Pumpkins Going Postal

Continuing my efforts to push the limits of the postal system,  I mailed pumpkins to the Grands.

My first idea was to use those little pumpkin buckets for hauling candy loot, but the opening is huge.  I found these carvable pumpkins, and the expert in all things pumpkin at the craft store assured me there would be plenty of room inside for treats.

The Captain helped with cutting off the tops.  While these little guys are carvable, they are not easily carvable, and it took some extra muscle and hand strength to cut off the cap.

But look at all the room inside !   I was able to fit in trucks for the boys and a full-size jar of Wilton fall cookie decorations for Montana granddaughter with plenty of room for extra goodies.

I lined the pumpkins with some tissue paper from my stash and then tucked in goodies - chocolate eyeballs, blinky rings,

pumpkin tattoos,  M&Ms, bead bracelet kit and chocolate ghosts.

I used some plastic decorative tape to hold it all together.   I wouldn't trust paper washi tape to hold stick,  but the plastic tape held securely.   I did use packing tape to hold on the labels.

And here they are at the Post Office.   It's no secret that I love our Post Office clerks - they always comment on my packaging and didn't even blink at my latest mailing adventure.   I do wish they didn't have to slap those honking stickers all over, but they always try to avoid covering artwork, so can't really complain.

And here they are in Texas with some very happy little guys.   I FaceTimed Montana granddaughter who was busy munching on eyeballs , so hers also made it OK.

This is so much fun!!

Easter Egg Delivery, Thanks to the USPS

Pinterest is full of posts about what you can send in the mail, like those little boxes of Mike and Ikes, tote bags, and  plastic Easter eggs.   I'm working to up my mailing game, so  eggs are a good place to start.   

I found these big ( "UUUUGE!")  eggs at the Dollar Store.  Pretty sure you could mail smaller ones,  but probably not the tiny, real egg sized ones.    Then the fun -- filling them with Easter goodies.   Since these are going to Texas where it has already hit 80°,  I had to look for non-melty things.  Sadly that meant no chocolate goodies!

Sweet Baby James is a bit young for an overload of  candy, so he gets a chewy toy and a tiny board book, plus a couple of Peeps for fun.   I wrapped the book in a baggie just in case the Peeps melted in the heat!   Added some stamped chicks and grass to a tag and Egg #1 ready to go.

 Then I taped on the lid, using wide packing tape and going around it twice.

Second egg filled, taped and ready to go.  William got all candy- no book filler.

These carrot cards make a perfect and Easter-ish mailing label.  The back side is really a playing card - another Dollar Store find a few years ago.

I packed up my eggs and headed to the Post Office, wondering if I would be  laughed at and sent packing with my eggs.   Wrong!   The clerk didn't even hesitate,  telling me that people mail all sorts of things  - like coconuts from Hawaii to the folks back home.   All the clerks came over to check the eggs - my apologies to the guy in line behind me who clearly wasn't in the Easter spirit!   Our local Post Office is the best at humoring my crazy mailings.

Here's the egg, getting the official Post Office mailing label.     I do wonder why the dang thing has to be so big !   It cost about $4.50 to mail each egg - a bargain for this much fun and guaranteed delivery before Easter.  (This clerk is so fashionable - check out the glittery gold nails).

Success!  The eggs made it to Texas without cracking or coming apart!  Here they are hiding in the boys' mom's car until she can spirit them into the house without prying little eyes.

One more egg to do, but we get to deliver Montana grand's egg in person - yippee!