Hello
my crafty friends. This is Shannon and I’m so happy to be here with you today on the TLC Designs blog. I hope you’re enjoying the spring weather. I
know I am.
If you’ve read any of my recent posts,
you know that I am a new fan of digi stamps.
They are so much fun! You can print them individually or create an
entire one-layer scene with them. If you haven’t tried digital stamps, I highly
recommend them. The design possibilities
are endless and their price point is unbeatable.
Today’s post is about digi stamps, but
I also want to touch on the subject of mailing cards with lumpy embellishments
on them. If you’ve ever created a card
with pearls, hearts or the like, and had that card returned in the mail asking
for additional postage, this post is for you.
There are a few ways to get around
paying extra postage on these types of cards.
According to the USPS website, for
First-Class Mail “letter” rates,
it must be at least 3-1/2 inches by 5 inches by 0.007 inches thick, and no more
than 6-1/8 inches by 11–1/2 inches by 1/4 inches thick. If the mailpiece falls
within these dimensions*, it is classified as a “letter”. If your “letter” is less than one ounce, it
can be mailed, within the USA, with a regular first-class forever stamp.
Unusually
shaped mail, like square or vertical envelopes*, “lumpy envelopes”, “rigid
envelopes”, and mail with clasps, string, or buttons, must be “hand-canceled”.
They are charged a nonmachinable surcharge even if they weigh less than one ounce.
* The length is the dimension parallel to the
delivery address as read; the height is the dimension
perpendicular to the length.
Tips For Mailing Thick
Cards Or Cards With Embellishments
- Keep your card under ¼ of an inch thick
(including embellishments).
- Use layers
of cardstock instead of foam tape when “popping up” elements on your card
front.
- When using “bumpy” embellishments, keep them
to the top half of your envelope (see my card as an example). The “top
half” will be either the left or right half of the card, depending on
which direction you put the card into the envelope. Doing this will prevent
problems when going through the meter at the post office.
- Cover the “bumps” with packer’s tape on the
outside of the envelope. This prevents the envelope from ripping when going
through the meter. (The “bumps” can not be more than ¼” thick to qualify under
the “regular letter postage” rules.
- Attach a sticker/label on the left side of the
envelope, under the return address, stating “HAND CANCEL”. “Hand Cancel” means
they will cancel the postage stamp on the envelope by hand instead of putting
it through the meter. This costs a little more, but it’s worth the cost if
you’ve ever experienced problems with your cards being returned or not making
their destination.
- Hand deliver. Then you get to see the look on
the recipient’s face when they open the card made just for them. You may have
to endure the cost of airfare in order to do this one, but I thought I would
include it as an option.
Now, on to the card. I started by inserting
a rectangle shape onto an MS Word document.
I changed the size to 3.75” x 8.25”. Then I copied the Happy Bouquet png
file from the Happy Bouquet digi stamp set and pasted it twice onto the
rectangle shape in MS Word. In addition,
I copied and pasted the sentiment from the same digi stamp set. This set includes super cute sentiments along
with a beautiful floral arrangement.
After resizing the images, I printed
the document onto Hammermill smooth white 100# Cardstock. Then I colored images
with Ohuhu alcohol markers. These are
one of my new go-to coloring mediums. I’ve included all of the color
combinations I used at the end of this post.
The finishing touches on that card
include some aqua hearts by Lucy’s cards and some flat-back pearls I purchased
on Amazon.com. Then I glued the panel to a 4” x 8.5” piece of light blue 100#
cardstock and adhered the final product to a card base measuring the same size.
Products Used To Create This Card
Happy Bouquet Digi Stamp Set – TLC Designs
Ohuhu Alcohol Markers
E434, G240, E432, G220, G9, G440, G410, G4709,
G270, G240, G220, Y7, Y250, Y230, Y121, B030
Droplets, Aqua Hearts – Lucy’s Cards
Mini Guillotine Timmer – We R MemoryKeepers
Acrylic Matte Medium – Handy Art
Bone Folder
Scotch ATG
Hammermill 100# Smooth White Cardstock
Reverse Tweezers
That’s it. I hope this inspires you to create cards of
your own with digi stamps by TLC
Designs.
The “Happy Bouquet” digi set is currently on sale for $2.50.
Enjoy the rest of your crafty day.
Hugs!
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