Good Tuesday to all! Today’s post has some tips for mailing and I think that you will walk away with a good “nugget” that hopefully you will find useful. You know that I love to share things that work for me but at the same time I hope you know that it is ALWAYS a work on progress!
These tips might work for me TODAY…and then YOU will share with me something that is even better or should I say, “works for me” (remember….we all see things differently) and guess what? THAT IS OK!!! 🙂 At the end of the post I will fill you in with the surgery yesterday!
We all know that there are times that we just cannot help ourselves and that we have fun adding embellishments and thickness to our cards, (and also SQUARE CARDS) that require extra postage! Here are some tips that I hope you find useful!
Confession time….I do try to play a game with myself to make cards that will mail with a regular stamp and I have also found that going to the same post office and I am fortunate enough to see either “Trish or Cathy” ~ they know there are times that I am “pushing the limit” but then I give them a funny look and say, “Can you PLEASE hand stamp this?”
By having your cards hand stamped, they will not go through the machine and get all messed up! I have heard from many of you that your post master will not do that….I do not know what to say but try baking them cookies…..it goes a long way! 🙂 I am in my post office quite often and I can tell when it is time to “sweeten them up” and yep, cookies….muffins work!
First, I like to purchase these envelope from Amazon. They are lifesavers and if you do not think that you can use 50 of them, split them with a friend. I think that you will be amazed at how handy they come. Yesterday’s card….the shaker one – I did not make an envelope and I just slid it in one of these envelopes with a goodie for Catherine Ann to read and POOF – works like a charm!
The are “ok” quality but for the price – you cannot beat it. 50 for $11.00 – GREAT DEAL! The are 6″ X 10″ and it you have something smaller that you do not want to roll around, simply fold over the end to make it smaller, seal – add extra tape and off to the post office!
If you have a card that YOU KNOW needs extra postage ….using one of these will be a huge protector and in the long run., it is just a wee bit more to mail than the extra postage and you know that it will some safe and sound and in perfect condition because of the padding. I think that they work out to be .22 a piece!
Here is another GREAT idea…wow let’s look at this gem. I say BRILLIANT as this was made by downline, Nancy Farrell. I am sure she will chime in on the comments and lat us know how many she makes but my guess……she makes a bunch, has them cut and ready to go when needed!
I love the font she used and the little added touches of hearts…the year….her initials – FUN!
Lastly, this is one that I think the message is a KEEPER! You can see how Donna stamped off in the background an image and then has this amazing, uplifting message that would surely brighten someones day!
I think that we all will remember this about “HANDMADE” – you know how I feel about Handmade/Homemade….Gifts from the heart ALWAYS win in my eye….priceless!
HANDMADE
Hoping A Note Does Make A Difference Everyday
Simple things just make that special difference. I just love this tips and tricks like these and I hope that they turned a lightbulb on for you!
Here is an update on my friends son. He did not get out of surgery until 2:30 (started at 7) and in a nutshell, he is doing great – the doctors feel like it was successful but the next 24 hours will be critical. He is on a ventilator which is normal for that surgery and his beautiful Mom send me a text around 7 last night saying that she had the chance to see him and he did a “fist bump” with his brothers and mouthed I love you to his parents!
Now if that doesn’t make your day…I do not know what would! He is soooooo lucky as he is a super athletic and active young man ~ lacrosse and baseball and thank goodness something was picked up at a physical for school, they thought is was a heart murmur but it was a bunch more! God is GREAT and there have been a powerful group of people praying for this family!
Here is a quote for you today…..anther keeper in my eyes!
We are ALMOST at the end of the month…..lots to still take advantage of…remember the Thoughtful; Branches Bundle will be leaving tomorrow….it is a beauty and then up on top of my post, you will see the product share offerings, the Paw Print card offering….FUN!!!!!
Thank you for your tips, Susan. I always enjoy learning what works for other stampers. I have a tip for you too. I learned this from Mary Fish and have done it several times since. Take a piece of regular weight cardstock cut to the size of your card or a little less (I use white) and run it through a dense embossing folder, then place that piece on top of the front of your card to protect your pearls, sequins, and other embellishments. I’ve received cards with ripped envelopes due to bumpy embellies, and they look awful. I’ve also placed a piece of wide scotch tape on the outside envelope where a pearl is located. Not as neat looking, but at least I know that the envelope won’t tear. Hope this helps you and others~
One time a fellow stamper used my embossed piece from a card I sent to her, on another card she had made! How fun~
That is great….I am sure that she thought of you when she “passed on the love” through her card! I just love this stampin’ thing we do!
Great tip and one thing about this is….we have so many cute embossing folders, that in itself looks super pretty when you open and envelope! I just love sharing ideas!
OMG, what a shock of all shocks! I just decided this morning to read some email before I started my at-home work. There scrolling along was my name, I couldn’t imagine what was coming next. Yes, I print out four on a piece of card-stock, cut them and have them ready to go. I love the “homemade” card and will be printing out a copy of it for myself too. I thank God your friend’s surgery is over. Isn’t the body amazing! I have that fist-bump picture in my mind. I will continue to pray for him and his family. Have a great day.
🙂
I was hoping that you would smile! I adore getting Nancy mail as it always brightens my day! I just adore the special touches that you add to your piece! Thanks or being so special, I am blessed to have you on my team!
Another tip is to cut a piece of heavy card stock or box (like cereal box), cut it to the size of your card and run it through your crimper. It will save your pretty embellishments and bows.
Thanks for the great mailing tips, Susan.
BRILLIANT idea! I have a crimper and it sits there….time to dust it off! Great idea and thanks for sharing!
All these good tips!!!! Thank you everyone.
So happy for the recovering young man!!!! Being young, he will heal fast. God bless their family.
So true…being you and also very healthy will be on his side. It is a true miracle that this was picked up….he is super lucky and I am hoping each and every day he gets stronger!
I love all these tips. I have used a piece of basic cardstock to protect cards, but I love Nancy’s beautifully decorated idea, as well as Donna’s handmade quote idea, plus your ideas, Susan. What an enlightening day! I’m so glad to hear about Catherine Ann’s son and I’ll keep praying for the best recovery possible. Thanks to all for sharing. I love the stamping community for sharing our tips and compassion. Have a great day!
YIPPEE….my heart is happy that you find the tips useful! Keep those positive vibes coming…..
Thanks for the update on the surgery. I couldn’t wait and had to scroll to the bottom to read it first. I am keeping prayers going for a speedy recovery!
I love your Tuesday Tips! I can say first hand that the bubble mailing envelope works! I am hanging on to the Pop of Pink card you sent. Hmmm, am I a hoarder?? Thanks for the tips from everyone!
Again, you made me chuckle! John laughs at me as when I get a “good” padded envelope in the mail….I see if I can take the label off and re-use it…..YEP…I think we are hoarders!!!!
You mean we aren’t suppose to try and get the labels off and reuse it? That is part of the fun of mailing things and getting them! Then there is the environmental thing and all that. We are just doing our part!
Great tips everyone! Thank you Susan for the surgery update – prayers continue.
Agreed – I love the fact that we all JUMP in an share!
Our mail is collected in Tucson and driven away to be sorted and processed in Phoenix, so we can cookie and muffin the locals all we want, it won’t help what the guys in Phoenix do.
I use the extra piece of cardstock in the envelope to protect little bumpies as well, sometimes I use postcards (some actual postcards and some the ads you get in the mail). I almost never mail anything in an A2 envelope. I use A6 ones because the extra space in the envelope seems to be more forgiving. I try to make things mailable as possible since I can’t go into a post office (their hours 8-5 M-F, my hours 8-5 M-F). I buy a roll postcard postage and whenever something is suspiciously thick or heavy I add one of those to mix.
You always have great tips and your readers usually have great ones to add too!
That is a great idea to get an A6 size card…sometimes I cannot figure out the USPS – I can mail a letter to my Dad that lives 3 hours away….he gets it the next day….and then I can mail John’s Mom a letter and she lives 20 minutes away (across the MD border) and ut takes 2 sometimes 3 days! GO FIGURE!
Good to hear your friend’s son made it through the first hurdle. Will continue to keep them in my thoughts. You are such a great friend.
I am learning as I get older….there is nothing wrong at asking for help and I knew that I could lean on my stampin’ friends to help pray and think of this amazing young man and his wonderful family!
Thanks so much for the update on the surgery. Still sending prayers, well wishes, and all that good stuff to the family and the medical team caring for him.
Love the tips today and comments. I need to get some of those padded envelops from Amazon, much cheaper than around here. Besides, Teddy just loves it when the Fex Ex or the UPS man comes. He gets petted and it makes their day as well.
Thanks for the prayers…they do work and I am happy that things are going in the right direction! I totally hear you about when someone comes to deliver!
EARS go UP…they run to the door….WATCH OUT DELIVERY GUY – I do admit, it is wonderful that they always give them a goodie and also take a minute to pet them! Aren’t dogs the best!
So happy to hear the good news concerning your friend’s son. Love the fist bump and, like Nancy, I have that image in my mind. These tips are great! My go to method is what Nancy does but I will surely try the others, too, along with ordering these envelopes. I have no problem getting my cards hand stamped…..my hubby works for the PO and does it…lucky me!
I think of you every time I go to the Post Office because of your hubby. My Post Office is about the size of a bedroom and it is like watching an episode of “Cheers” – everybody knows everybody!!!