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One question I have is how do people mail their cards when they have
all the embellishments on them. They get so lumpy and one card a
friend mailed with a pop top "buckle" was shredded and only part of the
envelope arrived.
So, any ideas from others on mailing lumpy cards is appreciated. :-)
Also on a side note..........when mailing them it does take extra stamps......and I have them hand cancelled at the P.O.......so they don't go through the machine that tears them....
Since all my cards have to be mailed by me or someone else I try to stay away of the real lumpy embellishments. I've gotten cards also with little left of the envelope but not from any SCSers in case anyone is wondering.
Here's a couple things I do.
Place a extra piece of cardstock, maybe even from an old greeting card between card front and envelope.
Use clear packing tape on the envelope where the embellishments are, I've only did this a couple times but I've recieved many of them this way and they traveled just fine.
In order mail cards with embellishments and no bubble wrap, you have to take it to the post office and tell them you would like it hand cancelled. They weigh the envelope and charge extra for this. I tried to mail a card with a ribbon that had been knotted and I had to have it hand stamped. It cost
49 cents to mail.
I have not done this but I am wondering if it would work to use a piece of corrugated paper, and cut out the center, leaving a frame of about 1/2 inch -to fit along the outside edge of the card. Then maybe put bubble wrap on the inside - kind of double protection. I know there is a USPS limit on how thick the envelope can be before adding extra postage.
I use a piece of cardboard. I save them from note pads, meno pads, out of a package of sheet protectors. Cereal boxes work great too! Cut it the size of your card and place one piece on each side.
It makes a smooth surface and will not hang up in the PO automated system.
__________________ Karen
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The post office machine will only accept envelopes up to a certain thickness; even if you protect your embellishments, if the whole envelope is too thick, it won't go through. I got my DD's birthday card back on her birthday. When I took it to the post office they showed me that it was too thick (I already knew it didn't weigh too much) so it took 13 cents more to mail it.
I use the cardboard photo mailers. It usually only costs about $0.50 extra to send it that way, and I'd rather know it's going to arrive in once piece... chances are if I use a lumpy embellishment, it's going to someone special. ;)
__________________
You don't have to take on the world, just get on its good side.
I have received cards with embellishments that have had a piece of fun foam over the embellishments. They sink into the fun foam and create a smoother surface for the postage machine to meter it. When I worked doing bulk mailings, the PO has a nifty plastic thing that has a slot in it. If the envelope can slid through the slot with sticking (or having to be pushed through) then it can make it through their machinery. Ask to see the slot and measure it for thickness. You could make your own template if you really wanted to. Some PO's may even give one to you if they know and love you. The other way you could send it is to turn the card inside out. It works but I don't prefer this way.
__________________ Ann Here is my oily blog! CLICK HERE Certified Copic Instructor - Local ClassesI love cars, stamping and essential oils!
I got a template like Ann talks about for free from my post office. (Of course, that's been like 8 or more years ago!) Call the Bulk Mail department and ask for one. They mailed one out to me at no charge. Very handy tool!
I just was looking this up on the USPS website. It costs an additional 13 cents for a "nonmachineable surcharge." Since I can't make regular trips to the post office, the postal clerk said I could leave it for my post(wo)man and yell, "STOP!" jk, anyway, I could write hand stamp on the envelope, so it doesn't go through the machine.
On a thread like this awhile ago, someone said they always face the embellished side of the card to the back, and then after the envelope is sealed, they put clear packaging tape over the back of the envelope. I have been doing this since then, and it works great. :-) LM
I just was looking this up on the USPS website. It costs an additional 13 cents for a "nonmachineable surcharge." Since I can't make regular trips to the post office, the postal clerk said I could leave it for my post(wo)man and yell, "STOP!" jk, anyway, I could write hand stamp on the envelope, so it doesn't go through the machine.
I love those buckles and accessories!:eek:
I take my cards to the post office window and ask the clerk to hand cancel them. I've never been charged anything additional for them, but I don't think I've had them too thick for their template, either.
You can't depend on the USPS to hand cancel your envelope even if you write it on there. A friend mailed me a card once that had a watch crystal on it. She wrote "hand cancel" on the envelope, but I received it with the watch crystal smashed into several pieces.
I turn my cards inside out and put a note with post it note saying, " Mailed this way to save tearing the card in postal sorter". No more ripped cards for anyone, Hugs n' Stuff, Lynne
Mailing Cards
