{US Only} Naked Mail

this sounds fun!!

so, for example say you send the ATC in a soda bottle, we actually put the shipping label on the soda bottle (not in an envelope? just wanted to make sure I was clear before I signed up :)

So one can slap an address label on a rubber duckie and drop it in the mail if she just wants to send a funny duckie to her partner?

Yup, that's it. Check out this wiki article on nekkid mail.

giggles maniacally I love being a rebel!

This sounds like sooo much fun, pity it wasn't Australia only. =P

one thing though...be careful about strings!!!! strings can get it caught and messed up so dont be sending any shoes...unless there are no laces..

What a fun thing to do!! Too bad its just Usa. But have fun! :D

I have seen baby shower invitations mailed in a baby bottle. LOL ;D Too cute!! I'm in D

This is a great idea! I work for Pitney Bowes so I am very interested in alternative uses of mail (or alternative stuff in the mail) and I am looking forward to playing! I do have a question though...based on some other stuff I have read where people play with this the USPS sometimes doesn't manage to deliver naked mail. Can we do something to protect folks from 1's? Maybe posting a pic of the item with stamps, etc before it is sent?

Yea, I had thought of that, too. Pictures or delivery confirmation. I will try to talk to my oh so nice postal ladies when I'm at the PO to find out what they recommend.

Hi Girthta -- Thanks so much for hosting this swap, I'm really interested in mail art and excited to see what will be accepted in the mail!

I do think lxmack's comments is a good one, and that a picture of the goods attempted to be sent (with stamps or a receipt of some kind) is a great idea.

In addition, should there be a non-living, non-goopy / liquid, non-hazardous requirement?

Best, Ystarr

oh yea, we all know the questions they ask at the PO. Don't try to send something you KNOW they won't accept, just something they maybe have never seen.

I think I already know what I'm going to send!

I love this idea! I was tried sending an ATC to someone in a repurposed disposable 16oz coffee cup and it got lost :( But I'm ready to try it again!

Yea, we should carefully consider what is sent. I wouldn't spend numerous hours carefully constructing a masterful ATC which may be lost.

I was thinking of adding another component to this swap, where you can send (email or snail mail) a picture and/or story of what you've sent. Regardless, I think I will send my mail, wait a day or two, then send my partner something about the mail I sent.

This is awesome. I think I know what I'm going to send! Ooohh, wish we had partners now!! :)

This seems like a popular idea right now. I saw a catalog which showed a 4-square sized ball with an imprinted "Happy birhday" message that you could send through the mail as mailart. It was pricey, if i recall, but very cute. I'm wondering if a stuffie would make it through the system?

Could I just send an altered journal and make the address part of the journal???? The only thing I would need to figure out is how to keep it closed...

halfway- how about a string to "tie" it closed?

and just remember that there is a real chance of it getting lost if it's too cool looking on the outside, y'know?

Halfwaythere: Consider a velcro clasp instead. The post office is not wild about string on packages.

good point!

I found another link about Naked mail: http://www.improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume6/v6i4/postal-6-4.html

This is gonna be so much fun!

I'm a little nervous about this. Everything I've read on the new USPS guidelines says it MUST be wrapped--and I have a 'not so cool' post office (I suppose I could drive across town to another one). I would recommend at least taking a photo of the item and sending it to your partner in case the mail doesn't arrive.

A funny side note: When I told my husband I signed up for a "Naked Mail" swap, he was offended (jokingly)--saying "I thought I was your naked male."

iheartswaps--I had the same reaction from my hubby! He said--"You think I'm going to sit for a picture for you to swap?" We got a giggle out of that! Cyn

My thought, is to not put a return address on the item, and to drop it in a mailbox. Plus, put extra postage on it.

Some thoughts on this one:

Mark the piece "HAND CANCEL" to get it out of the automated system. Nothing in the USPS website says they can't mail odd stuff-- in fact, you can mail TIRES (unpackaged) through the mail.

If it's over 13 ounces, don't just drop it in a mailbox-- that's not permitted and the mail will get tossed.

It's still a good idea to include a return address; if the piece gets destroyed, they can notify you if they have the return address. Also, if it comes back to you, that's useful information, no?

There's often a package kiosk to print postage at the PO without having to go up to the counter-- that might be a good option if the counter staff are being a pain.

Really small post offices sometimes have this stuff down pat. I was in a PO recently that didn't even have computers-- they handled everything through stamps and cash. It was awesome. I have no doubt they would know exactly how to deal with something weird. Post offices where they haven't become dependent on the automation technology often can adapt better to unusual circumstances.

I have done this one before it was so much fun! I sent a square bottle with a screw on lid, filled with all kinds of goodies. A little coin purse, stickers, scrap-booking supplies, seeds, socks, lip stick case, lip-gloss and more.

Sometimes when I do forum swaps for note cards I just send them in the plastic wrap they come in, pop a return address sticker and a sticker for who its to and in the mail it goes.

I got a tree in the mail recently it is about 3ft tall it was mailed in a plastic bag (clear) with water in the bottom for the roots. was pretty neat!

naked mail

Here is a picture of the container I am using for the naked mail swap. This was so much fun.

one more picture! too much fun with this one.

naked mail

This is such a fun swap idea! I tried to get back in time to join! I hope you host another one for us! Great pics 1CQ!

I mailed two items out to my partner today. They are the first of several things I plan to send. I LOVE this swap idea.

The postal clerk laughed and said what I was sending was a first in his 20 years at the P.O. He, too, wants to know if the "packages" arrive.

F.A.

I mailed out my Naked Mail today! The postlady didn't say anything, she just weighed it and gave me a price. I then told her what I was doing, and she thought it was great! Not wanting to spoil the surprise, this is the only photo I will post right now:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2079/228244042827d4b85d4am.jpg

CupcakeDD you're 'thing' is on the way! : )

I am so thrilled that everyone is having such a great time with this swap! You can be sure there will be more Naked Mail in our future!!!

HEY! I was the receiver of the container above from 1CrazyQuilter and I LOVED IT!!!!

Lol I received the egg from 1crazyquilter and loved it too!

I just have to comment, that I was in a store today that had a large postcard with a stuffed animal attached to it in a clear egg thingy. I guess everyone loves Naked Mail! LOL!

Shall we do this again and be even more daring with what we mail out????

I sent mine out this morning, in my rural mailbox with a stack of regular mail. It wasn't returned when I got home, so I'm hoping that means it's on its way! Cyn

I've gotten live tadpoles in the mail before, but they were in a styrofoam container. The first one we order didn't make it--probably sat in a hot postal truck in the sun somewhere, but the rest came ok.

This will be the very first real naked mail for me--I hope whatever it is makes it past our weasel-y postal guy.

I just had a thought, too--I'm going to hold my breath hoping the item I sent out doesn't come back tomorrow after he gets a look at it--I hope our reasonable post lady slips it past him and onto the outgoing truck! It won't be the first time!

Cyn

I havent mailed mine out as of yet. I am still trying to determine what I am making. I have sooo many things I want to send that I cant decided...Oh well, have to send more than 1 I guess!!!

How about putting a "confirmation" on it for an additional price (whatever that is now) then maybe it will get to ya and not stolen. Yes, things do disappear from the post office. Great idea.

I send mine on Feb. 25th. No word from my partner yet! Here's what I sent (just in case!)...

Cupcake that is really cool!!!

Thanks girthta!!

I uploaded a pic of the wooden goat I mailed to Chanel in the swap gallery slideshow.

Cyn

danakustika- I mailed off a part of your swap. I wanted it to have its own postmark! The rest will be on its way in a few days.

OK, just sent off the other part to my partner. I am hoping the first part made it.

I sent mine out to my partner today. I'll post a picture in a week, hopefully after it arrives.

i'm so bummed! my partner (Popeye) hasn't signed on to Swap-bot since March 6th... hasn't marked "sent" and has recently gotten a bunch of "1"s posted on her profile. i guess i'm getting flaked on this one! i'm so disappointed, since i put together a really nice package for my partner! i sent an egg-carton, filled with plastic eggs, each filled with goodies. i guess after 2 weeks, i'll see if somebody will angel me. :(

OK, this is what I send my partner: A zombie solitaire game inside a hand-made pocket:

here's what i send my partner: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lildamselfly/2285585584/in/set-72157603849967775/