Besides the issue of protecting your work by putting it in an envelope, there is another argument: If it arrives 'naked' you see it straightaway. But if it's in a normal envelope, you have all the excitement of wondering what's in it, what it looks like, and opening the envelope, revealing the card becomes a rather special activity.

Lorchen

In recent years, I've received quite a few handmade greeting cards with buttons, beads, ribbon bows and other embellishments from my scrapbooking friends. These cards arrived in clear cellophane envelopes and were in perfect condition. Self-sticking postage stamps and return address labels work great on these clear envelopes. So, I think clear cellophane envelopes would also work great for quilted postcards.

I took a postcard class last Fall and the instructor said she always mails her postcards inside envelopes to protect them. I loved the process but just haven't gotten back to it. Hope to soon and I'm sure I'll put them in envelopes.

Lorchen, that's good, hope I'm invited then.

But Pam, I enjoy sharing!

Lorchen

Lorchen, You wouldn't send them back after a few days!!!! You'd want to keep them forever. Dont forget you'll need Justin and John too. You'd better start stocking up on maltesers.

You've got my imagination going now...... How about sticking a few stamps on Alex's or Ricky's forehead and send them to me here in the UK. I'd promise to send them back after a few days.

Lorchen

Margo you are too hilarious...sending a coconut through the mail! I once sent a Casper's Hot Dog from Oakland Ca. to Anaheim Ca. to my best friend who just loves them....prolem was with the slow delivery time it was kinda green and moldy....she was not amused! We talk about the fact that despite that yucky hotdog incident we have remained best buds for the last 44 years!

I send mine "nekked"! Take them to the PO to be hand canceled and I take a bottle of Elmer's Liquid Washable School Glue that I add to the back of the stamp. One worker tried to sell me 3 (large!) stamps to cover the postage and I just paid the difference for the next denomination so there wouldn't be a jumble of odd stamps! Also... I like real stamps better than the bar-code kind.
Yes, they may get soiled in the mail, but the whole thing is a fun novelty. A couple of years ago I mailed fabric Christmas post cards to my mail carrier and the gal at the PO who enjoys seeing what I mail. They loved 'em!
When we vacationed in Hawaii several years ago, I mailed a coconut home to TheGrands!! No box.....just a coconut with a note written on the side of it!! They loved it!!

Question: Regarding adding the postage stamp, do you sew it down so it doesn't come unglued?

'thann

I have been mailing mine with a regular 1st class stamp. I took my first batch to my little town PO and asked for them to be hand-canceled. She said no one anywhere will do that anymore. It is ALL by machine.

Was miffed!

The next time I made some I took them to a bigger town where we shop. Without asking, the worker immediately hand canceled all of them. I now take them all there.

The recipients are all pleased to receive one!

I only do piecing and quilting on them. No thick embellishments. This spring I sewed down a silk flower piece.

Joyce

Because of the size and thickness of the fabric prostcards, they can not be handled through the machines. (at least they "shouldn't" go through the machines). And they may require additional postage. So if you are mailing them, it would be best to take them to your local Post Office, and let the window clerk hand cancel it.
I have only made and mailed one, but I put it in a clear envelope and it made it to it's destination with out any problems.

Diane in Colorado Springs

Thank you ladies-Cher, Lorchen,Lynn,JoAnne and Ritzy
I really appreciate the information. I think I like the idea of putting them in some sort of envelope....makes sense to keep them clean. I will get one done and off this next week.....Thanks again
Karen

The ones I've received were hand canceled and they didn't have any embellishments like beads, etc. They arrived in nice condition, sometimes dirty from their trip through the mail. Do be sure to put first class postage on them, not postcard rate.

JoAnne in southern California