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Postage

Ugh, the flu certainly has taken a toll on my family, everybody has been sick, me being the last. Let me tell you that if you have not had it, you should be very thankful!! It really knocked me on my butt. I've been sick for over a week and a half and still do not feel 100%.

During the time of not doing anything, literally, I had the opportunity to surf the web and discovered several wonderful sites and some very beautiful cards and info. I'm going to list info from Gail Beezley's site today on postage.

How do you determine how much postage you need? I especially love the fru fru cards with lots of layers and embellishments and know it costs more to mail them, but how much? Gail did an excellent job providing details, thanks Gail!

Here is her post:

January 30, 2013 – Gail Beezley
How Much to Mail a Hand-stamped Card Now?

(This is a repost of one from last year - with this year's numbers)
So, what does it take to mail a stamped card? Especially if the card isn't totally flat (because you know how much we love our embellishments!) And what size is legal? There are so many questions about postage, I thought I would share some answers with you today.

First, how much? A first class letter costs $.46 to mail (or a Forever stamp). That price is for an envelope that is no heavier than 1 ounce, is between 3-1/2" x 6-1/8" high, is between 5" and 11-1/2" long, is less than 1/4" thick, and has uniform thickness. Oh, and the envelope has to be "machinable", meaning the envelope can go through the sorting machines. Clear cellophane envelopes are not considered "machinable". A second ounce will cost you $.20 more. I finally found a use for that Weight Watcher scale; dig yours out and start weighing your cards! Add another $.20 for non-machinable, rigid, square cards, and "lumpy" envelopes.

By the way, those "lumpy" envelopes still need to be no thicker than 1/4". If they are between 1/4" and 3/4", they are considered "large" envelopes and the postage is more. Large envelopes are 6-1/8" to 12" high, 11-1/2" to 15" long, and no more than 3/4" thick. Large envelopes that are rigid, lumpy, etc, will have to be mailed as packages. Which of course, costs more. Large envelopes cost $.92 for the first ounce and $.20 for each additional ounce.
Wow, that seems like a lot of rules! And there are actually more. For actual prices, guidelines, etc, visit the US Post Office website at https://www.usps.com/

This is what I do:
1. Put the card in an envelope and address it. If there is anything sticking out (brad, bow, etc), I put a piece of packing tape over the lump so the envelope won't rip.
2. Weigh the envelope.
3. Go to the Post Office website and enter the appropriate information ("from" zip code, "to" zip code, weight and what I think it is (envelope, large envelope, or package).
4. Calculate what stamps I will need. If it is a package and more than a dollar or so, I will go to a website that I found that tells me how many of which stamps I need. When you go to the site the first time, you tell it which denominations of stamps you have and then it remembers that information for the next time. Very cool.
5. Hope I figured right! Most of the time, I put $.66 on my cards. They are almost always lumpy or a little heavy... sometimes both. Please let me know if you get a card from me and have to pay extra postage - I would feel bad!

I keep track of my postage (I buy my postage online at that same Post Office website) in a book using 6 sheets of Designer Paper and my Rubicoil machine. Each pocket holds different demoninations. Here are a couple of the pages:

If this is too much to keep track of, you can do what some of my friends do: Use 1 stamp for a flat envelope or 2 stamps for a lumpy one. Who knows? It might work!

I still think that mailing letters is a bargain. Less than a dollar to give the most perfect gift: a hand-stamped card from your heart. I can't tell you how many times someone has told me how much their day was lifted when they opened the mailbox and received a card.

How much to mail a hand-stamped card? Probably $.66. Value? Priceless!
What does it mean for you to receive a hand-stamped card? Leave a comment and tell me!

Double Hearts Easel

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, a day devoted to love... I hope you have a fabulous day! My card is what I made for my dear husband. I wanted something a bit different and thought this would be just perfect. I'm also entering it in the Pals Paper Arts Challenge. Luckily I used all the colors of the challenge in my card, so I did not have to create a different card for the challenge.

The February challenge is a Color Challenge; Primrose Petals, Pool Party, and Real Red. Check out their site here

I used stamp sets; Cross My Heart, My Little Valentine, and Mixed Medley. Paper requirements include Real Red, Pool Party, Primrose Petals (More Amore) and I added a bit of Glitter paper. And, of course, what would Valentine's Day be without using Real Red ink?

I wish you a very happy Valentine's Day!

Donna


Hearts

Well, here it is, almost Valentine's Day and I haven't posted many heart cards....what is wrong with me? I have to post one today and one tomorrow! This card was tedious for me because I used a dauber to color the embossed edge around the border. Yea, it took some time and I could have done it differently, but I didn't. I'm pleased with the results...what do you think? The stamps are from the You Are Loved set and the Mixed Medley set. I also used the Hearts Framelits dies and scallop and circle punch. Whisper White paper and Real Red ink were also used.


Be sure to check back tomorrow for another Valentine card!

Thanks for stopping by!
Donna

All Dressed Up

Wow, I can hardly believe it has been so long since I last posted. Somehow life gets in the way... Today's card is using the new Dress Form Pop 'n Cuts items from the Spring catalog. Check them out on page 32! I also used items from the Artisan Embellishments Kit on page 10. Love that kit, it has so many fabulous items. The designer paper on the front is from the Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stack on page 16. I'm so happy that Stampin' Up brought us this new paper stack...hopefully they will bring more of these!

I designed this card for my dear Aunt's birthday. She is an excellent seamstress and this could not have been more perfect. Dearly love her! Hope her birthday was as special as she is.



Now for a look at the inside...


Hope you've enjoyed my card! Stop back soon as I have a whole lot of items ready for posting...

One last thing I have to mention, I 'met' a wonderful fellow stamper from a card swap we both recently participated in over at Stamp With Brian . I received a BEAUTIFUL card from Cheryl Hamilton who lives in Hawaii. Check out her blog, Create with Cheryl . She does beautiful work. Thanks, Brian for connecting me with Cheryl!

That's it for today. Hope you find time for stampin'!

Donna