Easy (and cheap!) packaging ideas for your Silhouette Cameo Products

My five year wedding anniversary was last month and I ordered a gift from an Etsy seller for my husband. The transaction was picture perfect: I asked a question about the item and I received a response very quickly. I asked to customize the product and I was told no problem. My item was shipped two days before the expected shipping date. Then, the gift arrived – a gorgeous, handmade item – perfect in every way and just what I had imagined – wrapped in a Walmart bag. I was so disappointed in the presentation, because it is not expensive, difficult, or time consuming to package your products nicely.

I always order packaging materials through ULINE.com. They offer good prices, excellent customer service, and very quick shipping.

Easy (and cheap!) packaging ideas:

Organza bags: These sheer bags are perfect for anything from shirts to infant bodysuits, to tumblers and cups, and more. Organza bags come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. It’s easy to punch a hole in a business card or tag you’ve made, thread the ribbon tie top through it, and tie the bag shut. (Click here to see organza bags on ULINE.)

Brown lunch sack style bags: These bags are also perfect for smaller items. Again, to make the packaging a little fancier, attach a pretty ribbon and your business card or even a custom made sticker – you decide! (Click here to see brown bags on ULINE and pick up sticker paper on Amazon.) If a standard sized lunch bag will work for you, feel free to pick them up from a local store, too.

Colored gift bags: These are slightly more expensive than brown bags, but are available in a variety of colors and even prints. It’s easy to attach a ribbon and business card – (If you are seeing a theme here, you are right – your packaging should always have your business name on it or have a business card attached!) Feel free to jazz it up even more with some tissue paper. (Click here to see paper gift bags on ULINE – or plastic gift bags on ULINE.) Gift bags are available in stores, but are much cheaper online.

Ziploc style bag with a topper: Plastic bags of all sizes come in handy for everything from t-shirts to decals to keychains. Take a piece of cardstock with your business name on it, fold it over and staple it to the top of the bag to create a bag topper.

Twine or string: For larger or bulky items like picture frames, wooden signs, and pillows, punch a hole in a business card and wrap a few pieces of string or twine around the item and add your business card or custom tag.

Cut shaped cards on your Silhouette Cameo: Items like earrings, headbands, and other accessories can easily be mounted on cardstock that has your business name on it.

Make a t-shirt, pillow, or blanket wrap: Cut a piece of cardstock or thick paper with your business name on it, long enough to go around your item. Wrap it around your item and secure it with tape.

Freezer Paper or Craft Paper: In a jam for a way to package an order? Wrap it in white freezer paper or brown craft paper, and add a business card or custom made hang tag.

I urge you to pick a packaging style that works well for your products and stick with it. Try to make the packaging across your brand consistent, meaning that you use the same color or style of packaging for all your items. This helps customers begin to recognize your brand and repeat customers will know what to expect the next time they order. Please, just please, don’t shove your products in a Walmart bag. If you are shipping your items, you can find a few tips in this post.

Here’s an example of twine and a business card on a wooden sign that is too large to put in a bag:

More examples including a bag topper, a handled gift bag, and a simple lunch bag.

Wondering how I did the ribbon for the image above? It’s so easy. I used printable, iron-on transfer paper and my heat press. I pressed each section for 30 seconds at 350 degrees, let it cool for a few minutes and peeled the transfer cold. I kept repeating the process until I was through the entire 7/8 inch white grosgrain spool – which took about 10 minutes. I love that it gives a “high end” touch for little time and money.