I was blessed to receive two last minute Etsy orders this previous weekend. Yet of course, I had no time to make a beautiful bubble mailer (DIY bubble mail tutorial) before the Post Office closed. Begrudgingly I looked to my Scott mailers. You know the ones, gangling and awkward beige. I couldn’t mail that to the recipient of Fae Gem Elf Cuffs. Cringe. 30 minutes till closing time.
But yonder! My closet was a treasure trove of secret wonderment, and I bet yours is too. As a crafter, anytime you can decorate by “blanketing” you are guaranteed to save time. What I mean by “blanketing” is utilizing a medium, like wrapping paper or scrapbook paper, to cover a large surface area. Blanketing is an excellent way to make something beautiful quickly, and lends itsel
f well to embellishments and detailing (just look at beautiful scrapbook pages).
You can “blanket wrap” plain mailers in minutes and have them ready to ship almost immediately. Thick wrapping paper is ideal for this project, but any paper is acceptable as long as you reinforce it later. You can use any medium of pretty paper to enliven a mailer, including Origami paper (which lends itself well to making exquisite mini collages) and scrapbook paper (you know you hoard your scraps like I do).
Quite simply I wrapped my mailer in rainbow wrapping paper. I used an Elmer’s gluestick and Elmer’s liquid glue to bond the paper to the mailer. To ensure that the edges of the mailer wouldn’t get caught on other things, I taped down each side with gift wrapping tape, and added Washi tape for design purposes.
Be mindful not to glue the flap to the mailer!
Investing in beautiful wrapping paper (maybe multiple rolls with different patterns) can help you define your Etsy Brand; customizing your mailers with wrapping paper allows you to easily (and affordably!) unify your online brand image on all mailers, shipping boxes, and envelopes.
Sealing and protecting your wrapped beauty should be your chief concern, as the presentation you create should be strong enough to last until it arrives at its destination! Wrapping paper can be bonded by means of: 
1. Packing Tape: Tried and true, simple and cost efficient. Simply cover your entire mailer in packaging tape to ensure its stability. You can use different colored and patterned tapes to add additional designs to your mailer.
2. Glue Sealant: Coating the outside of your mailer with a sealant will ensure that your wrapping paper stays put.
Finally, securing an appropriately chic mailing label completes your bubble mailer. I like to use paint chip sample cards (you know, the ones you can find in any color under the sun at Home Dept and Lowes) that I’ve stamped with ink for extra kick. You can also use scrap scrapbook paper you have laying around (you know, the millions of squares you’ve been saving), construction paper, and other solid colored wrapping paper. 
What do you think about wrapping mailers, do you prefer to make your own or buy decorated ones from the Post Office? Do you have any unique decorating rituals? I’ve tried my hand at making mailers, but I can’t seem to make them large enough.
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