Mailing Tips

Hello.  Welcome. This is an international card exchange so there is a good chance there will come a time when you'll be sending a card across the border.   I just thought I'd give you a few tips for reducing costs and also the chance of involuntary card slaughter, as Deborah calls it. I have found the postal system has become more and more unreliable whilst at the same time it has become more and more expensive. So here are a few ideas:

• If you don't want to send internationally, don't sign up after someone from another country. Sometimes you won't have that option, so....
• Send as soon as you can. The pigeons sometimes fly very slowly. They have even been known to fly in totally the wrong direction for many days before realising their error. The last day of the month is the final target for delivery. It's okay for your card to arrive before that. It's disappointing for the recipient if it arrives after that date. (And if we have a secret prize hidden up our sleeves, you won't qualify if your card is even one day late.)  So send as soon as you can.  
• Reduce the weight and thickness of your card by using less layers and flat embellishments. If you add layers, gut them (cut out the bits that don't show because they're behind the next layer). This reduces weight and also saves bits to use on other projects. Thrifty crafter at work! 
• Pearls, rhinestones and sequins are very pretty, but the less-than-gentle automatic mail handling system can damage them. In extreme cases they can result in involuntary card slaughter. So sad. Padded envelopes add weight and can be thick enough to send your mail costs into the next pay scale. Use a piece of bubble wrap over embellishments to protect them. Or a pretty napkin. You can wrap the card in the napkin. It holds things in place, protects without adding too much weight or bulk, and can be used for art by the recipient! (This is a great time to substitute dots of Stickles or Paper Pearls for 3D gems and pearls.)  
• The cost of mail in the USA varies widely. If you get to the mail counter and the guy says, "That's $15," the first thing you do is say. "No way man!. I want a recount. Where's your supervisor?" Unless you're sending an elephant, (and why would you?) it should only cost a few dollars for postage. Keep it flat. Practice your one-layer cards. And no elephants!
• 20th December 2021 USA people, I have just been reading an interesting thread on fb that sounded like it might have some useful tips.  It seems that  square envelopes are always gonna be more expensive than rectangular ones, so use rectangle ones, even if your card is square.  Ask for the Dogface Moth stamp. Supposedly it cost $0.95 and they have Not Machinable on them.  Not Machinable stamps are your friend in the US. Watch how many layers you use on the front of your card. Keep the total card and envelope thickness less than 1/4".  If your total thickness is more than 1/4" but less than 3/4", put that card/envelope into a larger envelope and use the large flat envelope rate.  Use the self serve kiosk or ask for the large envelope rate.  A sequin or half pearl should not make your card a package.  Good luck. 
  
  

 

If you have any more tips that you think should be here, drop us an email at cardchainchallenge@yahoo.com and we'll add them. Thanks for listening. Hugz!

The Hostesses with the Mostesses from The Team Behind the Scenes