no surprises!!!!

one of my favorite things to do each year is make my own Christmas cards... i love to share my talent but i don't want it to cost an arm and a leg!!!!

one year i found out the hard way..... i created some elegant Christmas cards using bazzill cardstock..... i had over 30 embellished cards and made my own envelopes to match ...i was so proud of the work i had put into them....and couldn't wait to get them off in the mail.

i had to be the happiest customer standing in line at the post office.....gleaming with such a big smile..... thinking about my friends and relatives opening these cards...i stepped up to the clerk handing her my pile........ and then she let me have it!!!!! all of my pride wiped away with just a few lashings...as the postal clerk advised me of all my no-no's

...first i exceeded standard weight for first class mail (it was that bazzill cardstock!)....then the worst most embarrassing moment when she plopped one of my envelopes in here little guide sitting there on the counter ...have you ever seen it? the little outlined envelope meauring 5 inches long, 3-1/2 inches high..... i'm like where did that come from????...never in my life have i ever seen that on her counter...which at the time i was visiting the post office weekly shipping off my ebay sales.


well......i addressed the envelope the wrong way!!!! when she set the envelope down with the address facing me....it went out of it's boundaries......i had turned the envelope to address the cards so the card was now 3 1/2 inches by 5 inches.......my thoughts returned to those lessons taught in second grade and my face turned bright red...i should have known better! but wait...can't the postman read it side ways? nope, nada, no way she says to me!

all that work all that time...and it was way over the amount i planned on spending.....i couldn't just walk away...... so i handed over the credit card and bit my tongue..... thank you thank you mr. postman for the extra dip in my pocket ....so lesson learned........i now check the first class mail rates to make sure I am mailing at the correct width, height and weight before planning and addressing my envelopes..... that way i have no surprises.....

oh yeah and the deadline to mail your cards so they arrive before Christmas is December 20th in the usa. if you need more information on mailing just check out usps.