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I have considered putting some embellishment on the outside of my envelopes when I send cards in the US mail?
I'm talking about using heat embossing and one layer of die cut.
Have any of you used these things on the outside of your envelopes and have they survived the US mail system? I'm not concerned about whether it would require extra postage. I can pay that.
I would think that heat embossing or even dry embossing would survive the postal service, but I would be concerned about adding anything "thicker" such as a die cut. If you do, then you will want to use some pretty strong adhesive and make sure that ALL of the edges are glued down tightly, otherwise I could be really worried that the postal machines would "catch" a loose end of the embellishment and rip it right off.
I use the Cuttlebug embossing borders quite a bit. It's leaves a nice embossed 1 or 2 inch boder at the bottom or side of your envelope. I get so many compliments doing this. It's quick and of course doesn't add weight.
Ladies....Thank you for your thoughts. I have done dry embossing on the envelopes using embossing folders. I agree, that does look rather nice done on just one edge.
If I did use a die cut, it would most certainly be adhered with Xyron adhesive or Scor-Tape. Those are the strongest adhesives available.
I think I will give both the heat embossing and a die cut a try. It can't hurt anything to try. The worst is it gets destroyed or returned to me.
I have a friend who is my "tester". I send things to her and she evaluates the delivery.
Speaking from experience here, heat embossing tends to flake off pretty easily from all the pressure from the sorting machines, as well as handling from the workers. Stick to just stamping your designs on the envie.
Also, you are prettly likely to have your envie returned if there's anything at all adhered on the outside that's thicker than a postage stamp. Anything at all thast could possibly get hung up in the sorting machines (resulting in all of the other mail behind it getting caught as well... a HUGE back-up ensues and it's just one giant mess and headache for the workers monitoring the sorters), so they really frown on that sort of thing. Sorry, I know I just rained on your parade. :oops: Just wanted to share my experience.
It's best to keep anything raised off the envelope - stick to stamped or embossed images. We don't want those sorting machine to break down and force the postage costs to go up. If you feel you just need to do it - how about putting it in another larger padded envelope, then the person will still enjoy your creation.
Ladies....Thanks for the additional comments. My point was to see if the embellishment would survive the US mail processing. Putting it inside another envelope would not be any test.
I'm sure also that if I do embellish the outside of the envelope, that when I take it to the Post Office the man behind the counter will have an opinion also. He certainly did with my Christmas Cards.
I'm guessing it might cost extra postage as it might have to be hand-sorted. DH retired from the P.O. and 6 or 7 years ago, letters went through the machines at the rate of about 38,000 per hour, so with improvements since then it's likely higher. I'm with Bnlnkids in that it could make a machine go haywire. And slowdown of the mail eventually helps make postage go up. I would think a sticker would be ok if it isn't raised in any way.
I use the Cuttlebug embossing borders quite a bit. It's leaves a nice embossed 1 or 2 inch boder at the bottom or side of your envelope. I get so many compliments doing this. It's quick and of course doesn't add weight.
Is the embossing on the entire envelope...front and back??
Location: Saskatchewan, Land Of Living Skies Canada
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I dry emboss all my envelopes on the back flap (part that you lick.) I use the cuttlebug folders. I have never paid any more for the card unless the card has too many embellies on the inside. I think it looks very pretty. If I was to hand deliver a card I would cut a piece of designer paper and glue it to that flap. The dp would be the same as what is on the card, very cute.
Kathy
Embellishing Envelopes
