heartofdakota.com

My Beyond manual is looking a little tattered after this year and it needs to last for another 3 kids. Do you cover your manual with clear contact paper or anything else? If so, can you give me detailed instructions and preferrably pictures? LOL... I am a neat freak with books. I don't write in them and want them looking as pristine as possible. I'm not suggesting there is any problem with the manuals holding up. It just doesn't look new anymore with the typical curlying at the edges and a few unfortunate creases when my 1 yo got a hold of it. I want to try clear contact paper on one, but I'm not sure what to do with it on the inside of the cover to make it look smooth and nice.

I cover mine with clear packing tape. I LOVE it and I find it a LOT easier to work with than sheets of contact paper. I don't know how in the world to describe the process though. My guides are tidy and the corners don't curl.

I do clear contact and it actually keeps the cover from curling. The cover is not as shiny, but it certainly does preserve it and makes it stronger. As far as creases, they are inevitable if the kids touch the manuals.

HTH,
Adrienne

I cover mine with contact paper and they hold up beautifully. Just Google "how to cover books with contact paper" and you'll get lots of hits.

abrightmom wrote:I cover mine with clear packing tape. I LOVE it and I find it a LOT easier to work with than sheets of contact paper. I don't know how in the world to describe the process though. My guides are tidy and the corners don't curl.

I do this too. I don't have a manual yet, but I've laminated book edges and made bookmarks by covering pictures with packaging tape.

abrightmom wrote:I cover mine with clear packing tape. I LOVE it and I find it a LOT easier to work with than sheets of contact paper. I don't know how in the world to describe the process though. My guides are tidy and the corners don't curl.

I thought about this, too! I saw a youtube vid showing how to do the edges. You could probably just continue her process until you had the whole cover done. Just search, "how to protect paperback books" on youtube and it should show up as one of the top choices.