In this video I share my tips and tricks that I picked up from shipping small paintings over the years. Below are all of the supplies and equipment that I use in the video.
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SCALES
This is the scale that I use in the video. It's good for packages that weigh up to 50 pounds. [ Ссылка ]
Here's another scale that can handle up to 100 pounds. It also has a readout that's detachable so you can read the weight when you have large or bulky items on it. [ Ссылка ]
PRINTERS
This is the top of the line wireless label printer from Brother. It works with Macs and PCs. [ Ссылка ]
Brother also makes similar printer that's more affordable because it doesn't have the wireless option [ Ссылка ]
LABELS FROM THE VIDEO
This is probably the cheapest solution if you already have a printer. There are two labels per sheet. [ Ссылка ]
CLEAR BAGS FOR PAINTINGS
8.25" X 10.25" clear bags with a resealable flap. It contains a 100 bags total. These are slightly larger than 8x10 so you can fit canvas panels which are thicker than photos [ Ссылка ]
5.25" x 7.125" clear bags with a resealable flap. I use these for shipping 5"x7" canvas panels. They have other sizes too. [ Ссылка ]
CARDBOARD
I use cardboard to protect the edges of the painting. I cut down the cardboard boxes from the packages I receive in the mail. But you can also buy precut sheets such as this 9"x12" sheets. [ Ссылка ]
USPS ENVELOPES AND BOXES
This is the padded envelope that I use in the video. It's 9.5" by 12.5"
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Box 1092 is large enough to fit a standard 9"x12" canvas.
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Shipping a painting is much easier when you have the supplies and a system to follow.
I like to use priority mail from the USPS. You can have envelopes shipped to your house for free. They're padded envelopes so you don't have to buy bubble wrap.
Half of the time that it takes to ship a painting is the drive to the post office but you can schedule a pick up for free too. That way you can spend for time painting or marketing your art!
You will need to buy a scale so that you can weigh the package. You can pick up a scale for a reasonable price online. As for printing the postage labels, there are a number of options. If you have a laser printer or even an inkjet printer, you can use it to print out the postage at home.
There are letter sized sheets of label stock that have two labels per sheet. As I show in the video I print them out on my laser printer without any problems.
A dedicated label printer will make things much easier though and I plan on buying. There are a bunch to choose from. Some of them are wireless which is really convenient.
Another thing that helps make shipping easier is to be prepared. I have all of my supplies in stock so that when I make a sale I can ship it immediately without having to purchase supplies.
I choose canvas sizes that I know that will fit into the envelopes that I get for free from the post office. There's a system to it. If you paint on 8x10 canvases, it's easy to find bags for them.
The cardboard helps to protect the edges of the canvas. If it gets dropped or banged around during shipping, it's the edge that will get dinged and not the painting.
