I thought I will make a quick post on making printables as there were a few queries from mums about this. This is what I personally do at home but things can be done in other different ways too like using an iron or reusable pouches etc. This post is purely for first timers who are interested in making their own printables / flashcards. I prefer printables to buying toys for each activity as I think these will contribute to less of landfill.
These are my absolute essentials for making printables:
1. A4 cardstock or low gsm photo paper (I can get them really cheap in the UK and so I use them). I don't use normal copier papers for flashcards as they tend to bend / wrinkle during lamination.
2. A basic inkjet printer. We use HP Instant Ink which is subscription based ink system. I pay just £3.99 and get 100 free pages every month. Lamination pouches usually 80 microns. If you go above this, they get very thick and are not really needed.
3. A4 hot laminator - just a basic one. I use Texet brand.
4. A4 rotary cutter - this is very handy to cut the pieces after lamination. Saves a lot of time when compared to using a pair of scissors.
5. A corner punch - this helps in rounding off the corners very easily and make the cards baby / child friendly. Also saves a lot of time when compared to using scissors to snip corners. You can get these in any craft shop.
6. Self-adhesive Velcro circles or dots (white colour) - I buy these cheap from Aliexpress. Very strong and nice to use.
7. For dry erase kind of activities, we can use reusable pouches to be more eco friendly.
A few tips for preparing flashcards
1. Choose a high quality image.
2. It is important that the image portays the subject clearly and that the background is not overpowering or confusing.
3. Add the name of the subject/object at the bottom of the flash card in a clear font. I have used "Sassoon Infant" font for all my cards.
And you are ready to print.
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