I use CHEAP styrofoam dishes, newspaper, and bubble to package dishes and other fragile items.  Usually, you can use allot more styrofoam dishes and newspaper than bubble, making packaging better and very cost effective.

Place styrofoam alike dishes between your alike dishes, starting with one on the bottom and ending with one on the top.

For dishes that don't quite fit in the styrofoam dish, slightly snip the rims of the styrofoam dish and the styrofoam dish will then usually fit itself around your dish or item.

For added padding around BIG shaped fragile items, tape small bowls around each side of your packaged item facing either inward or outward.  This will also give added support.

In most cases, try to use styrofoam that is bigger than the item you are packaging.  The styrofoam lips around your item will add extra padding and protection.

If a packaging box has a soft spot in the middle, where it can be indented, I place a secure cardboard insert inside to strengthen and support the middle of box so fragile item can't be injured.

(I mail Priority USPS and use their FREE boxes. - the boxes come right to your home, and they come in all different sizes.  Plus there is a variety of boxes so you can double box securely if needed.)

I stopped writing Fragile, Handle with Care, etc. on my boxes.  I was having a problem with breakage, a few folks wrote to me and said that those types of packages are sometimes targeted to throw around till a crunch is heard.  I don't know, but I do know that since I quit writing Fragile and Handle with Care, etc. on my packages, besides using styrofoam, I have had less breakage.

Here are some basic packaging concepts I use, there is no pad way to pack with styrofoam, but this will help you get started and maybe give you some ideas.

Dinner Plates: 

1.  I place styrofoam plates between each plate in stacks of 4, starting with one styrofoam plate on the bottom and ending with one on the top. 

2.  Then I wrap the whole stack in bubble, taping with one peice of packaging tape on top to hold the bubble together.  

3.  Next, I wrap with bubble in the opposite direction of the last bubble sheet, again taping in the middle, and now securing both sides to close up.

4.  I identify the package by writing on masking tape all the info needed for that item.

I have not had any plates break since I started packaging them this way.  In the packaging box, I squash up newspaper to secure plates so they have no motion inside.

For smaller plates and bowls:

1.  I use styrofoam plates / bowls also in between, beginning with one on the bottom and ending with one on top. 

2.  No bubble is needed. I secure the stack of smaller plates or bowls together with Packaging Tape on opposite 4 sides. 

3.  Next, I squash up newspaper in packaging box to secure no motion of movement inside.

4 Cups/Mugs:  

1.  I take a 7" styrofoam plate and place it on a bubble sheet. 

2.  Next, I wrap two cups/mugs individually in bubble wrap and place them on top of the styrofoam plate (cup/mug opening side up) and the handles criss-crossing each other at the center of plate.  

3.  Then I place the other two unwrapped cups/mugs (cup/mug opening side down) across from each other so they are staggering securely between both bubble wrapped cups/mugs. 

[The 2 bubble wrapped cups/mugs are crisscrossing from each other interlocking side by side at the handle.  The UNbubbled 2 cups/mugs set across from each other slightly interlocking between the handles of the Bubble cups/mugs.]  This makes a square looking package. 

4.  Next, I place another 7" styrofoam plate on top and bring up the sides of the bubble and tape on all the sides.  I wrap and tape in the same manner you wrap a present/gift.

5.  Usually a regular size cup/mug package will fit perfectly in a Priority 7" x 7" x 6" Priority Box.  I place squashed up newspaper on the bottom on the box, add cup/mug package, and then more squashed up newspaper on top, my invoice sheet, and tape it up. 

6.  For BIGGER cups/mugs:  Place BIGGER cups/mugs in a flat rate box.  Each one though should be bubble wrapped individually and packaged around squashed up newspaper, with the handles pointing towards the center of box.

Oval Platters: 

1.  Cut 2 styrofoam large plates in half for platter ends. 

2.  Match up each styrofoam plate half with its other half, and seal ends together at the end of platter like a clam shell, padding platter ends. 

Two halves of styrofoam plate are sealed with tape along their rim, whereas the cutting edge of the cut styrofoam plate is where the platter is inserted. 

3.  After both ends of the platter are sealed in styrofoam, use squashed up newspaper or bubble where needed or more styrofoam plates between ends.  Secure in position with packaging tape.

4.  Wrap platter in newspaper. 

5.  Use squashed up newspaper to pad box before shipping and if box has a soft spot in the middle, where it can be indented, place a secure cardboard insert to secure the middle of box.

Large or Odd shaped dishes: 

1.  Slightly snip around the rim of large (10 1/4") plates. 

2.  Start with one plate on the bottom and one on top of the item. 

3.  Seal the edges of the top and bottom styrofoam plates together with packaging tape.  If padding is needed, or if there is a gap between styrofoam plates, squash up newspaper, use bubble or other styrofoam where needed. 

4.  If you can, attach small styrofoam bowls (facing inward or outward) on the sides for padding.

Example:  Glass Cookie Jar or Canister.

1.  On large peice of bubble wrap, place a styrofoam plate (snipped along rim) .

2.  On styrofoam plate place Cookie Jar or Canister. 

(I don't leave any large dishes or items hollow, so I loosely stuff the inside of Cookie Jar or Canister with squashed up newspaper).

3.  On top of Cookie Jar or Canister, fit a styrofoam bowl (crisscross slice in the middle) just inside the top.  Sometimes I use a small styrofoam plate, whichever fits or works the best.

4.  Cookie Jar or Canister Lids:  Bubble the lid and place the lid (if it has a knob) upside down inside the crisscross bowl (from #3 instruction), it will fit securely.  Secure the knob part in the crisscross part of styrofoam bowl.

5.  Add another styrofoam plate for the lid of your packaging creation.

6.  All around the Cookie Jar or Canister middle, secure squashed up newspaper.  Now secure 4 small styrofoam bowls on all 4 sides (for padding).  You can attach the bowls facing inward or outward.

7.  Place Cookie Jar or Canister in a Box.  I often (if size of box and cookie jar or canister permits), have a styrofoam bowl at the top and one at the bottom of the box as well.

8.  Now I place the box inside of another box, and pad all around as well with squashed up newspaper.