade, a wavy blade, and a perforated edge blade. This is the closest thing I could find to mine. (It has everything but the scoring blade.)
Inexpensive Laminating Options
I love to laminate things at home with my pocket laminator, but I know that isn't practical for everyone. You can have things laminated in printshops like Office Max and Staples, but it's pretty expensive.
Thankfully, many stores provide self-serve laminating for a very low cost. The trick is finding those places! I found a laminating spot in my town by asking the clerk at Staples. She told me exactly where to find inexpensive self-serve laminating machines in my city. The laminating film is very thin, but it works.
Here are some places I have found inexpensive laminating: Mardel Christian & Education, Utah-Idaho Supply/Map World, my local library, and my kid's elementary school. Most teacher-supply stores also have this service.
*Use self-serve laminators at your own risk. The other day, I was laminating some posters I made, and they got jammed in the laminator. I had to go home and redo them. It was a bummer, but that's only happened to me once.
I hope you enjoy your printables! Come back soon!