When shipping breakables it is important to have at least an inch if not more of free room on the inside of the shipping box. It is also important to insure that the item cannot move on the x,y or z axis. To do this a styrofoam board the size of the bottom of the box, bubble wrap, and green packing wrap (which is like food wrap but on a reel) along with packing peanuts are necessary. If the green wrap is not available stretchable food wrap will do. Wrap the item in bubble or foam wrap secure this with packing wrap so that all edges are protected. Then wrap the item in its bubble wrap to the styrofoam board. Wrap it in both directions. Do the wrapping until you feel you can shake the board and no movement will happen. Any protrusions like spouts on teapots need to be supported and held fast to the styrofoam. Multiple items like a stack of plates need either a closed cell foam or small bubble wrap between each layer. Next put a layer of bubble wrap on the bottom of the box and set in the styrofoam board so it faces the bottom of the box. An inch of peanuts would do as well. Next add peanuts or other suitable shock absorbing material to fill the box to overflowing. Shake it until the peanuts settle.There should be at least 2 inches from your item to the top of the box for the peanuts. A layer of bubble wrap over the peanuts helps depending on the weight of the item. When you close the box you should be compressing the packing material somewhat. It is important to consider how much compression you use and how breakable your item is. After sealing the box with packing tape and the shipping document inside.You should be able to shake the box and not hear any movement. Once when I took some dishes for shipment the clerk asked me what was in the box as she dropped it to the floor. Oops! I'd figure four G's. No Breaks. One of our customers said she saw her box tumble out of the truck, large ceramic coffee pot inside. No breaks.The theory here is to center an item in shock absorbing material and not allow it to move in the box. I use pink insulation board and as an alternative I have used several layers of cardboard as the x,y axis stabilizer and peanuts as the z axis shock absorber. More simply put; back and forth, left and right and up and down, no movement. The wrapping tape that is like food wrap is a key element as it stretches to conform to an item. You can find the green tape at various trailer and truck rental places, they usually have other packing materials on hand as well. I like to recycle shipping materials from other Ebayers 

Happy shipping!