When was the last time you received something in the mail that truly made you smile? We all know the feeling of opening up a plain old bill or junk mail, but what about when something fun and unexpected arrives in your mailbox? That’s the kind of mail that brightens your day!

package wrapped in brown paper

Creative Things to Send in the Mail

Sending fun and unexpected things in the mail can be a great way to brighten someone’s day and show them you’re thinking of them. USPS is actually pretty flexible with what they will deliver to your front door, as long as you have a clear mailing address and enough postage!

In this article, we’ll share some creative and surprising things you can send in the mail to your friends and loved ones. Whether you’re looking to send a thoughtful gift or just want to add a little excitement to someone’s day, you’re sure to find a great idea.

13 Ounces or Less

One of the great things about mailing fun and unexpected items is that they often don’t weigh very much, which makes them easy and affordable to send. In fact, many things you might want to send in the mail can be sent through the US Postal Service’s First Class Mail, as long as they weigh 13 ounces or less.

Examples of items that are 13 ounces or less include letters, small crafts, trinkets, or postcards.

child holding a disposable camera

Surprising Mail Ideas

But perhaps you want to really surprise your recipient with something they wouldn’t expect. Here are some other fun ideas:

  1. Disposable Camera. You’ll probably want to wrap this one is a layer or two of bubble wrap to protect it before sending it off.
  2. Holiday Decorations. Instead of Christmas cards, why not send a box of festive decorations? A small box of Christmas lights is often under 13oz.
  3. Hula Hoop.
  4. Frisbee.
  5. Flip Flops.
  6. Plastic Easter Eggs. Be sure to tape these closed!
  7. Football.
  8. Coconuts. Believe it or not, whole coconuts can ship without a box.
  9. Message in a Bottle. Recycle an old water bottle into a fun gift idea.
  10. Mini Pinata. Imagine their surprise when they receive a whole pinata in the mail!
  11. Potato. Yes, there’s a company called Potato Parcel which will mail a raw potato to your friends as a gag gift.
  12. Origami Letters. Check out this tutorial, which will teach you how to fold a letter into it’s own envelope.
  13. Movie Size Boxes of Candy. Just make sure they weigh in under 13 ounces.
  14. Ice Cream Sandwich. Okay, it’s not a real ice cream sandwich – but it still looks super cute!
  15. Lipstick. Roll a tube of lipstick or chapstick in a bit of brown paper, and you can send it through the mail with just a few stamps.

How to Send These Items Safely

Of course, when you’re sending something in the mail, you want to make sure it arrives safely. Some things can be mailed without any packaging at all. But other items would do better with proper packaging techniques, such as using bubble wrap or compostable packing peanuts.

Mailing Items Without a Box

Can you really mail something without a box? Yes! You can always send something in a box, but there’s something about catching a person off guard.

Here are some more tips on sending irregular items through the mail.

  1. Write the mailing address and return address on the same surface. Use a permanent maker so that it won’t wear off.
  2. Weigh your item to see how much postage you’ll need. If your item is light enough, you can add some stamps yourself and drop it off in a mailbox. Or, you can take it to your local post office to be metered and mailed.

Other Fun Packaging Ideas

Of course, the best way to send smaller items is in some time of packaging. But packaging doesn’t have to be boring!
Here are some fun ideas to make your mailings stand out:

  1. Use a decorated envelope with colorful drawings, stickers, and washi tape.
  2. Wrap your item in tissue paper or newspaper – it’s an unexpected but delightful surprise!
  3. Put in clear containers, like clear shipping tubes. That way, your small items will be protected, but the package will still be memorable.

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Sarah Stearns has helped millions of makers find their next craft project with free patterns and step-by-step tutorials on her blog, sarahmaker.com.  Read more.

With over a decade of experience in knitting and crochet, she has been featured in prominent publications like The New York Times, Scientific American, Good Housekeeping, Vox, Apartment Therapy, and Lifehacker.

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