Covering CP, What should I use to protect artwork?

[Wyluli]

Here we go again.  Finally finished my somewhat crooked box for my CP.  Got her all primed up, sanded down the primer (and sanded off the stupid bug guts from all the insects that thought it would be cool to land on my box while it was drying).  I'm ready to print out some somewhat shoddy artwork on my ancient printer.  I'm going to cut out the printouts and .... I dunno, glue them to the top of my CP I guess.  What is the cheapest way to cover this to keep the artwork in place?  I don't really have the tools to attempt plexiglass (as you would know if you could see my box lol).  I just want some way to cover up the artwork (not worried about beer/pop/ spillage etc...
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[TalkingOctopus]

It sounds like clear contact paper should do the job.

[Amra]

I must seriously recommend plexiglass... exen if you have to pay someone to use a router and cut it to the shape of your machine.   

I tried contact paper to protect mine, and mine was a 50 dollar print from kinkos, when I tried to stick it on the paperit got air bubbles that were impossible to get out, and if you tried to fiz it, it ripped the paper...  If you do this method, you must go very slowly and use like a squeegee to make sure there are no air bubbles (ive gotton pretty good at it now, too late as always, lol)

Now, in your case, if you absolutely cannot go plexiglass, then the next best thing would be to get the picture laminated, if you go to college or school, they will surely have a laminater, if not you can pay places to laminate for you (CopyKat or other Kinko type places)

Good luck, let us know how it turns out!

[mahuti]

If your artwork is going to be printed on an ancient printer and glued on, maybe you should try covering with black vinyl.

[Wyluli]

Sweet, thanks guys.  I think I'm going to try the contact paper idea.  I'll practice on some scraps I have laying around before I try it on my CP.

[Stingray]

I've got to go with the get it laminated suggestion. You'll get far better results than if you use contact paper.

-S

[Wyluli]

Well, I'm sure plexiglass would be awesome and would be my preference if I actually had a really nice CP.  But since I built it myself and it isn't that pretty, I figure it isn't worth the trouble. 

The contact paper is more of a 'fog' color than clear, so I would say laminating is a much better idea.  I'm happy with what I have though, as long as she works in the end!!!!