My new toy arrived today.

It's going to make my popup card plastic attachment strips clear and strong.

It's a laminating machine.

I have even thought of starting a new hobby using the machine – placemats. The only problem is, How am I going to get anything on the placemat to pop up?

I turned the laminator on, and let it warm up to 350 degrees for my 10 mil pouches. I ran the pouches with no pictures in them. That way, when I sliced up the sheets, hot off the press, I got clear plastic strips.

I laminated a couple of recognition awards, and a few pictures for pop-ups. Boy, they came out stiff.

Today I also bought some elastic thread and elastic cord to use as string for kites, parasail cords, astronaut’s lines, Tarzan’s vines, and fishing line for my pop-ups.

Now I'm making pop-up checklists similar to the one I have on my door. When I leave the house I am reminded to bring things such as my tissues, cell phone and glasses. The pop-up checklist will remind me to check the cards for a number of features before I give them as gifts.

Where will my popup hobby go from here? Am I finished buying everything I need for my pop-up cards?

Will I go on to that new placemat hobby? How will I get the placemats to pop up?
Well, maybe I wouldn't want anything to pop up while I’m eating. That could be a choking hazard.

Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com