Sent December Care Packages

I sent my December Care Packages today!

I had 3 Large Flat Rate Boxes to send. 

Box 1: 10 lb. 11.8 oz. = $12.95

Box 2: 8 lb. 3.4 oz. = $12.95

Box 3: 7 lb. 9 oz. = $12.95

The lady did tell me that by using the Large Flat Rate Box for box 1 I saved $11.00 cause it would have been $23.95 to send it in another box. So if you are sending heavier things and they can fit in the Flat Rate Boxes that is your best route.

For my other two boxes I went in and asked how to send those. They said that if there isn't very much writing on it than I could just write on a piece of paper the address, or I could go and buy Postal Wrapping Paper.

I went and bought the Postal Wrapping Paper cause I didn't want the christmas wrapping paper to get ruined. For 1 roll 37.5 square feet (30 in X 15 ft) at Shopko was $2.34 including the tax. Super cheap!

It's kinda hard to work with cause it is thick and rolls up on you. But other than that it's just like wrapping paper.

The large box (dart board): 6 lb. 13.90 oz. = $11.80 for Parcel Post

I was really surprised that it was so cheap!!! Yay!

The small box (socker boppers): 12.40 oz. = $3.41 for First-Class Parcel

So the grand total to send all those was....... $54.06

I had to fill out a customs form for each box.

You don't need to be exact on your item list. Just short and sweet! For the shipmates gift box I just wrote "Toys" for the treats and decor "Decorations, and Treats" for his presents "Toys, Pj's" They don't need to know every little detail.

I like to always have Large Flat Rate Boxes at my house as well as Customs Forms so that when I go to the Post Office I'm ready to go. 

Pretty simple! :D

Hope this helps! Have a great day!!!

Christmas Care Package's 2011

I have 3 boxes of Christmas care packages to send. Christmas decorations and snacks to help get everyone in the holiday spirit! Christmas gifts for some of his fellow shipmates and of course his very own gifts!!!

Since he will be deploying this Dec. 2011 he has already had his "Christmas" from my mom, dad and myself (PSP with some games and memory card).  But, he still needs some gifts to open for Christmas day.



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For his decorations care package box he has.....

~ 2 Santa Clause heads
~ Fake Lights Garland
~ Green Bead Garland
~ Santa Hat- It says, "Santa's Helper"
~ Little Christmas Tree
~ A very large stocking to put his present's in

I got all of the decorations at the Dollar Store!

His shipmate's gifts include......

~ Balloon Making Kit

~ Hatch 'N Grow Alien

~ Toy soldiers

~ Punch Balloon

~ Play Dough 

~ Fairy Barbie

~ Chapstick

~ Glow Sticks

~ Silly String

~ "Dinosaur King" Card Trading Game

~ Yoyo

~ Bible card games

~ Candy Canes 

I got all these gifts from the Dollar Store! One of my most favorite places to shop!!!

I wrapped some of the gifts

Than put them in Wine Bottle Bags also from the Dollar Store!

A dart board and a pair of Socker Boppers from Wal-Mart $10 each! I wanted to get some gifts that he can share and use with his shipmates, this way he doesn't have to store them in his rack and take up space!

So funny story! I was trying to think of what I could send to hang the dart board with. My first thought was double sided sticky tape! That stuff is super sticky. Went to the store today with a friend and I asked her thinking she may have another idea. This is what I said... "I am sending double sided sticky tape to hang the dart board with, cause he can drill a hole in the wall, its made of medal! Can you think of anything else I could use instead?" Her response... "Uh a magnet?" lol what a genius idea!!! So, sending along a roll of a magnet strip. Got it at Roberts Crafts for $6.99

He also got some goodies to help remind him of home!

~ Sausage and Crackers

~ Pumpkin Seeds

~ Butterfingers

~ Protein Bars

~ Fruit Bars

~ ThinQ (it's a all-natural drink)

~ Crystal Light drink mixes

~ Mio Liquid water enhancement

~ Knife

I'm going to try and send him some fun things to try. I have read on another website (I'm not sure what one) but they would send their son funny named food items or that looked funky, or from another cultures. I thought it sounded fun!

One thing that I will try to send with almost every box is the powdered drink mixes. Last deployment I sent my husband some from the Dollar Store and he said that him and his shipmates would drink them the day he got them.

A list of what will be in his stocking this year!

~ Whoopee Cushion

~ Du Rag

~ Burt's Bees Lip Balm

~ Mega Blast (Noise Maker)

~ Hatch 'N Grow Alien

~ Yoyo

~ Balloon Animal Making Kit

~ 3 Pack Wooden Puzzles

~ Magic Set

~ "Dinosaur King" Trading Card Game

~ Dart Tips

~ Glow Sticks

~ Fairy Barbie

~ Bible Card Games

~ Silly String

~ Jacks

And of course some PJ's for Christmas Eve is tradition!

I decided to do a theme with his PJ's!

~ Superman Pants

~ Superman Undies

~ Superman Shirt

I also found this really cute poem that someone had wrote about superman! I cropped his head out of a picture and replaced it with superman's! It makes me laugh every time I look at it, I think he will get a kick out of it also!

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I had a blast decorating the inside of the care packages, I have never done this on his previous deployment not thinking about it! It is so much fun and gives you something to do while watching TV or listening to music. 

Box 1

My first decorative Care Package box! It took me hours to do!!!! Crazy right? Well, I had no idea what to do but I had to start somewhere! I think next time I will come up with an outline to help move things a little faster!

I used scraps of old wrapping paper, card stock, some Modge Podge, old ribbon, sharpies and my Cricut!

Box 2

Box 3

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To make the Care Packages more festive and to help bring the holiday season to him, I added some candles from Bath And Body Works to help smell up the packages for when he opens them!

I got the 1.6 oz candles $3.50 or 3/$5 (I got 2 of each scent)

~ Marshmallow Peppermint 

~ Winter - My Favorite!!!

~ Winter Night

I also will be sending a Scentportable for his rack since he doesn't have anywhere to put a plug in an air freshener! 

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So, almost done with this very LONG post!

What I like to do before packing the boxes is putting any kind of food items in bags if they fit. A few reasons why, if they happen to explode there isn't a big mess, especially liquids!!! I can't remember what I sent but it had exploded and made the inside of the box a disaster from what I hear. Also, he can use them to store things in if he needs too. Like candies once he opens and they don't reseal he can use that bag, or for whatever else is needed!

I packed the food and decorations in the same box! That box was very hard to close!!! I had to sit on it and made sure I taped it really well.

His presents with 2 of his shipmates presents as well. 

I forgot to take a picture of how I packed his shipmates presents, I just layed   them down nothing to fancy or special!

There were two presents that didn't fit in the boxes. One was because it was too big (Dart Board) and the other cause I didn't have room (Socker Boppers). I will write an update post on the cost to ship these and how I shipped these two that didn't fit!

The boxes all ready to be shipped!!!!

Sorry for this post being so long! I just want to help give details on what I did, the pricing and pictures!!! I love visual aids, that is why I started this blog was to help those who are like me!

Thanx for reading!!!!

All about mailing your Care Package

I thought I might as well post about some basics on how to ship your Care Packages, as well as Do's and Don'ts.

You can find a lot of this information out on the inter-web but since I am doing a blog about Care Packages it only makes sense for me to have this on here!

Most of this I will be pulling off of the USPS website, also a few things that have been told to me by my post office (Spanish Fork, Utah) also if anyone one has questions let me know, I am personally friends with the Post Master and he can clear up any confusion we may have! :D

APO/FPO/DPO Guidelines and Restrictions

"Our troops work hard for us overseas. Far from home, few things brighten their days more than mail from friends and loved ones. Technically, APO/FPO/DPO ships at domestic rates, however, you'll need to follow these special guidelines."

Addressing Tips

Get the address right.

Use the service members full name

All mail must be addressed to someone specific; addressing mail to "Any Service Member" is no longer permitted.

Include the Unit and APO/FPO/DPO

(Air/Army Post Office or Fleet Post Office) address with the nine digit zip-code (if one is assigned).

SSGT Kevin Taylor

Unit 2050 box 4190

APO AP 96278-2050

ABHAN Samuel Johnson

USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72
V1

FPO AP 96612- 2872

Remember to print clearly!

Mailing Restrictions

Before you send a letter or package to one of our troops overseas, make sure you are aware of some of the restrictions. Every country has costumes regulations regarding incoming mail.

Although there are specific regulation to each five-digit military post office zip code (APO/FPO/DPO), generally, the following are prohibited in the region of Operation Iraqi Freedom:

* Obscene Articles: Prints, Paintings, Cards, Film, Video Tapes, etc.

* Any matter depicting nude or seminude persons, pornographic or sexual items, or non-autherized political materials.

* Bulk Quantities of religious materials contrary to the Islamic faith. Items for the personal use of the addressee are permissible.

* Pork or Pock by-products.

To make sure package contents arrive in good shape, take into consideration:

* Extreme Temperatures: Desert temperatures typically exceed 100 degrees, this can damage delicate good e.g. electronics.

 Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes

Features: Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes are available at many Post Offices and can be ordered online at USPS.com/Shop. You can print Priority Mail labels and postage with Click-N-Ship at USPS.com and receive a price discount.

When sealing a Flat Rate Box, the container flaps must be able to close within the normal folds. Tape may be applied to the flaps and seams to reinforce the container; provide the design of the container is not reconstructed in any way.

Small Flat Rate Box

Size: 8-5/8" x 5-3/8" x 1-5/8"

International Prices: $5.20 

The weight limit is 4 pounds to international destinations.

Medium Flat Rate Box

Sizes: 13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" (rectangle-shaped)

11" x 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" (square-shaped)

International Prices: $10.95

The weight limit is 20 pounds to international destinations.

Large Flat Rate Box

Size: 12" x 12" x 5-1/2"

23-11/16" x 11-3/4" x 3"

International Prices: $12.95

The weight limit is 20 pounds to international destinations.

A few things with the Large Flat Rate Box. My Post Office told me if you are sending to a military address the Large Flat Rate Boxes are $10.95 instead of the $12.95 so make sure to ask! Also, as far as the weight limit I know it's not 20 pounds I have sent WAY heavier boxes, and I was worried about it exceeding the weight limit. I asked the guy helping me and he told me something different (70 pounds I believe) when I go in next I will ask.

Well, I just looked at the USPS website again and I got the Pricing wrong for the Large Flat Rate Box it is $14.95 and to military address it is 12.95. They must have upped the pricing on that.... bummer! 

Customs

Generally, you'll need a customs form for all international mail except First-Class Mail International items and Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes that weigh less than 16 oz, are no more than 3/4" thick, and which contain only documents.

What forms you need depend on the service you're using and the declared value of your mail.

Do's and Don'ts

Don't send chocolate- It melts as simple as that

Keep it small/cheap- They don't have a lot of room

Make it fun!

Make it frequent!

Don't send porn

Don't send alcohol

It's pretty much common sense, if you have questions about something ask!

Well for now that is all I can think of, if I think of anything else I will add it. I hope that this has helped some of you!