I packed my first orders with lots of care because I’d read about how other succesful Etsy sellers do it.

This starts before I put together the listing. When the cards are done, I put stickers with my details on the backs of each of them. Eventually I want to order a stamp for the backs and stamp them before I add the design.

Then I count out the cards and put the right number in clear cellophane bags, so they’re ready to go. I label the bags with the number of cards in them, but I don’t close the bags.

When I get the order, I count the number of envelopes and put them in clear cellophane bags too. For the first couple of orders I included a bonus card of the same design. Not sure if I’ll be able to keep that up as I get more orders. There are other goodies I could include too, e.g. washi samples, journaling cards or stickers. I also add a card thanking the recipient for their order, as well as my business card. I tie the whole package with some baker’s twine and slide some doilies under it.

Then the whole thing goes in the envelope. I have both rigid mailers and peach bubble envelopes. Eventually I’m hoping to offer plastic-free packaging. But it’s more expensive so it will have to wait until I break even.

For addressing and postage, I rely on Etsy. That’s cheap and very easy. When it’s all done, I put the envelopes in my mailbox, for the postie to pick up. That’s an advantage of selling small items - they fit easily into my mailbox.