A method for making a layered elastic substrate, cutting it into discrete waistbands and joining them to absorbent articles, the method comprising the steps of: advancing a first substrate layer (238, 202) in a machine direction, having a first surface (222, 216) and an opposing second surface (224, 218); advancing a second substrate layer (240, 204) in the machine direction, having a first surface (226, 216) and an opposing second surface (228, 218); advancing an elastic material in a stretched state in the machine direction; bonding the elastic material in the stretched state to the first surface (222, 216) of the first substrate layer and the first surface (226, 216) of the second substrate layer to form a layered elastic substrate; advancing the layered elastic substrate through a first metering device at a first speed; advancing the layered elastic substrate through a second metering device at a second speed subsequent to advancing the layered elastic substrate through the first metering device, wherein the first speed is greater than the second speed; characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of: cutting the layered elastic substrate into discrete waistbands while a continuous length of layered elastic substrate has advanced onto and partially wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of a drum, the drum being configured with a vacuum system to hold the discrete waistbands in a stretched state on the outer circumferential surface of the drum after being cut from the continuous layer elastic substrate; using a tamper apparatus to join the discrete waistbands to an advancing continuous length of absorbent articles advancing in a second machine direction, wherein the discrete waistbands are bonded to the continuous length of absorbent articles in a stretched state. advancing a first substrate layer (238, 202) in a machine direction, having a first surface (222, 216) and an opposing second surface (224, 218); advancing a second substrate layer (240, 204) in the machine direction, having a first surface (226, 216) and an opposing second surface (228, 218); advancing an elastic material in a stretched state in the machine direction; bonding the elastic material in the stretched state to the first surface (222, 216) of the first substrate layer and the first surface (226, 216) of the second substrate layer to form a layered elastic substrate; advancing the layered elastic substrate through a first metering device at a first speed; advancing the layered elastic substrate through a second metering device at a second speed subsequent to advancing the layered elastic substrate through the first metering device, wherein the first speed is greater than the second speed; characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of: cutting the layered elastic substrate into discrete waistbands while a continuous length of layered elastic substrate has advanced onto and partially wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of a drum, the drum being configured with a vacuum system to hold the discrete waistbands in a stretched state on the outer circumferential surface of the drum after being cut from the continuous layer elastic substrate; using a tamper apparatus to join the discrete waistbands to an advancing continuous length of absorbent articles advancing in a second machine direction, wherein the discrete waistbands are bonded to the continuous length of absorbent articles in a stretched state. cutting the layered elastic substrate into discrete waistbands while a continuous length of layered elastic substrate has advanced onto and partially wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of a drum, the drum being configured with a vacuum system to hold the discrete waistbands in a stretched state on the outer circumferential surface of the drum after being cut from the continuous layer elastic substrate; using a tamper apparatus to join the discrete waistbands to an advancing continuous length of absorbent articles advancing in a second machine direction, wherein the discrete waistbands are bonded to the continuous length of absorbent articles in a stretched state.