How to Use a Boxcutter

When you’re cutting up cardboard or breaking it down, there’s no better tool out there than a boxcutter. I mean, it’s literally in the name of the tool.

The problem with using boxcutters is that it’s easy to cut yourself pretty badly if you’ve never used one or are using it as if it’s not a harmful device. Whether you’re in a hurry or don’t know how to use one, just know you need to slow down and use common sense. Check out our tips below.

Keep your eye on the blade at all times.

Don’t worry so much about where you’re going to be cutting, since cutting into cardboard boxes isn’t ever a precise and perfect thing you need to worry about messing up. There’s always more cardboard to cut if you really mess up. But if you mess up and cut your fingers? Sometimes that can be really bad and you can’t undo what you’ve done.

Don’t throw boxcutters.

It doesn’t matter if the blade is retracted, don’t throw boxcutters to others who need to use it. It could end very badly, so you may as well walk it over to them.

Always point away from yourself.

And make sure no one is near you when you’re about to cut. This is what you’ll hear most often from anyone teaching you to cut, because you don’t want to stab yourself by cutting towards your body. Always angle it away from yourself and pull the blade away from your body.

Store your cutter in a safe place when it’s not in use.

You want to make sure your blade is covered and locked when not in use. Even if it’s fully retracted, it can still come loose on accident. You just want to make sure that you, or someone else, don’t end up cutting your fingers or worse. It takes absolutely zero time to store it properly, so you may as well do it.

Don’t try to catch a falling boxcutter.

If you’re cutting cardboard boxes and the knife happens to fall to the ground, don’t try to catch it. This sounds like easy enough advice, but when you’re in the moment and your instincts are always to grab something that is falling, it’s actually easy to forget. Just make sure you remember this when cutting with a boxcutter so that you don’t cut your hand grasping the knife as it falls.

Which to Use: Pressure Strips orWater-Activated Packaging Tape?

When it comes to packing, many different approaches can be taken. One of the most common is using pressure strips or water-activated packaging tape. The question arises then: which type should you use? Pressure strips are often used for larger packages, while the water-activated tape is typically more suited for smaller items, but there are certainly exceptions to this rule.

The main advantage of pressure strip tape over water-activated packaging tape is that it's much easier to see. The foil backing does not reflect light, making the strip easier to see when scanning the product for its bar code or number. The strip is also highly visible when used on darker-colored items.

In addition, the accurate and quick destruction of a pressure-sensitive strip makes this an ideal method for multi-line security applications. For example, a standard security label with multiple strips would have to be torn in order to gain access one by one. The convenience of using a single pressure strip to gain access is a benefit over the manual process required for multi-line labels.

Pressure strips have been around longer and are therefore more recognized in the industry. This can be an advantage when trying to brand your brand with a unique identifier. Pressure strips come in various sizes and widths, allowing you to choose how much tape you need.

Pressure strip tape does not provide any tamper evidence or indication that someone has accessed the packaging. In contrast, water-activated tape provides a clear visual indicator if the package has been tampered with, opened, or otherwise compromised. Pressure strips do not affect the appearance of a product's packaging if they are not scanned properly; however, water-activated tape degrades and can ruin the aesthetic of your package and reduce its overall value and usefulness.

Pressure strips are frequently used as a redundant measure, simply put over the product's label. This can be an inconvenience for customers who are purchasing items that require delicacy or careful handling to ensure the safety of the contents inside. Pressure strip labels do not affect how someone holds or handles an object, whereas water-activated labels can tear easily and become a nuisance for the customer.

Poly Mailers Over Boxes

Poly mailers are a great alternative to boxes when shipping clothing. They protect the items better than most another packaging, and they're more environmentally friendly as well. Poly mailers can be reused up, so you don't have to worry about them going into a landfill after one use like you would with boxes.

Poly mailers are also better than most another packaging because they're made of strong plastic that is water-resistant and tear-proof. This means that your items will stay dry, no matter what weather conditions the package goes through before reaching its destination. The best part about poly mailers is how cost-effective they are.

However, there are instances where boxes are appropriate over poly mailers in the packaging of clothing items. For instance, using boxes to ship huge winter coats or shoes may not fit into poly mailers.

Poly mailer boxes are a great alternative to shipping clothes in just the poly bags themselves, and they're reusable as well! Plus, they come with self-sealing adhesive that is easy to use, and they're waterproof as well, so you don't have to worry about the elements getting in.

Smooth vs glossy embossing for Packing

Do you recall the time when you witnessed the enchantment of embossing granules dissolving into a beautiful, glossy coating? Since that initial attempt with a heat gun

Embossing is not always thoroughly considered when finalizing the product concept. It might often lead to impulsive judgments which are detrimental to company commodities as well as packing. The embossing process, in general, renders the commodity "prepared" to also be placed in the consumers’ hands. 

Selecting a laminating that is suitable with chosen creative colors and layouts is critical for the finished product of the package. Embossing regardless placed on the exterior of a grocery bag, magazine cover, nameplate, or packing container constantly emphasizes the aesthetics and physical feeling of goods.

Even further, it acts as a protecting coating for the package, preventing scratching but instead unanticipated breakage. Although there were a few lamination alternatives available, the very initial stage in producing a selection is to select Smooth or Glossy embossing. These severely limit the cladding selections, making the ultimate verdict easier.

Would you like the company name to be visually appealing? Rugged and long-lasting? But perhaps gleaming and new? Do you want a specific thickness or appearance? Maybe a spot lacquer across a region to draw the customer's attention to it? Everything is dependent on the design users choose for the company logo.

What do you know about Smooth Embossing?

The simplest approach to identifying smooth coating is to look at how sunlight bounces from off surfaces. Smooth laminated reflected extremely minimal or nearly no illumination, rendering the ground smooth and buried deep. Glossy finish adhesion would be almost smooth to the comfy, seeking to make it an outstanding choice for wrapping which aims to be more engaging. 

While inspecting smooth laminating on the sampling or concept, or instance, pay attention to how the colors behave. Smooth laminated can have flat colors and some of them seem somewhat subdued with a shallower range of color. It is frequently was using in deluxe wrapping to convey an advanced and sleek aesthetic appeal.

What do you know about Glossy Embossing?

In comparison to smooth embossing, glossy offers a shiny appearance when illumination is reflected off from the surfaces. As a result, the impact is one of brightness, improved unique look, and much more brilliant color richness. 

Glossy laminate handbags and periodicals bring awareness; with that regard, there are more flamboyant than their glossy equivalents. As just a result, these may adapt themselves nicely to pamphlets, cover images, liquor bottles, or textbook covers. 

Glossy laminating may improve different products than rough laminating. Unless the business wants to convey a livelier, younger sense to the business, glossy laminating is the best option. Glossy coating intensifies & illuminates existing colors, all of them seem better distinct as well as nuanced.

 

Save Money By Using Old Cardboard Boxes

As parents, we all want to ensure that our children have the best in life. This includes the best possible toys for entertainment and play. Often while we are attempting to purchase the newest and most popular toys we forget one simple truth. We forget that our little bundles of joy are often easily entertained. In fact, the simplest toys can provide hours of entertainment and fun. So, why not utilize tools that you have at home to create a craft that your children will love? Common tools used to make fun crafts are: glue, tape, glitter, and cardboard boxes. Check out these fun crafts and toys made from cardboard boxes. 

Why waster money buying expensive doll houses when you can easily make one with supplies at home for a cost efficient price? It only requires boxes, glue, paint, and imagination. 

Make completing homework more fun by designing a personalized desk out of a cardboard box. Your children can even color or paint on their new desk. This could be an outlet to encourage the completion of homework and academic activities. 

Stop wasting money on expensive town pieces for dolls and cars. Use available resources to form a make- believe town for your children. You can make vehicles and characters from construction paper to include in the play town. For fun you could place a train tunnel made of a large box in the middle of the craft town. If you have children interested in pirates, the town could be on the base of an ocean; creating a pirate ship from boxes is fairly simple and creative. This is also a fun activity your children may love.

Encourage anticipatory play by crafting boxes into household items. You can make a piggy bank, a dishwasher, a sewing machine, an oven, and much more.

Other crafts include a grocery store with a cash register. This allows a child the opportunity to create a world of make believe. As children grow older parents may want to utilize this toy to teach mathematical skills. Play money can be easily accessed online eliminating a need to make a purchase in stores. 

Tents, campers, and elevators are popular home made toys as well. However, these require larger boxes than the other toys listed. 

Furthermore, parents can save money by creating game based toys. Arcade games and golfing games are easy to make with available boxes. This can help save money considering store bought games can be quite costly. 

Finding toys for your children to play with is as simple as looking around your house. Using your imagination with old boxes can be an outlet for much fun. Helping in the creation of a new toy could be a fun experience for children as well. Information about “ do it yourself” projects are available on the web; Pinterest is one of the most resourceful “do it yourself” sites online. Research Pinterest and other online sites to find information about “do it yourself” projects you can complete at home with your children.

Shipping Damage Isn’t Random

Ever send out ten perfect orders… and two come back crushed? It feels random. It feels unfair. But shipping damage usually follows a pattern. Once you understand that pattern, you can stop it.

Most problems begin inside the box. Picture placing a product into a carton that is too large. There is empty space on all sides. You add some paper filler and close the flaps. It looks fine sitting on your table. But during shipping, that package is lifted, tilted, stacked, and shifted repeatedly. Each movement allows the item to slide slightly. That sliding creates impact against the walls.

Impact weakens corners first. Corners are the strongest parts of cardboard boxes when they are properly supported. But when items inside strike them repeatedly, they begin to bend. Once a corner bends, stacking strength drops. Then the weight from above pushes down, and the box starts to cave inward.

Damage rarely happens because cardboard “failed.” It happens because force was not controlled. The goal is not just to enclose a product, but to manage movement and pressure throughout transit.

Start by choosing a size that fits closely. When the product fits snugly, there is less room for movement. Less movement means fewer impacts. If extra space is necessary, use inserts or dividers that hold the item firmly in place and prevent shifting.

Weight distribution matters just as much. Heavy items placed to one side create imbalance. During stacking, pressure concentrates on a single wall instead of spreading evenly across all four sides. Centering weight inside the box increases stability and reduces stress points.

Flute strength also plays a key role. Corrugated layers give cardboard boxes their structure and resistance. If your product is heavy or fragile, upgrading from single-wall to double-wall construction adds crushing resistance. The slight increase in cost can prevent far more expensive returns and replacements later.

Moisture is another hidden factor. Boxes stored in damp areas absorb water from the air. Even light humidity can soften the board. Softened board bends more easily under load. Keeping cartons in a dry, well-ventilated space protects their strength before they are even used.

Sealing plays its part as well. Weak tape or uneven closure leaves flaps vulnerable. A firm seal across the center seam and edges adds rigidity to the top panel. When sealed properly, the box functions as one solid unit rather than separate panels working independently.

Imagine a customer opening a shipment that arrives square and strong. The corners remain sharp. The sides are straight. The product inside looks untouched. That clean arrival builds confidence and reinforces trust in your brand.

Ask a few practical questions before shipping. Is there too much empty space? Is the board rating strong enough for the weight? Are heavy items centered? Are boxes stored properly before use?

Shipping damage is not random. It follows physics. Control the movement. Support the corners. Match strength to weight. When cardboard boxes are selected and packed with intention, they move through the shipping system with far fewer problems — and fewer problems mean fewer refunds, fewer complaints, and stronger long-term customer trust.

Is FedEx or UPS Better

FedEx and UPS are two of the most popular shipping services, and you may wonder what’s better. This is especially important for art, as they have specific requirements to get to places safely. Here, we’ll go over the different ways that you’re going to ship out stuff, either FedEx or UPS, and what of course, is considered to be the better option. 

The basics of Art Shipping 

Art shipping is well, an art just like the actual contents themselves. 

However, it’s deeper than that. It's a high-stakes game, and the last thing you want is something to arrive in pieces. 

Here, we’ll go over the different types of ways to ship art. 

The first, are art tubes. These are basically for rolled-up items, like posters, or delicate paintings made of canvas. Rolling these up and throwing them in an art tube is a good way to do this. 

There are benefits to this, which include: 

• They protect from creases. 

• They’re durable, so they can withstand the transit process 

• They’re versatile 

You’ve also got shipping boxes that are wholesale. This is good for galleries, or someone who regularly sends out artwork. 

They’re your bestie, because of the following: 

• You save money when you ship it in bulk 

• There’s more variety with these, and they offer a range of products for you to stock up on 

• There’s safety in numbers, as these boxes are made to protect it. 

Finally, we’ve got a cardboard tube, which is like the first one, the art tube. 

They are a game changer, because of the following: 

• They’re sturdy, so there are no more dents and damaging items. 

• Very easy to label, so you’ll know exactly what’s in them 

• They’re good for all sorts of art mailing, whether it’s sketches, prints, or even pieces of fabric 

There are also art shipping boxes, which house all of the items above pretty easily.  This is good for singular pieces that need a little more care but can’t be rolled up into a tube. 

The benefits are as follows: 

• Better cushioning, as it offers a comfier ride 

• It’s tailored for art, and designed to ensure a fit that’s snug 

• Easy to send and seal, so you don’t have to worry about fussing about with this 

Art shipping is a form of art, in it of itself.  You do need to use the right tools and take the correct care.  when you go to these places, the journey can be really beautiful, especially for this. 

FedEx Vs. UPS 

UPS and FedEx are the two most common ways for you to ship, each with their own pros and cons. Below, we’ll go over both. 

UPS offers tailored services for art, and a tracking system that’s like no others. For higher-valued items, they offer insurance, along with other options for this. The downside, however, is that they can be pricey, and there are limited options for really big pieces of art. 

For UPS, there are a ton of different shipping box options, so you can get huge ones for big pieces, and even smaller ones for little trinkets. 

They’re known for safely shipping art prints, so they have that reliability to them. They also offer bulk shipping for when there is a large number of shipments, as in the case of wholesalers. 

UPS does have some restrictions on what they are willing to ship, however, and if you’ve got larger frames, this can pose a challenge. Plus, they take a bit longer than FedEx does to mail things. 

How a Simple Box Protects Your Profits

Every time a package leaves your business, your reputation goes with it. If it arrives damaged or crushed, it’s not just the product that suffers—your customer’s trust does too. That’s why cardboard boxes aren’t just packaging; they’re profit protectors. A strong, well-chosen box keeps your items secure, ensures a great customer experience, and builds confidence in your brand.

Cardboard boxes remain the backbone of modern shipping because they deliver the perfect balance of strength, weight, and versatility. Whether you’re sending out delicate candles, heavy machinery parts, or simple books, there’s a box engineered for the job. Their ability to shield products from impact while staying lightweight keeps operational costs down and efficiency high.

A properly sized box also ensures a clean, professional presentation. Customers instantly feel the difference when a product arrives neatly packed rather than thrown into an oversized or flimsy container. Right-sized boxes minimize filler, prevent shifting, and make unboxing feel intentional—an easy win for improving satisfaction and encouraging repeat sales.

Beyond protection, cardboard boxes are silent marketing tools. A simple printed logo, brand color, or even custom tape transforms a plain shipment into a branded experience. Each box becomes a traveling advertisement that builds recognition everywhere it goes. Even minimal design upgrades subtly reinforce professionalism and brand identity.

Practically speaking, cardboard boxes save time and money. They ship flat, assemble fast, stack easily, and handle weight effortlessly. Corrugated versions offer superior durability, dramatically reducing product damage and the costly returns that follow. Preventing one replacement shipment often offsets the cost of several premium boxes.

Sustainability adds another advantage. Most cardboard is recyclable, biodegradable, and made from renewable materials. Customers increasingly prefer eco-conscious packaging—and cardboard makes it easy to deliver quality while reducing environmental impact.

In the end, cardboard boxes are more than disposable materials—they’re essential assets that protect products, profits, and customer loyalty. Treat them like the final step in your sales process, because they are the last touchpoint your customer sees before forming an opinion. A strong box builds a strong business.