I charge for actual shipping + the cost of the box/envelope/etc.

I buy all my supplies at Wal-Mart.

I use USPS to ship and print all my labels online as it's cheaper than shipping at the post office.


:)

Ooh... I should definitely check out wal-mart for my supplies O:
Thanks a lot for the input! :D

Always charge more than you think shipping could ever possibly be. I charge $4 for my shipping, because even if sending the package out will only be $1.50, I still need money to cover the envelope/getting to the post etc.

I have rio drive me to the post office and we get it taken care of there. It's generally a dollar or so per thing I send out. I also recommend the post instead of USPS so that the art gets tucked away inside the mailbox instead of left at the door (where it could get damaged).

For other art in the past I've just bought a set of 20 stamps and would leave them to get picked up by the mailman. I recommend hoarding ANY envelopes you happen to receive... re-using old envelopes and folders is the best thing ever for saving money. I have a nice little pile. Nobody cares if there's lots of scribbles or wear on the package anyway, it only matters that it got to them safely.

I am definitely thinking the post office. I went to USPS and it was $12 to ship, and that wasn't even including the packaging. I don't know what I was thinking, but I didn't know where the post office was where I was at. :C Though, I can't imagine them leaving the envelope at the door. I really hope they don't do that!

Thanks for the advice! I'll probably end up bumming envelopes from my mom. She's hoards stuff like that like crazy. Hahah.

Although I'm surprised you're gonna start this I'll offer some advice from my own not unsubstantial experience.

Make sure the characters being shipped have some semblance of close friendship within the actual show. This rule is quite lax however. Always keep in mind that the most minute mingling between the characters above the norm of the show is fair game for fans to ship them together. This applies to heterosexual as well as homosexual couples. In fact in certain shows the latter is inevitable.

Although the notion of opposites attract might be appealing, remember that crack pairings do not always go over well with established plot and/or fans. Likewise, plausible couplings have just as much chance to cause ire among people, especially if two rival camps of shippers have formed. However you can just throw caution to the wind and ship anyone with anyone. This last option might open new fanon relations among the characters and might encourage others to copy the pairing.

You can of course use established situations if the characters are already in those roles within the show. Creating an original character, especially ones that are obvious mary sue's, to make one of the canon characters into your girl/boyfriend is generally frowned upon and I would advise you against it.