If you've been sitting on a stash of old lace — curtain scraps, lace ribbon, even fabric napkins — this tutorial shows you what to do with it. I take a pile of lace through the laminator and then walk through 13 different projects you can make from the results: journal covers, pouches, planner dividers, bookmarks, charms, and more. The laminating process itself takes almost no time; most of the video is project ideas, so if you want a long, satisfying session of making things, this is a good one to have on.
What we cover
We start by laminating a range of lace types — thin, wide, narrow, thick, symmetrical, asymmetrical — and I'm honest about which ones work and which don't. Then we go through 13 project ideas one by one, with finished examples for each. A few projects get a closer look at construction details (closures on pouches, how to attach dividers to a planner ring, how to use die-cut negatives as windows). The rest are more inspiration than instruction — enough to get you started.
What you'll learn
How to laminate lace and what to expect from different lace types, including:
- Why thin lace seals cleanly and thick lace tends to leave air pockets and unsealed patches
- Running a sheet through the laminator twice when the first pass doesn't seal
- How to unjam the machine if lace gets stuck — switch it off, try pulling from the opposite side, then switch back on
Why cutting laminated lace doesn't destroy the seal — the lace melts into the laminating sheet as it goes through, so die-cutting or scissor-cutting won't cause it to open or fray
How to make journal covers from laminated lace, including:
- Folding a single sheet in half and adding button-and-ribbon closures on both sides
- Using a full unfolded sheet for a side-opening or flip-up cover
- Layering laminated lace over card stock for a front pocket cover with a see-through panel
How to sew laminated lace rather than glue it — double-sided tape and glue sticks won't hold plastic; a sewing machine (or stapler in a pinch) is the reliable method here
How to make pouches from laminated lace, including:
- Folding a single sheet and sewing the sides shut, with a string or circular closure to keep it from springing open
- Sewing two flat sheets together for a sleeve-style pouch — better for thick lace that would create air pockets if folded
How to make pockets for journal pages — and why choosing more see-through lace matters if you want to be able to read what's inside
How to create belly bands using narrow lace ribbon, sewn at top and bottom
How to use die-cut negatives as window elements — layering a lace piece over acetate (or a repurposed clear plastic bag) and sewing around the cutout so you have a decorative window that reveals a layer underneath
How to make tabs and pen loops from laminated lace strips, including:
- Folding a strip in half and stapling or sewing it to a page as a tab
- Why the stiffness of laminated lace makes it work as a pen loop where flimsy fabric won't
How to make bookmarks, including:
- A simple top-tassel bookmark with a ribbon or bead at the top
- A double-ended bookmark with charms at both ends so it shows above and below the pages
How to make tags and charms from die-cut shapes, embellished with stickers, old costume jewelry pieces, fishing swivels, and jump rings
How to attach laminated lace dividers to a planner — punch holes to match your planner's ring spacing, then cut small slits between the holes so the divider slides onto the rings cleanly
How to make laminated lace buttons for use on button booklet covers, as page embellishments, or as gift wrapping embellishments
Tips & gotchas
Thin lace is the reliable choice. Very thick lace won't seal properly — you'll get open patches in the middle even if the edges look fine. Running it through twice doesn't really fix this, though it's worth trying. Save thick lace for flat applications (layered pouches, covers) where you won't be folding it, since folding thick lace creates air pockets that keep the piece from closing properly.
If the machine jams, switch it off before you pull. Try drawing the sheet out from the opposite side from where it went in, then switch the machine back on. It tends to come free without damage to the lace or the machine.
Always add a closure to pouches. Laminated lace wants to spring open — a string closure, ribbon tie, or button loop solves this. Relying on the weight of a charm on the flap won't be enough.
Sew, don't glue. Double-sided tape and ordinary glue sticks won't bond to plastic. If you don't have a sewing machine, a stapler works fine for tabs and simple closures.
For planner dividers, cut slits between your punched holes rather than just punching — it makes slipping the divider onto the rings much easier and avoids tearing.
Choose your lace with the project in mind. Busy, densely patterned lace looks beautiful but makes it hard to see anything inside a pocket. For functional pockets where you want to find things quickly, more open, see-through lace is the better pick.
Tea dyeing note — if you're making pages to pair with your laminated lace projects, any tea with blueberries or forest fruit will give paper a lovely blue tint rather than the usual brown.
A circle negative becomes a window element; a narrow strip becomes a pen loop; two sheets sewn together become a document sleeve. The material lends itself to combining with old costume jewelry, scraps of vellum and acetate, and tea-dyed pages in ways that feel genuinely different from anything you'd make with paper alone. The same laminating process works just as well on napkins, fabric scraps, and scrapbook paper, so if you run out of lace there's no reason to stop.
