Mailing Station in My Sewing Room

In the last year, I've learned so much about packaging and shipping items I sell on Etsy.  I have a sweet friend who is an Ebay Power Seller and taught me many tips and tricks about shipping from home.  So, when I got serious about stocking my Etsy store and selling, it was time to make the necessary adjustments and eliminate the never-ending trips to my local post office.

My sewing room is a great haven for me, and although it doesn't look like it belongs in a magazine, it's my place of refuge.  I try as much as I can to keep it clean and organized, but let's face it- crafting is just messy at times.  One of the organizational tricks I have is to get items up off the floor.  I envisioned a wall where I could house all of my packaging and shipping supplies - and forever end the search for the tape gun, scale, etc.

So, on the wall adjacent to my sewing machine (hints the rainbow of thread in the corner of the above photo) is this newly installed Wall Mounted Mailing Station.  It holds my tape gun, twine, postal scale, washi tape, tissue paper, business cards and labels.  The only things that don't fit in this photo are my printer and the envelopes or boxes I use.

I started shipping from home sometime last year.  I purchased a postal scale on Ebay, but similar ones can be found on Amazon.  It has saved me so much time and money!  Did you know that the rates you receive at the post office are actually higher than the ship from home rates?  I can't quote exact percentages, but over time, this $15 postal scale has certainly paid for itself.  Even if I save $0.10 on each package, after 150 shipments, this scale is worth its value.  Between Etsy, Ebay, and Amazon, I know I shipped at least 150 items in December alone!

I posted this photo on Instagram last December- my mailman was a champ!  I absolutely love that I can use the USPS app from my iPhone and request a pickup at my front door the following business day.  I will never stand in line at the post office again.

I thanked my postman by taping some granola bars to a poster board with a big "Thank You!".  I'm sure they get hungry in those mail trucks by mid-afternoon.  :)

Anyways, back to the mailing station.

I love washi tape and have started using it on my packages.  It adds a little color that makes my buyer smile when the mailbox is opened.  I recently purchased this washi tape from Pick Your Plum, but it's available on Etsy, Amazon and in many craft stores.

I use my tape gun with clear packing tape to seal the packages and secure the label to the front.   I usually wrap items in tissue paper and secure it with one of my labels or washi tape, but occasionally, I'll use twine.

This basket hangs from a cup hook in the ceiling, and it holds my labels, Car Seat Canopy gift tags, and business cards.  The box is an old recipe box and my business cards fit perfectly inside.  I order all my labels and business cards from VistaPrint.

It's a perfect set up for all my shipping needs.  Many thanks to my amazing husband, who took a break from his Redbox movie to come into my sewing room and offer a hand with this project.  I'm so blessed.

How do you ship your packages?  Do you ship from home or go to the post office?  How to you make packages look "pretty"?