How to Make a Pencil-Shaped Package to Mail
Care packages are fun in and of themselves, but when you can really dress up the box, that can be even more fun. One of the members of the Care Package Love Facebook page made pencil-shaped packages to mail her son a care package and they are fantastic.
Sara Shaw graciously agreed to share exactly how she made these packages designed to look like pencils and the materials she needed to create them. While they look daunting once they’re completed, the steps to create them are actually very doable.
That said, there is nothing wrong with sending a plain brown box. Or use a service that makes care package sticker kits to decorate your care packages. Kids will be happy no matter what.
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How Do You Mail Odd-Shaped Packages?
First questions first: Yes, you absolutely can mail odd-shaped packages like this round pencil-shaped care package. You can mail a potato (really) or a construction cone or a pinata and so much more.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, I love using Pirate Ship to mail anything because it is far cheaper than purchasing through the post office or UPS. Be aware that if you have an odd-shaped package, USPS is a better choice than UPS as UPS often will add a surcharge on top of the postage you pay.
When you ship an irregular package like this tube shaped pencil or something else, you may need to select the “irregular package” option under extra services for Pirate Ship. Then you need to do some math.
Sara has been able to send these using the regular rigid box option. Use the diameter for the width and the height for the length, so 4 inches and 48 inches or 3 inches and 24 inches, depending on which one you choose.
If you go with the irregular package option, you need to figure out the girth of your package, which is the distance around the widest part of your package. Then you need to do calculations.
- When calculating the girth of a square or rectangular package, use girth = (2 x Height) + (2 x Width)
- To calculate the girth of a triangular package, use girth = Sum of the 3 sides of the triangular package
- For a tube like you use for this pencil-shaped care package, you calculate it as though it were rectangular, so girth = (2 x Diameter) + (2 x Height)
What Materials Do You Need to Make Pencil Packaging?
The base of the pencil is a tube mailer that gets spray painted. The other pieces utilize tin foil, film roll, and duct tape to create the rest of the look. Thankfully, Sara provided the exact materials she used for both the large and small size pencils.
- 4 inch by 48 inch mailing tube (large pencils)
- 3 inch by 24 inch mailing tube (small pencils)
- Large pieces of cardboard or tarp to catch the overspray
- Spray paint in Gloss Caterpillar Yellow
- Heavy duty aluminum foil
- Hot glue gun
- Hot glue sticks (anyone else always use more glue sticks than they think they will?)
- Pink duct tape (note that Duck brand tape is a neon pink and too bright)
- Broad-tipped black acrylic paint pen
- Clear packing tape
- Roll of stretch film
Some of this you may already have at home, which is fantastic, but I’m betting that you will need to purchase at least a few items to make this happen. And once you make one, you’re going to want to keep making them as these are SO much fun.
How to Make Care Packages That Look Like a Pencil
Make sure to give yourself enough time to prep these pencil-shaped care packages before you want to send them. It takes time between steps for both paint and glue to dry.
Paint the tubes
Remove the bottom cap and spray paint the mailing tubes. Be sure to do this outside or in a well-ventilated area with a backdrop to catch the overspray.
Place the tubes on their sides on your backdrop and spray the tube in a continuous motion to cover the outside. Spray from about a foot away, and use a sweeping motion to paint past the edge of the tubes with each pass.
You will need to let the paint dry, then roll the tubes over and paint the other side. One coat of paint is generally sufficient, though you may wish to do a second coat to even everything out.
Let the tubes dry fully before you move to the next step. If they are tacky, the paint will smear.
Create the metal band
Cut lengths of aluminum foil. You will need eight to nine inches for the large tubes and six to seven inches for the smaller tubes.
Roll the aluminum foil into tubes as tightly as possible – like a hot dog, not a hamburger. You will need three lengths for each large tube and two for each small tube.
Once you have them rolled, cut the ends so you have approximately seven inches for the large tubes and five inches for the small tubes. Measure them around the tube to be sure you have the right length for what you need with just a little bit of excess.
Fold over the ends of the foil to create a smooth finish. This is why you want that slight bit of excess.
Assemble the pencil-shaped care packages
Heat up your hot glue gun, and attach the metal rings you made to your pencil. You want to place the first one six to eight inches from the top of the tube for the large tubes and slightly closer for the small tubes.
Be sure to push the foil tightly against the tube so it stays adhered. Glue the next one two to three fingers below the first one, and repeat once more for the large tube.
Tear off a strip of aluminum foil and hot glue that over the foil rings to make the band around the pencil. Be sure to press it flat all the way around.
You can play with the placement of the ring and the width of the band before you glue it to ensure it looks how you want. For the small tubes, you may want to trim the width of the aluminum foil to make a narrower band, as well.
Create the eraser with the pink duct tape. Wrap it around the tube starting with covering the top cap, and create a five inch long eraser for the big tubes and a three inch eraser for the small tubes.
Use the acrylic paint pen to write No. 2 on the side of the pencil near the metal bands, just like a real pencil. Have a pencil near you to help model the artistic side.
Fill the mailing tube with your favorite items, then replace the bottom cap. Use clear packing tape to ensure it stays in place.
Lastly, wrap the entire pencil top to bottom with the stretch film. Tape up any loose ends with the clear packing tape, and you’re all set to mail it!
What to Put Into a Pencil-Shaped Care Package
Remember that the mailing tubes have a narrow diameter. The large ones are just four inches, and the small ones are just three inches, so you have to be aware of the size of items you include in it.
That said, you can fit a lot in a 48 inch mailing tube! These are some of my favorite ideas, but feel free to get creative:
- School supplies – because it is a pencil, after all!
- Individual snacks and candies like granola bars or snack packs of just about anything
- Packs of gum
- Beef jerky or other dried meat sticks
- Packets of Liquid IV
- Small bags of popcorn
- The really super cute bags of treats that look like pencils that I need to make for my own kids and share with you all
- Homemade cookies or brownies (and you know how to package cookies to mail them, right?)
- Fidget toys
- Play-Doh
- Fun travel size items
- Soft cover word game books (a surprise hit every time I send them in care packages)
What will you put in yours? I’d love more ideas.
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