Not Just A Pretty Package

Lately, I’ve run across a few discussions about packaging your product up for shipment to your buyer. Lynn showed us recently how she creates special boxes for her pieces. They are lovely and I’ve actually had the treat of receiving one. Sunday at ABS a link to Tammy Powley’s article on Branding Your Jewelry also included her approach to branding and packaging. Pretty much all of the handmade things I’ve received have come in thoughtful packaging. I think it’s important to show you care enough about your work to present it well.


This is how I do most of my packaging. I try to keep my packaging simple and low cost so that I can keep my product and shipping costs low. Keep in mind that most of what I ship are components that will be used in larger works. But I also want the presentation to be attractive. The most important consideration for me is that your little ceramic beauties will arrive safely.


I’ve gone through a few iterations of my packaging but this is the approach I’ve found best for me. I print cards out on cardstock that on the front have my business name, what I make, my Etsy and blog links. On the back of the cards I use for buttons I print care instruction. I’ve yet to figure out what to put on the back of the jewelry component cards. I hate wasted space.


Buttons or components are sewn on to the front of the card. The threads and knots get hidden in the middle of the folded card. Tidy. I like tidy (Yes, this is from the woman who just yesterday confessed to not knowing when she last saw the side board in the dining room). The whole works then gets put into a cello envelope. Then your order is slipped into a bubble padded envelope, sealed and sent. Voila!


What I like about this system is that I get a double thickness of cardstock to protect the work I’m sending. The cello envelope, while I’m not rapt about the recycling potential, keeps the parts in one place. That way if, heaven forbid, something should come loose, the pieces won’t fly all over the bigger envelope, wreaking mayhem and havoc with your order and my peace of mind.

I set this up as a word document and get three 2 7/8” by 4 3/4” card for each sheet of cardstock. These fit nicely in a 3 1/2 “ x 5” cello envelope with a little room to accommodate the thickness of the pieces I’m shipping. So far this has worked well for me. And it’s low cost, at most 10-12 cents per set that I package. Someday I’ll even figure out what to do with the bit less than 2” strip of cardstock that gets trimmed off the bottom. If you’ve got any ideas for that let me know! Right now they are a growing pile of bookmarks.

Cheers, LeAnn