To think that there must be some advanced qualification needed

[Cathycomehome]

For sticky back plastic -ing?

We have to do DS 1's exercise books. I've done them. They look shit.

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Pair of spectacles?

WE had lessons on 'how to sticky back plastic your exercise books' when I was a gal. I've practically got an O level in it, - what do you need to know?, ask me anything, anything at all

It sticks to itself when you peel the paper off after lovingly cutting it to size. So you have to start again. Eventually, on take 3, you think you've done it. Then you turn the book over, and it's got a massive bubble in it/the cover is creased/ the corner's all fucked up... Etc etc.

When ds started secondary last year, I became a sticky back plastic expert. You need a long ruler, and a YouTube tutorial.

This took up the whole of my baby's nap time. Sob. And there're still the bastards he took to school today to do....

Ooh, yes, you need thicker plastic. i'm a librarian and have spent years covering paperback books to make them last longer on our shelves. We use a thicker grade plastic than the stuff you can buy in the shops / get given by the school and is much easier to work with. There is a knack to it though, to do with cutting the shape out, using a ruler / your thumb to press it down a tiny but at a time and using a drawing pin to burst any air bubbles.

DH did DS's Geography book. It was perfect. I refused to do it as DS would have had a huge strop if it was all bubbly and it would be my fault. DS is 13.

ah ha - rookie mistake spotted - don't peel the paper right off, peel a little bit at the edge, lay your exercise book down and gradually peel while smoothing down the exercise book onto the sticky surface, pushing out air bubbles as you go.

I'm taking notes for the remaining ones. Would it be wrong to do them in wallpaper?

Ooh, FireOverBabylon! Do you have a secret technique for bursting bubbles and not ending up with creases?

Ooh, also, I've been peeling it all off and lying book on it - this is wrong, yes?

In my day we covered them in the posters from the middle of Smash Hits like this.

Yes, very wrong! I know I've already said it, but watch a YouTube tutorial, they are really good.

As soon as I go back to work (teacher), I'm implementing this covering policy at school. It's just not fair that only the secondary parents should suffer. Evil

Kurri is quite right, as I remember from Library Club at school. Key to the technique is patience, going very slowly, and a clean, ironed handkerchief folded into a pad for smoothing.

We were allowed to use wallpaper. Which made it very easy to spot your book in class within a pile of other books. But less easy to spot at home when it is camouflaged to blend in with the the walls of your living room.

Why on earth are you covering the books?

I've got this to look forward to. And I do mean look forward to. I am very sad The teachers used to ask me to do the book covering stuff when I was nobbut a nibbet.

I've got to help DS with one this evening, perhaps I can delegate to DH

Iklboo, do feel free to come over and finish this horrible job. I still can't face starting again...

My mum is a school librarian - she was brilliant at covering my books when I was at school! I am not horrible at it, but very mediocre in comparison!

@ complexnumber's camouflaged homework books!

You must definitely NOT take all the backing off at once. That is asking for trouble. You almost have to cover the book centimetre by centimetre (not even inch by inch!) using a cloth to rub over the plastic as it sticks to the book. I know how to do it. Just cannot be arsed to describe it.

That is very unfair to tease like that, alliwantisaroomsomewhere...