Question 1

What is Tellinga?

Accepted Answer

Tellinga is the world's first personalized art subscription company and a revolutionary marketing channel that utilizes handcrafted cards as a new advertising medium while prioritizing philanthropy. Tellinga is supported by ads inserted into our envelopes, printed on our eco-friendly cards, and displayed on our digital prints. Every card shipped helps raise funds to fight Alzheimer's disease, support breast cancer research, or treat those impacted with PTSD. It can be fun, dramatic, thoughtful... anything! Your mailbox isn't dead - it's more alive than ever!

Question 2

What is Mail Art?

Accepted Answer

Mail art, also known as postal art and correspondence art, is an artistic movement centered on sending small-scale works through the postal service. It initially developed out of what eventually became Ray Johnson's New York Correspondence School and the Fluxus movements of the 1960s, though it has since developed into a global movement that continues to the present.

Question 3

How does it work?

Accepted Answer

First, select your story length
Next, upload a photo and add a description of your desired story (reminisce a memory or create a brand new story)
After receiving your request, our team of talented artists will start working on your story 
A few days later, the designated recipient of the story will start receiving unique hand-drawn images every week in their mailbox until the package ends
Start Your Story Here!

Question 4

How do I get a Tellinga story?

Accepted Answer

1.  Go to Tellinga.com
2.  Select "Start Your Story"
3.  Select your desired story length
4.  Add a brief description and upload photos
5.  Add this to your cart and then checkout

Question 5

How long is each story?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the chosen story length.  The following are the story lengths and the number of images included:
 
One Part Story- One hand-drawn image sent one time
Three Part Story- Three hand-drawn images sent every week over the span of three weeks
Six Part Story- Six hand-drawn images sent every week over the span of six weeks
12 Part Story- 12 hand-drawn images sent every week over the span of 12 weeks

Question 6

What is the difference between the BASIC and PREMIUM products?

Accepted Answer

Tellinga is the world's first personalized art subscription company and a revolutionary marketing channel that utilizes handcrafted cards as a new advertising medium while prioritizing philanthropy. Tellinga is supported by ads inserted into our envelopes, printed on our eco-friendly cards, and displayed on our digital prints. Every card shipped helps raise funds to fight Alzheimer's disease, support breast cancer research, or treat those impacted with PTSD.

Tellinga also offers a premium option which is ad free and higher quality artwork:

One Part Story (The One Part Story consists of one hand-drawn image sent once by one of our creative artists)
Three Part Story (The Three Part Story consists of three hand-drawn images sent every week throughout three weeks)
Six Part Story (The Six Part Story consists of six hand-drawn images sent every week throughout six weeks)
12 Part Story (The 12 Part Story consists of 12 hand-drawn images sent every week throughout 12 weeks)

Question 7

Do you have any examples of completed stories?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  Please visit the Past Stories section of the website.

Question 8

Can I schedule my card to be delivered at a future date?

Accepted Answer

When you order your card, select your delivery date. It could be one month from now or one year from now. Either way, we’ll deliver your card when the time is right, and you don’t have to do a thing. Order your cards now, and you’ll never forget another birthday or holiday again. 
 
You also have the option of tracking your order.

Question 9

Do you offer comic book style cards with panels?

Accepted Answer

Currently, we only offer one illustration per card. We encourage customers who request multiple illustrations per card to order our longer story packages, such as: 
Three Part Story: Three hand-drawn greeting card-sized illustrations sent by mail every week over three weeks
Six Part Story: Six hand-drawn greeting card-sized illustrations sent by mail every week over six weeks
12 Part Story: 12 hand-drawn greeting card-sized illustrations sent by mail every week over 12 weeks

Question 10

When will the story arrive?

Accepted Answer

You have the option to choose your desired shipping/arrival dates on the order page to ensure that the story arrives on time.  You also have the option of tracking your order.
Domestic orders: 1-5 business days
International orders: 5-28 business days

Question 11

How do I know if the story has been sent?

Accepted Answer

1.  You will receive a confirmation email after purchasing a story
2.  You will be notified via email after our artist has shipped the first part of the story
3.  You will receive the digital print via email
4.  The recipient then should be watchful for a brown grocery envelope containing their story. The buyer's address will be used as the return address on the envelope
 
*If you purchased Tracking then you can use the following link to find your story:
 
https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input

Question 12

How are the stories shipped?  What do they look like?

Accepted Answer

Stories will be shipped through traditional mail. Each image is hand-drawn on a 5"x 7" premium 16 pt thick luster cards. It is then placed in a 5.25" x 7.25" brown grocery bag style envelope with the customer's address used as the return address. A charity stamp is then applied and sent to your desired location.
 
After sending your story through snail mail, the digital copies are uploaded in the "Download Your Story" section of the website and also sent to your email to share online with family and friends.

Question 13

If I am sending a story as a gift, then how will the recipient know that the story is from me?"

Accepted Answer

The customer's address will be used as the return address on the envelope.
Each part of the story will have the following information on the back of each card:
From: The customer who purchased the story
Story Length: One Part Story, Three Part Story, Six Part Story, 12 Part Story
Story Part: The current part of the story (3 of 6 or 8 of 12)

Question 14

Do you offer gift cards?

Accepted Answer

Shopping for someone else but not sure what to give them? Give them the gift of choice with a Tellinga gift card.
​
Gift cards are delivered by email and contain instructions to redeem them at checkout. Our gift cards have no additional processing fees.
 
Buy Now!

Question 15

Can I view my story before it's shipped?

Accepted Answer

Currently, we do not send verification emails before stories are shipped.
 
After we ship your story, the digital copies are uploaded in the "Download Your Story" section of the website and also sent to your email to share online with family and friends.

Question 16

Do you ship internationally? What about military bases?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We ship anywhere across the globe.
 
International deliveries generally take between 5–28 business days to arrive, although the USPS does not guarantee delivery dates or times. Mail may travel to its destination by ground, air or a combination of both. 
 
You can also send cards to US military bases around the world.
 
You have the option of tracking your order.

Question 17

Can I track my order?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you have the option of tracking your order. If you choose this option, only the first part of each story is trackable, while remaining parts will be untracked and sent via standard first class mail. 
 
Track your story using the following link:
 
https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input

Question 18

Can I download the digital copies of my story?

Accepted Answer

Yes! After sending your story through snail mail, the digital copies are uploaded in the "
Download Your Story
" section of the website and also sent to your email to share online with family and friends.

Question 19

What if my story hasn't arrived yet?

Accepted Answer

Please allow the following amount of time for delivery when shipped: 
Domestic orders: 1-5 business days
International orders: 5-28 business days
*If you purchased Tracking then you can use the following link to find your story:
https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input
The customer's address is used as the return address on the envelope. If you haven't received your story within the time listed above after shipping, then please allow 15-21 business days for the envelope to be returned to sender (customer's address).

Question 20

What else can be done with my story?

Accepted Answer

Tellinga stories have additional uses such as:
Frame
Put on your refrigerator
Set as your profile picture on social media
Create a storybook
Turn into a t-shirt, mug, or other thoughtful gift
Mint into a non-fungible token (NFT)

Question 21

Can I return my order?

Accepted Answer

Tellinga made-to-order stories are not returnable unless damaged or defective. 
 
If your story is damaged or defective in any way then please send a picture of your damaged card to artist@tellinga.com within 30 days of the shipping date, and we will recreate your card.

Question 22

What if part or all of my story is missing or lost in the mail?

Accepted Answer

We ship all cards through USPS. Please allow the following amount of time for delivery when shipped: 
Domestic orders: 1-5 business days
International orders: 5-28 business days
The customer's address is used as the return address on the envelope. If you haven't received your story within the time listed above after shipping, then please allow 15-21 business days for the envelope to be returned to sender (customer's address).
 
*If you purchased Tracking then you can use the following link to find your story:
 
https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input
 
*If you are trying to locate a nontrackable part of your story, then please submit a missing mail form using the link below and reach out to us for any viable information for your form:
 
https://www.usps.com/help/missing-mail.htm

Question 23

How do I become an artist?

Accepted Answer

If you are still interested in working with Tellinga, then please email 3-5 hand-drawn illustrations with your intent to:
 
artist@tellinga.com

Question 24

I'm a business. Do you offer bulk ordering for customers and employees?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Tellinga Business Greeting Cards are automated hand-drawn cards sent by mail to your best customers, clients, or employees.
Each image is hand-drawn by a talented Tellinga artist on a 5" x 7" greeting card-sized postcard and sent for review within 24 hours. After we revise your desired print, we print the specified order quantity. The cards are placed in a 5.25" x 7.25" brown grocery bag style envelopes with the customer's address used as the return address. Before your cards ship to their location, charity stamps and custom wax seals are applied. Afterward, the digital copy of your card is uploaded in the "Download Your Story" section of the website and also sent to your email to share online.
Every card shipped helps raise funds to fight Alzheimer's disease, support breast cancer research, or treat those impacted with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
If your business has a story to tell, then please visit thebusiness portal section of our website here!

Question 25

Can I order invitations?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Tellinga creates and sends invitations through traditional snail mail. Invitations are hand-drawn by a talented Tellinga artist on a 5" x 7" greeting card-sized postcard and sent for review within 24 hours. After we revise your desired print, we print the specified order quantity. The invitations are placed in 5.25" x 7.25" brown grocery bag style envelopes with the customer's address used as the return address. Before your cards ship to their location, charity stamps and custom wax seals are applied. Afterward, your digital invitation is uploaded in the "Download Your Story" section of the website and also sent to your email.
 
Create your invitations here!

Question 26

Can you deliver all of my story cards at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, please provide a note for us in the story description box located on the order page, and we will take care of that for you.

Question 27

Do you post every customer story on the Tellinga website? Is my story secure?

Accepted Answer

On the order page, customers are given the option of posting their stories on the Tellinga website. If a customer selects "no," we will not publish your story anywhere online, and we will safely secure your story for nobody else to see but you.

Question 28

What is your refund policy?

Accepted Answer

We do our best to make sure you are satisfied with your story. If you are unsatisfied with your story, then please email artist@tellinga.com within 30 days of the shipping date. The cost of a story includes a $10 non-refundable deposit per card. This $10 per card deposit cannot be refunded and compensates the artist for materials and effort spent creating and shipping your story.

Illustrations capture features and qualities in a light-hearted manner. The artist intentionally highlights each character's most distinguishing features, and every illustration is created exactly as intended through the eyes of the artist.
If your artwork was damaged during shipping, please email photos of the damaged artwork to artist@tellinga.com.

Question 29

Do you offer frames? Can you frame my story?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Your story's digital prints are used for the frames. Download your story's digital prints here or make a request by emailing artist@tellinga.com. The frames are made of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic with your story's prints secured directly inside the frame. The pictures are printed on high-quality e-photo paper, and the stickies are made of plastic with a synthetic, chemistry-based adhesive.
 
Frame details:
Magic frames that easily stick to any type of wall (including wallpaper, brick wall, and wood).
No nails needed! (no wall damage)
You can always re-stick and rearrange them. They leave no marks on your walls.
High-quality printing (810DPI).
Free shipping!

SHOP FRAMES HERE!

Frequently asked questions