I'm the type of person who can't watch television without doing something with my hands, so I tend to do a lot of arts and crafts type stuff.  Right now I'm doing little mini needlepoints.  Sometimes I knit stuffed animals.  The problem is that I don't know what to do with the stuff I make- it just sits around.  Would you be creeped out if you got a little plastic framed needlepoint picture or a knitted cat or something with a book? I'm thinking the needlepoint probably wouldn't be as odd because with the animals someone might wonder if something is in the stuffing or whatnot.  I'm also concerned about possible allergy issues with wool in the yarn. 

I just thought it would be a nice bonus, but then I started to second guess myself.  Any thoughts?

I don't think that you could send via media mail if you include something like that.

Shelly is right; you would not be able to still mail your orders out via Media Mail if you include these types of gifts with your book requests. I'm not sure how huge of a cost difference it would be to send your books through another method. You may want to look into it more before committing yourself to really wanting to do this.

Personally, I would have no problem with receiving a fun surprise with a book order. Someone once sent me an adorable dolphin bracelet with a book to make up for the fact that the book had been chewed up by her dog. Unfortunately, I still had to mark the book RWAP because of the chew marks, and did ask for my credit back. I also offered to send her back the bracelet because I felt so bad about having to mark it RWAP, but the tone in the note she sent also let me know that she knew she was breaking a rule.

Needlepoint bookmarks can probably travel Media Mail, otherwise you may have problems with the rate if inspected.

Personally, I'd enjoy receiving a surprise - unfortunately some members may not feel the same 

You are allowed to include the invoice (PBS wrapper) with notes written on it under media mail guidelines.  No letters, but writing a comment on the "invoice" is allowed. 

Bookmarks are also allowed.  (I'd recommend against any sex, politics, or religion unless you know the person from the forums.)  But I've received some lovely hand made bookmarks with PBS books. 

I could do needlepoint bookmarks pretty easily then...I'm pretty sure if I stuck to flowers and owls and things that no one could get offended.  Thanks!  I wasn't even thinking about the media mail aspect.

PBS states very strict media mail guidelines.  This is an attempt to make sure that PBS wrappers do not get targeted by USPS media mail inspectors.  But bookmarks do fall into the permitted area.  Whee!

I'd love to receive something like a needlepoint bookmark with an order!  That's a really neat and thoughtful idea Jonascat!!

I think it would be a fun surprise. 

I love getting bookmarks with my orders so that would be pretty neat, Jonascat. :)

My first response was: they can't go media mail and the price might be too high. Also while I love crafty things, my house is bursting at the seems and I have a kid and a mother that are both gifted artisticly and have massive amounts of stuff already. So I probably wouldn't appreciate a little picture or stuffed animal. I would think it was cute but it would be one more thing to add to the clutter. 

I love getting bookmarks though.  So I'm adding another vote to the start crafting some bookmarks.  There is a member in the L/R forum that makes really nice laminated bookmarks off her computer that she sends when you order more than 1 book from her (these are like store quality bookmarks).  And then another regular gamer sends braided bookmarks she makes from embroidery thread.  My daughter steals these and turns them into bracelets. 

I would recommend not putting the bookmark in the book when you mail it since it will be thicker than standard paper ones. I've had someone send me a homemade bookmark, and though I really appreciated it and it was very cute; the damage it did to the page it was attached to while it travelled through the mail was not pretty nor was it fixable. Media Mail is treated roughly so I'd recommend wrapping the bookmark in something to pad it and insert it in the package outside of the book.

I would love the needlepoint bookmarks. I have several my aunt made me when I was younger. They're very pretty.

I would also love little stuffed animals. I have several of those from my mom's period of crocheting. But those wouldn't be allowed in media mail like others said. Too bad because that would be fun to find a tiny stuffed kitten included with my book. :)

That would be a fun surprise to find a homemade bookmark!

I love the bookmark idea as well. 

As far as the other projects (like the stuffed animals), perhaps you want to offer them in the ROAK thread?  Hmmm... I'll have to see if I can think of any other ideas. 

I take my kids "surplus" artwork and cut it into strips, laminate it and put it in books.  They enjoy helping me do it.,

Why not post on the ROAK forum, someone might have a charity those toys could be donated too :) They should be small and light so sending them in one load should not be too expensive.

I love getting bookmarks and I think it's a great idea.  I always wish I was crafty so I could return the favor to people.  But I agree as long as it's not political or religious or sexual, no one would object and a lot of people would be pleased.

I think It would be really nice , and I love anything with a cat on it.

If you sent it first class, you would be ok.  And I would be ok receiving it as long as there was no political or religious theme to the gift.

Speaking of gifts - I found the neatest way to make a bookmark the other day.  It was written up in a magazine (I believe it was Martha Stewart), but I did an internet search and found instrucitons on how to make them.  Basically all it is is a cut corner from an envelope.  If you use a fancy envelope and fancy scissors, it can look really cool.  The neat thing about the bookmark is that they hug the pages and won't fall out.  Check it out:

Cut Corner Bookmarks

Here's Martha Stewart's version (this is the article l read) Martha Stewart Bookmark

Here's another clever bookmark made with self-adhesive magnets.  Funny thing, it's from Martha Stewart too??   Anyway, my Friends of the Library sale this year made a lot of these with plain and colored cardstock with stickers on both sides.  We sold them for .50 each or 3/$1.00 and sold a ton of them.

Magnetic Book Marks

I would LOVE a fun surprise in a book!  A needlepoint bookmark would be awesome!

Wow, those corner bookmarks are really neat, Kate!  I'm not sure if I'm that crafty...I need a pattern that someone else has made to do anything, I can't create my own.  But those are so cool I think I just might try making some!

Yes, I'd love a needlepoint bookmark.

I had a lot of colorful postcards with underwater scenes that I often included with books that I sent out.

For your other handicrafts, maybe they could be swapped in he games forum.  

Ask requestors if they'd like a bookmark or other craft with the book. If you don't mind paying a little extra to mail the book and item, then it can be sent easily enough even if it doesn't qualify for media mail (and sometimes you can ship quite a bit of stuff flat rate). I've had cute bookmarks and book covers included with books I've requested on occasion.

Wow, those corner bookmarks are really neat, Kate!  I'm not sure if I'm that crafty...I need a pattern that someone else has made to do anything, I can't create my own.  But those are so cool I think I just might try making some!

It's definitely a craft anyone can do.  They look really cool cut with deckled scissors.   I saw one where someone cut off the corner with the stamp where the stamp was very decorative.