I am so tootin' glad that so many of you enjoyed the Happy New's Card from yesterday and I had many comments and emails about it that I wanted to share with you some tips and tricks… (I honesty have not played with it a bunch but I knew that it needed to come to my home when I saw it in the catalog)
It is funny…the "larger verion" of this little gem gets overlooked and I am guilty as charged…I do not think that I blogged about it once this holiday season but it is in the catalog and I will say…it is overlooked!
To me…the key tool for both of these "big and little bows" is the bone folder!
The other "KEY" tip is to have your card "hand stamped" at the Post Office so it will not go through a machine! (I have a great little Post Office and I do this all the time….trust me – it is worth standing in line to do this for your cards!!!)
You need to "work the fibers of the paper" in order to give it that "just right" feel! The other key are glue dots..these makes it super fast and DONE!
When you pop it out…this is what you get! You will need to pop out 2 x's to create a bow…and if you want a color coordinating one….make the adjustments!
Now to the Bone Folder, just work the paper in both directions to get it very soft and pliable…this will help with "fru-fruing" the bow if it gets squished when mailing! You can see in the below picture that the paper is very broken down.
Here is another "Secret Weapon" that I have in my work area….it is sheet of very thin foam that I bought from Amazon…(I am an Amazon junkie) and this helps with mailing! It is the super thin foam that can be put in between plates so they do not get chipped.
If you ggogle Amazon, here is the name - Bankers Box Smooth Move Cushion Foam, 12 Inches x 40 Feet (7712101) – it goes a L O N G way so maybe go in with a friend (I often just cut a little piece to go over a pearl etc…..)
You can see that I took a very small piece and rolled it in the loop. After I did that, I simply pressed it down gently before putting it in an envelope! This is a big help and I have also given you more options in the below photo.
So sorry for the late post…I am telling you – we are only in the 2nd day of the New Year and I feel like I need a vacation! The things that happen to me…but I would not change it for the world!
If you follow my blog…we rescued a Jack Russell at Thanksgiving…(Rosie) – She was "fixed" on the 31st and we were able to pick her up yesterday morning.
Being that we are "animal" people…we knew that something wasn't right with her last night so needless to say that we were up with her – Hannah and I just returned home from the Vets and they needed to hydrate her as well as put her on antibiotics.
It's a "girls" day….she is all bundled up…all 8lbs. of her with me in my work area!
Hopefully this post is of help to you and once again, Stampin' Up! did it again by coming out with another great punch….
Remember to leave a comment for the "Blog Candy" posts #1 & #2 – tomorrow I will announce the winner! Many thanks for your patience today and please share my Blog and love of Simple Stampin' with your family and firends! Enjoy the day!
Oh my goodness what a cute little dog. Hope she is feeling better soon.
Thank you for the tips, Susan. When I saw your card yesterday, my first thought was, “What will that look like after it’s gone through the mail?” Your suggestion to pad the loops solves that!
I also send get well wishes to Rosie. It’s so hard to see pet not feeling well.
Quick question, Susan–Some fellow stampers have said that the PO will reject envelopes with “bumps” like those you get with buttons, pearls, etc. So by having them hand-canceled that resolves that situation? Also, does the card with the bow still fit is it’s matching standard sized envelope? Thanks!
Sending good wishes to Rosie, such a sweet little face, so much love there. Thanks for info on bow punch, still trying to justify why I need that, LOL.
Poor little Rosie! She’s a cutie-pie…get well, little girl! They are all our “fur-babies” and I have one, too. I love this punch and must get one!! Thanks for sharing the mailing tips, Susan.
Hugs and keep smilin’
Sunshine Sharon
I have never had a problem with the Post Office. I use several different ones but I know that the one that is closet to my house is always glad to hand stamp them.
From what my postal lady said to me…if they “hand stamp it” – it will not have to go through the machines and it is the machines that rip the envelopes etc….(hope that this makes sense)
If I am in doubt that it will go through or that I have enough postage on a card…I always wait in line and ask! To me there is nothing more frustrating that a piece of mail is returned because they say that you need .14 more cents on it!
Hope that this helps!
p.s. – I also make my Post Office cookies from time to time….that seems to always make them happy to see me!!!
check with your post office regarding the hand-cancelling. two local post offices (one large, one very small) told me that even though you ask & they do hand-cancel in front of you, the envelope still goes thru sorting machines. so no guarantees on your contents (brads, ribbon, etc). I live in Brunswick OH. So check – it might be different for various parts of the country or size/style of envelope used.
Thanks for the tip on the foam! I’ve shied away from using embellishments on the cards I mail because I don’t want them to get stuck in the sorting machine. Hope your cute puppy is feeling better soon!
Dear Susan,
Thanks for the padding tips on the bow loops. My lovely post office people hand cancel my cards. They have a template that cards go through to determine if the envelope is too thick or not. She also showed me that the middle of the card is the problem if it’s too thick, so she told me to avoid embellishments across the middle. I have not had one person tell me that their cards were mangled or torn in any way by the time they received them, so my post office and I must be doing something right. Our local mail gets transported to the big Cincinnati main branch before being sent on its way, so we have pretty good service here! I love our postal carriers and workers here, and yes, they get smiles, thank yous, cookies, and cards from me. Keep up the inspiring work on your blog. I hope your puppy gets well. We rescued our puppy from a shelter and she came home with parvovirus unbeknownst to us. Our vet put her right in his hospital for 4 days and saved her life! Lots of fluids and antibiotics, poor thing. She is 10 months old now and thriving. Good luck! Nancy B
I hope Rosie is feeling better and out if her cone soon. 🙂
Do you “work” the paper before you punch or after?
Hello Susan, I just want to say that your work is beautiful. I think that it is because you do careful precise work and it makes everything look so professional and appealing. Thanks for sharing on your blog!
Oh No, poor Rosie. I hope she is all better very soon. 🙁
I love this bow punch so much. The tip of supporting the loops for mailing is great. Have a nice cozy day relaxing!
🙂
What a precious face! I love reading about your animals. I think you sold me on the bow punch!
Oh, what a sweet little face, I hope she will feel better really soon.
Thank you for the tips for this punch Susan, I’m going to get it because the size is just perfect for cards and gifts.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the great tips. I have never visited or shopped at Amazon. It’s on my Jan goal list to do. You card is stunning and the best bow I have ever seen. Job well done 🙂 Lola
Your fur baby is sooo cute. Hope she feels better soon. Thank you so much for your tips on padding the bow for mailing. My post office hand stamps without problems but charge 20 cents extra. That’s ok with me to make sure cards are delivered in good shape. Thanks for all your tips. Yours is the first blog I check out every day.
I use the bone folder AFTER I punch it out….I think that if you did it before – your paper might be so flimsy that it would not get a “clean” punch!
You made me smile!
It is….just a perfect size for cards! I know that you will not be disappointed!
Watch out….once you get the Amazon bug….you’ve got it but I will say that I use it soooooo darn much! You will be surprised at how much lower prices are for ink for your printer, tape for a label maker…have fun!
I have heard that some post offices do charge that .20 cents charge….mine does not but I do agree with you – it is totally worth it!
I have a new animal story for tomorrow….things never stop amazing me with my animals!
Hello my friend…..Rosie has been with me all day but trust me – it is John that she really wants! He is on his way home and they are going to work on the 2,000 piece puzzle – we are determined to get that finished!
Thanks for the feedback! My lady also pulls out that little template…I sure do wish I had one at my house! WOOT-WOOT to you for rescuing a dog…so sad that there are so many out there!
Thank you Susan, it’s on my next order for sure.
Oh my….I think we can always find way to justify….I just laugh and love my goodies – stamps, paper, punches always make me smile!
Loops work…it is a cute little bow!
She is a sweetie….
Fur babies are special babies!!! Love each and everyone of them!
Hmmmmm….I am sure that all are a bit different…I just know that it pays to protect as much as you can.
I was just like you and even though I do not use embellishments a bunch – I figured out how to best protect them! Thanks for the comment!
Love the bow. Just might have to buy it. Hope Rosie gets better soon. She is so cute.
I just asked my post office and they gave me the template!
Hello Susan! I use the “slot” on my SU paper trimmer to determine if my card/envelope is too thick. And I also have my bulky cards hand stamped. I buy the 21c stamp for the hand stamp fee in bulk! Also, SU sells the mailing envelopes for bulky cards. Thanks for all the tips on the bow punch. I am so looking forward to getting it!! Sending Rosie wishes for a speedy recovery!
I hope the little pooch is recovering!
My post office gave me one of ‘those templates’ so I can check my cards before I take them in.
Cute doggy. Hope it is feeling better.
What an adorable face your sweet little Rosie has! I hope she is better very soon. Our 90 pound black lab (rescued from a shelter a few years ago) had to have surgery in December and came home with a cone. He drove me nuts with that in the middle of the night, scrapping the walls as he shifted or moved down the hall to get a drink of water. It was like having a newborn again, up every few hours! He was supposed to wear it 14 days but it only lasted 5. We just watched him carefully and made sure he wasn’t naughty. Let’s hope Rosie doesn’t have to wear hers as long!
The bow looks so neat and pretty. Yes, I overlooked this too. I love all your close up pics and tips. Those are very helpful. Hope you have a lovely day!