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Hi!
I liked your article on creative packaging. I have used Priority Mail boxes in lots of different configurations, some as you described. Here is another idea. The post office also offers shipping tubes, actually they are triangular in shape instead of round. They come shipped flat with one fold and can be made into great boxes for shipping framed pictures and prints. The postal employees at my post office are amazed at the ways I have made large flat boxes out of these "tubes"! I bet a lot of people don't even know those are available. Actually, they were shipped to me by mistake by the post office, but have turned out to be very useful! You have to do a little creative folding, but it beats the cost of picture boxes.
Of all the framed and unframed pictures I have shipped using these boxes, not one has been damaged. Lots of bubble wrap and reinforcing cardboard over the glass in a framed picture are the key.
Thanks again!
Sally K
Lake Erie Traders
ebay ID - laketrader
Sally's Packing Instructions for Framed and Unframed Pictures:
Using the USPS Priority Mail Shipping Tubes:
1) First cut off both ends, the flaps and the folded part that make up the bottom of the tube.
2) Measure your bubble wrapped item. Score 2 tubes on the inside of the cardboard next to the fold the width of your item and fold to make a squared side. (Try not to cut completely through the cardboard, but if it goes through in a couple of places you can just put extra tape over it.)
3) Then score along the top and bottom edges where you cut off the flaps to make the correct size overlapping flaps for your new box. For example, if your box is to be 2" deep then you need 2" flaps to overlap on the ends.
4) Pull off the tape strips on both "tubes" and wrap the cardboard around your item, making sure the tape strips are on opposite sides. Your item must be small enough to allow for about a 2" overlap for this to work.
5) Reinforce the seams of your new box with plenty of tape. Add more bubble wrap if needed to cushion the ends and fold down the flaps you made by scoring the ends. Again, secure with plenty of tape. (I also tape all corners just for security.)
6) If you are shipping a framed print with glass, be sure to add an extra piece of sturdy cardboard over the glass and use plenty of bubble wrap.
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