I spend a good amount of time making sure I package my delicate items so they arrive safely. Not because I don't want to refund a customer or have to file an insurance claim. Of course those are good added reasons. But I really want what I ship to arrive safely so that customer can open the package and be delighted at what they see. Afterall, they must have really wanted it if they paid for it. How dissapointing would it be to wait for something you really want,  only to get it and find that  it's broken to shards or cracked?

A lot of what I sell is one of kind, there may be more out there but the one I have is a one of kind in itself. Once it's broken that's one less beautiful piece in the world. I don't want to be the cause of that. Shipping the right way really doesn't take much more effort and it's well worth it.

Visualize your item hovering directly in the center of the box. That is where you want it to be. I drew a graphic for visuals:

This is box inside a larger box. Wrap your item in bubble wrap and put it in the first box. Nice and snug but you should haven't jam more wrap in. Tape it up. Start filling the bottom of the bigger box with crumpled paper, not too tight, but not too loose either. Set your smaller box in directly in the center, then fill around the sides with paper.

Think snug, no jam! Complete with paper on the top then close the lid. *Put a nice thank you note in for an added touch!

Now pick the box up and give it a good jiggle. You shouldn't hear or feel anything moving inside.

• Some more tips:
• The sides or top of your box should never bulge.
• Tape your box good, supporting the flap areas extra strong with tape.
• Use shipping tape. Scotch tape will not hold.
• If your not sure how a specific item should be packed ASK your customer, most likely they have purchased similar before. Customers can be the best source of knowledge and they will appreciate that you cared enough to ask first instead of just winging it.

• PACKING MATERIALS:
• Newspaper, look for thicker, not flimsy magazine style pages.
• Bubble wrap. 
• Brown paper.
• Good sturdy boxes (make sure you add a little weight to your item as the real strdy boxes are heavier).
• Foam packing.
• Peanuts.

• HOW TO SAVE:
• The Dollar Store has a day they receive shipments, the boxes get broken down and thrown away. What a waste! Call them and ask them if you could have some boxes. They will be delighted and it's less work for them. Call around to other stores in your area and see what kind of packing materials they throw away.
• Save all packing materials you get. Look at all the boxes and styrofoam you see at Christmas time.
  
  
  I hope this helps you ship those beautiful pieces safely to your customers!