For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Hi folks
I was wondering if anyone had any tips for packing up large bears, 12" or over. I've just finished a large bear, Ozymandias the mage,
and I feel he needs a box to go in, but he he covers an A3 piece of card, and needs about 6" deep. Looking on ebay for boxes that size, usually brings up plastic crates like Really Useful Boxes, which cost a fortune. I've been thinking perhaps forget boxes and take a tip from Charlie bears and make a special bag for him. Any thoughts, ideas?
Caroline
Hi, Caroline . . . I've always shipped my larger bears in cardboard boxes. I do put them in a bag first, then use a box that is a little larger than the bear. I fill the space around the bear with padding of some sort, ie; shredded paper, foam peanuts, bubble paper, etc . . . whatever seems appropriate to you. I make sure that there is no room for the bear to move around at all during transit, so it doesn't get crushed by careless handling. Most department or hobby/craft stores sell packaging products and our postal offices also sell boxes of many sizes. Hope that info helps with your question.
I agree with Sue Ann, and even Charlie bears get shipped in boxes. Here in the states, we can order boxes of any size from companies that deal in shipping supplies, but if you only need one, your postal office might be a better bet.
Cute bear, by the way!
Becky
I have sent large bears before by buying a larger box from the post office. The large boxes are expensive, and I would much prefer to buy in bulk but despite a lot of research, I have yet to find a company that will supply a number of the size boxes I need for a good price. There is either a huge gap in the market, or I am looking in the wrong place!
I did buy a lot of small and medium boxes from Ebay which I use regularly, these worked out at about 5p a box which I thought was good, but deals like that seem quite rare and I could not get the same deal with large boxes. If you manage to find some, let me know!
Thank you for your replies. I guess I should have been a bit more specific. I was thinking about gift boxes, rather than just a box for shipping a bear in. I have a few bears for sale in a local bear shop, but none of them have gift boxes, and I think a lot of the other artist bears there do. I think it looks more professional and...complete somehow, ( I haven't yet got around to certificates and other such touches either), and this is where I was thinking a box for such a large bear is a problem. But perhaps I am getting ahead of myself and I should just worry about actually selling any bears first!