Packaging Series: Bubble Mailers!
One of the goals I set for myself when I opened my Etsy shop was to try and use recycled packaging materials wherever possible. At first this was easy, as I reused the packaging my supplies came in. As business picked up, I started making my way through the pile of packaging I’d been saving over the years because I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away (pack-rats, unite!!) Then, I started begging friends for their used packaging materials (which got more than one funny look, oh well!). However, one day I simply had to face the fact that I was going to have to come up with a better solution.
I looked around for recycled paper bubble mailers, but no one seemed to carry them. The only option I could see was to buy recycled paper regular mailers and add my own bubble wrap, which was ok, but not ideal. Then, one day I was looking at my pile of magazines that were headed to the recycle bin and a lightbulb went off! (a CFL one of course, lol) Why didn’t I just make my own from the pages of the magazines?
So, I did! Here’s a brief photo tutorial, I’m sure there are a million ways to do this. Note that I use labels when I ship, so the “decorations” on the pages aren’t a problem.
(click any photo to see it larger)
First, gather your supplies:
You will need: bubble wrap (see below for a link to a shop which sells recycled bubble wrap)
an old magazine, newspaper, brown bag or some kind of pretty paper, scissors, and either a glue stick or double sided tape. oh! and packing tape!
Second:
Cut out two magazine pages to act as top and bottom of the mailer. The covers work best because they are the thickest, but you can also glue-stick two thinner pages together. Remember you will need a “flap” to fold over, so make one page about an inch and a half longer than the other.
Third:
trim down two pieces of bubble wrap, slightly smaller than your two sides.
(save your scraps for wrapping small items!)
Fourth:
Using glue stick or double-sided tape, attach the bubble wrap to the inside of both the front and back pieces. It helps later to leave a little space at the outer edges and also where you will fold over the “flap”.
Next:
trim the sides so that they are even
And last:
Use packing tape to seal the edges.
I made these using a roll of regular bubble wrap, but have since found that UHaul sells bubble wrap made from recycled bottles. Even better! (they also have biodegradeable packing peanuts, recycled cardboard boxes AND they have their own flex-car program! Go UHaul!!!!)
xoxo!
Lori
Posted: April 15th, 2008 under Craftivism, Green Business, Packaging Series, Sustainability, Tutorials.
Comments
Comment from Melisa
Time April 16, 2008 at 7:27 am
THAT is so cool!!!
I am so going to do that for my next sale! :)
Have you had any trouble with the USPS as far as sending them?
Comment from Lorigami
Time April 16, 2008 at 7:33 am
Melisa, thank you! and no I haven’t had trouble (yet! knock on wood!).
I DO use large white labels though, and I don’t use stamps, I use the metered stickers for postage. I think a stamp might get lost on the package.
=)
Comment from rekindled
Time April 16, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Great idea, and great tutorial. Now I have to see if I can find recycled bubble wrap in the UK!
Pingback from We’re in the Storque! » g&g
Time April 17, 2008 at 7:32 pm
[...] ideas and crafty community news to eco-friendly crafting ideas! They picked up Lori’s awesome bubble mailer tutorial! Wooo!! « STACHEonery | [...]
Pingback from SuperCute! » Blog Archive » We’re in the Storque!
Time April 18, 2008 at 4:12 am
[...] ideas and crafty community news to eco-friendly crafting ideas! They picked up Lori’s awesome bubble mailer tutorial! Wooo!! Nice work, [...]
Pingback from :: hippity-hop :: « elegant musings
Time April 18, 2008 at 5:04 am
[...] ♥ tutorial of recycling magazine pages into bubble mailers! ♥ I love the simplicity of this artist’s work [ via ] ♥ turn an old, chipped or broken platter into a mirror ♥ this photography is breathtaking [ via ] ♥ nubby kindly answered my font question with some fantastic resources! ♥ love the colors and linework of this art ♥ a super-helpful website/blog/book on running your own business [...]
Comment from Christine
Time April 18, 2008 at 7:58 am
And to think I was about to take all my magazines to the recycling center this week. So glad I found this—thanks for the great idea!
Pingback from SuperCute! » Blog Archive » Press!
Time May 5, 2008 at 5:25 am
[...] DIY bubble-mailer tutorial got written up in the GreenGirlGuides newsletter! Hurrah! Thanks [...]
Pingback from Speaking of press… « lorigami
Time May 5, 2008 at 5:27 am
[...] Speaking of press… Posted by lorigami under DIY, crafty!, press, supercute My DIY bubble-mailer tutorial got written up in the GreenGirlGuides newsletter! Hurrah! Thanks Courtney! [...]
Comment from Jamie
Time June 2, 2008 at 3:27 am
What a genius idea. Now I’ll be running around the house ripping the covers off old magazines. hehe
Pingback from ***The GirlieGirl Army*** » Blog Archive » May 6, 2008
Time June 16, 2008 at 5:54 pm
[...] ***ON OUR GLAMAZONIAN RADAR:*** [...]
Pingback from News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: April 17, 2008 | Go Green Park
Time July 29, 2008 at 10:41 pm
[...] SuperCute (the blog) is pretty — well — super cute! Run by Etsians lorigami, glueandglitter and lizerati, that post is all about recycling fashion magazines that are gathering dust and repurposing them as bubble mailers for your Etsy products. Pretty smart! Check it out. [...]
Comment from Becky Tesch
Time August 12, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I have lots of packaging to recycle from work. If you can come to my office (in Milwaukee, just south of downtown) you can have it. Let me know to save if for you for a few days though. Currently, I just can’t save it all!
Comment from Amanda
Time April 24, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I did find some good deals on recycled padded mailers, they weren’t bubble, but I think they might be good for most things.
Comment from susan
Time April 25, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Thanks so much for the tute
This is such a great idea
Pingback from Bubble Mailer tutorial over in SuperCute! blog « lorigami
Time April 15, 2008 at 9:52 am
[...] posted a make-your-own-bubble-mailers from recycled materials tutorial over in the SuperCute! blog: tutorial! [...]