Sunday, February 3, 2013

Show Me Sunday - Packaging Inspiration with Rebecca of Songbead


Happy Sunday Art Bead Sceners! This month we are focussing on packaging for your handmade jewellery and art beads, and related items. I've made a treasury (with a heavy emphasis on sticky tape - I love the stuff, and it can be used in a myriad of ways!) but Kathy Lindemer of BayMoonDesign shared a few things that she does to make her packaging really special:

"I had business cards made by Moo. {Ed: I love Moo too! Check out my post here about Moo from last year.} They had a deal with Etsy in the Fall and have a discounted price for the minis. A few months later I got matching stickers from them when they had a special. I always put my earrings in a pretty pouch with my business cards. Handmade cards go in clear cellophane bags with a business card and sticker to hold them clothed. I package my children's necklaces that way also. When I seal my mailing envelopes I have black tape with the letter B for BayMoonDesign that I use. I feel it is important to make your product feel special to the receiver."

Kathy is right - it is so important to package your product prettily. Whether we choose to believe/accept this or not(!), beads and jewellery are non-essential items. A little bit of luxury.  So give it a beautiful exterior as well. It should appear beautiful and luxurious (whatever that means to your brand or style) from the moment it reaches the recipient. If you're selling on-line, the packaging has got to be protective too. And the packaging 'introduces' your item also. It should fit in with the feel of your jewellery or beads. Bags, boxes, tape, labels, charms, buttons, twine.....it's worth having a play around to find out what works for you.

Another thing to consider is - how can I go green with my packaging? You don't need to hurt the environment in order to make your jewellery/beads arrive beautifully; safe and protected....I'm going to be looking into this angle especially for next week's Show Me Sunday. As always, I'd love to hear your suggestions, or what you do - here in the comments or on our Facebook page

Here's my first treasury to get you started:

'Jewellery Packaging Inspiration ABS' by thecuriousbeadshop

A selection of materials you could use in your handmade jewelry and art bead packaging, curated for Art Bead Scene. A heavy emphasis on washi tape this week - I can't get enough of it!


Japanese Fabric Tape - Beige...
$3.30

Bias Tape Double Fold Red ...
$1.75

Lace Fabric Tape Roll - Cott...
$3.80

Red Roses on Light Teal Wash...
$3.20

Kraft Bag Envelopes with Bro...
$11.00

Vintage Style Linen Fabric L...
$5.20

Flying Bird wood Tape dispen...
$13.00

Washi Tape Moustache / Mous...
$3.80

Black Birds Washi Tape
$2.50

Washi tape Mini Spool Bouque...
$10.00

Upcycled Recycled Paper Bag ...
$6.00

2 Yards Sewing Tape/Ribbon -...
$3.80

Washi Tape Dispenser Tool-Wo...
$28.00

Tape-Shipping Labels-Mailing...
$13.00

5 Yards - Seafoam GreenTwill...
$3.49

25 Kraft Tags, Hand Stamped,...
$10.00

And here are the Bead Blogger links for this week. Have a great Sunday!


Have a favorite piece of jewelry inspired by winter? Stop by A Bead A Day to share your design.

It is about time to get some hearts going, the kind you incorporate into Valentine's Day jewelry. 

Cyndi's readers have been weighing in, sharing their best pieces of advice with each other! 

Just in time for Valentine's Day, or ANY day, Kim Miles, Vegan Ambassador, is reopening her Etsy shop with a lovely new name and perspective! See Jean's blog for the details. 

Andrew has been playing with polymer clay! He made a mountain of beads and samples to show how the polymer beads can be used in jewelry. 


Rebecca is a Scottish jewellery designer, currently living in Manchester, England. You can read more about her and her work at her blog, songbeads.blogspot.com and see more of her jewellery at songbead.etsy.com. She also has a supplies shop atthecuriousbeadshop.etsy.com 

6 comments:

baymoondesign said...

I love all of the pretty packaging items that you found. I want them all!

Ann Schroeder said...

I am a buyer, not a seller. My main concern is that my beads arrive safely. However, when they are packaged in a special way it's really fun. My favorite wrapping recently was in a box with pretty ribbon that had a little freebie charm that matched what I had ordered! That really made me feel special and gave me a good feeling about that seller.

I do sometimes give jewelry or beads as gifts, and seeing how sellers have been packaging my items recently has made me step up my game. But in the past, I found that when I give a piece in a box (just a brown kraft box) people tend to give it back for me to re-use. I always thought that was odd. But after this post, I see it as a nice way to be kind to the plant! I look forward to next week's post. Thanks.

Purple Fish Studio said...

What a great informative article. I had never heard of washi tape. I also, am a strong believer in beautiful packaging for your customers. I use beautiful ribbons, but - I will have to try the washi tape. Thank you

Klassy Joolz said...

I always package my jewelry in a pretty way...it is not always the same, but pretty in what ever I am feeling what to do at the time. I always include a Free Gift from Lil' Love Notes Etsy Shop.

Thanks, Pam

Anonymous said...

These are all cute and amazing packaging! They are all very pretty much prettier if you fond a very special present inside. Can I just have them all? :-)

SignatureJewelryPackaging.com

Unknown said...

Nice packaging inspirations.

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