Ordering Information & Frequently Asked Questions

PLEASE READ ALL INFORMATION BEFORE ORDERING. 

• How To Use Our Shopping Cart System.

• Does it Have A Hole or loop to hang it or Not

• About our pricing

• About Charm Sizes.

• About Minimums.

• About Wholesale.

• About Shipping.

• About Payment.

• About Backorders.

• About Returns.

• About Ordering Options.

• Frequently Asked Questions About Raw Brass Charms.

• Silver, Gold, Copper, and other finishes

• What Is RED Brass

• Painting Brass

• Ammonia Fuming Brass Charms

• Antiquing Brass

• Washing Brass

• Sealing Brass

• Some Tools

• Additional Information

HOW TO USE THE SHOPPING CART:

• Please Note: If you do not have your "cookies" turned on in your internet settings you will NOT be able to enter items into the shopping cart. The server needs to place a "cookie" temporarily on your computer to keep track of who is ordering what and to assign you an order number. The cookie will remove itself if you do not place an item in the cart within  a 30 minute period once you start shopping and your cart will show empty. You can check your "cookies" by trying the  Cart TEST Page to see if you can use the shopping cart.
  

• If you are using a fire wall you may have trouble using the shopping cart.
  

•   To Purchase An Item Just Enter The Quantity And Click On The Button Next to The Item You Want To Add To Your Shopping Cart. The Shopping Cart Will Automatically Select The Correct Price Discount For The Quantity You Enter.

•  To Start The Checkout Process Go To The View Order Button At The Bottom Of The Shopping Cart Page.

•  Once You Decide To Check Out, Fill In Your  Information, Then Click On The CONTINUE ORDER Button, FILL IN ALL THE BOXES. You Can Change Your Mind, Cut Out Items You Don't Want, Add An Item, Or DELETE Your Order Up To The Very Last Page Where It Will Warn You That You Can Not Make Any More Changes. Follow The Open Boxes At The Top Of Each Check Out Page To See What Stage Of The Checkout Process You Are In. HAPPY SHOPPING!
  BACK TO LOBBY

DOES IT HAVE A HOLE OR LOOP TO HANG IT OR NOT:

• Items in the 1000, 3000, and 5000 series all have a hole or loop for hanging.

• Items in the 2000, and 4000 series no NOT have a hole or loop for hanging.

• Items with an (*) asterisk are (2) two sided or (3) three dimensional

• Items in the 8800 series are miscellaneous

• Items in the 9900 series are findings and tools

ABOUT OUR PRICING

• Prices for our brass pieces are listed PER PIECE

• There is a price break on items ordered in quantity using the following chart:

Price 1        from 1 to 11 pieces each item number

Price 2        from 12 to 143 pieces each item number

Price 3        144 pieces or more each item number

Price 3 is our wholes sale price and no further discounts are given.

Quantities of (4) dozen or more pieces are weighed on a counting scale and not physically counted so there can occasionally be more or less than you ordered ( we try very had to make sure if there is a variance it is in your favor)

WHAT IS RAW BRASS AND WHAT ARE RED ITEMS ?

• The Charms And Embellishments In This Catalog Are RAW BRASS. 
  

• Raw Brass Items Must Be Washed Before Antiquing Or Painting To Remove Oil That Is Left On Them From The Machines That Stamp Them Out. (See instructions)
  

• If They Will Be Handled A Lot, Or Used For Jewelry, They Must Be Sealed To Prevent Tarnishing.
  

• RED ITEMS: Raw Brass Can Vary In Color From Yellow To A Coppery Red. The Industry Only Considers The Coppery Red Brass To Be RED BRASS. If You Need All Of One Item Number To Be The Same Color Please Inform Us. It Is Almost Impossible To Have All Of The Different Charms Match In Color Unless You Have Them Plated. If You Need Plated Items Take A Look On Our Other Sources Page, If You Would Like Information On Having Items Plated Contact Us.
  

• Color Variations Are Beyond Our Control No 2 Production Runs Are Exactly The Same.
  

• Items That Are Always Red Are Marked As Such
  

• If You Do Not Want To Receive Red Items, Please Specify When Ordering.
  

• All Brass Pieces And Most Of The Findings Are Made In The U.S.A. 

CAN I GET THE CHARMS IN OTHER FINISHES?

Not from us. If you wish to purchase charms in other finishes check with the companies listed on our other sources page. We can also send you a list of plating companies to have your charms custom plated to your requirements. Many of them have minimum requirements. To request the platers information call, fax or email us.

HOW MAY I PAY FOR MY ORDER?

•  You may Pay with a Visa, Or Master Card.
  

• We do not accept C.O.D. Orders
  

• We DO NOT ACCEPT American Express or Discover and we do not take Paypal or any other internet based money transactions at this time.
  

• Your Credit Card is NOT charged when you order on our web site. For security reasons ( both yours and ours ) your credit card is processed only upon your order completion and you are only charged for items that are being shipped. Back orders are charged separately.

HOW CAN MY ORDER BE SHIPPED AND HOW FAST WILL I GET MY ORDER?

• see the shipping pages
   

• Orders are shipped via UPS or the U.S. Postal Service.
   

• IF YOU ARE SENDING AN ORDER IN THE MAIL please remember to add SHIPPING CHARGES
  
  

• * foreign Orders over $1000.00 are subject to weight ( how heavy it is ).
  

• for Canada & Overseas Orders see the shipping page
  
  

• Items may be shipped UPS next day, 2nd Day Air, or 3 Day Select for an additional charge, you must call for these services (607) 849-6870.
  

• Items shipped to Alaska & Hawaii by UPS are sent Next Day or Second Day ONLY, And By Priority Mail Through The USPS. Extra shipping charges will be added to your order.
  

• If You Have A Deadline You Need To Meet, You MUST Call ( 607-849-6870 )To Confirm Your Order And Make Arrangements For Priority Processing. ( During Certain Time Of The Year Extra Priority Processing Fees May Apply ). 
  

HOW CAN I TELL WHAT SIZE THE CHARMS ARE ?

• *ALL ITEMS IN THE PAPER CATALOG ARE SHOWN ACTUAL SIZE* 
  

• AT THIS TIME ONLY PAGES 85 - 103 HAVE A SIZE REFERENCE. IF YOU PRINT ONE OF THOSE PAGES OUT AND COMPARE THE  PICTURE, THEN YOU CAN PRINT OUT ANY CHARM PAGE AND KNOW THAT IT IS ACTUAL SIZE.

DO YOU SELL WHOLESALE, AND OR GIVE DISCOUNTS ?

• Our Catalog Is BOTH  Wholesale and Retail. It Has Three (3) Price Breaks ( Discounts ) Depending On The Volume Of Charms You Purchase. If You Purchase 1-11 Pieces Of EACH Charm, You Are At The First Pricing Level. If You Purchase 12-143 Pieces Of EACH Charm You Are At The Second Pricing Level And If You Purchase 144 Or More Pieces Of EACH Charm (The True Wholesale Price ) You Are At Our Best Pricing Level. Our True Wholesale Pricing Is When You Buy GROSS QUANTITIES ( 144 pieces of EACH piece )
  

• **PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE**
  
  

IS THERE A MINIMUM ORDER ?

• There Are No Minimums!!! You May Order As Few Or As Many Pieces As You Need For Your Project.

HOW MAY I PLACE MY ORDER ?

• You may order by our secure shopping cart system
  
• By mailing in our PRINTABLE ORDER FORM 
  
• You may order by mail if you Write your  name, address, phone #, the item #’(s), description and the quantity desired on a piece of paper and send it to: Fancifuls Inc. 1070 Leonard Road Marathon, NY 13803 
  IF YOU ARE SENDING AN ORDER IN THE MAIL AND NEED TO KNOW SHIPPING CHARGES PLEASE CALL OR FAX  (607) 849-6870
  
• You may order by calling, (607)-849-6870, Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm Eastern Standard Time for phone orders, anytime for fax orders. There is also an answering machine at this number to leave a message.
  
• If you have our catalog please use the enclosed order form , and send it to: Fancifuls Inc. 1070 Leonard Road Marathon, NY 13803.
  IF YOU ARE SENDING AN ORDER IN THE MAIL AND NEED TO KNOW SHIPPING CHARGES PLEASE CALL OR FAX  (607) 849-6870
  
• If you mail in your order and are paying with your credit card, Please Include your Card Number, Expiration Date, And The Name on The Card, And Your Signature. IF YOU ARE SENDING AN ORDER IN THE MAIL AND NEED TO KNOW SHIPPING CHARGES PLEASE CALL OR FAX  (607) 849-6870
  

WHAT ABOUT BACKORDERS?

• We Will Automatically Backorder Out Of Stock Items.
  You Must Call If You Wish To Cancel A Backorder
  
• Shipping Charges Will Apply To Backorders Based On Actual Weight & Value
  
• There Is An Extra Charge For Next Day, 2 Day, & 3 Day UPS Or Priority Mail On Backorders
  
• Backorders Can Take Up To (3) Three Weeks To Be Shipped, And Can Take Longer During Certain Times Of The Year.

 WHAT ABOUT RETURNS ?

• Merchandise May NOT Be Returned Without Prior Approval
• All Sales Are Final After 15 Days Of Receiving Your Items
• There Will Be A 15% Restocking Fee For Merchandise Returned NOT Due To our Error In Shipping
• The Customer Is Responsible For Shipping Costs To Return Merchandise UNLESS It Was Our Error
• Please Notify Us With Any Problem That You Have With Your Order ( Shortages, Damaged Items, Etc. ) Within 10 Days Of Receiving Your Order

Please Note Shipping On All Foreign Orders Is By Order Weight, And Will Be Determined When Your Order Is Filled. Please Call Or Fax 1-(607) 849-6870 For Details

Tips & Tools On Raw Brass

All of our charms are LEAD FREE and made in the U.S.A. and made from solid brass sheet stock

WASHING INSTRUCTIONS FOR RAW BRASS ITEMS:

Wash the brass charms & other brass items in a solution of dish detergent and warm water to eliminate oil residue from the manufacturing process. An old toothbrush works great for scrubbing the charms. Rinse thoroughly in warm water. Dry the charms immediately to prevent water spots. If you are making large quantities of jewelry, you might want to invest in a bullet casing cleaner. This is an electric vibrating machine filled with a cleaning media ( ground corncob or walnut shells), and brass polish. You can clean several hundred pieces in about 2 hours. The only drawback is that the media gets inside the puffed charms and is hard to get out. It is available from Midway ( see sources page for address & item number). Raw brass items that have spots or a dull finish can be cleaned with any brand of brass polish. After using the polish, wash the piece with dish detergent & water, then rinse and dry it before antiquing and painting it.

ANTIQUING:

Items may be antiqued with dark brown or black acrylic craft paint for
a traditional look. ( I use Accent brand Raw Umber available through us on the Metallic Paint Page .) Coat the entire piece. with paint ( I do one side at a time, and if it is a large piece, I’ll do one half at a time ) and immediately wipe off the excess paint with a paper towel or soft rag, ( old tee-shirts work well ) leaving paint in the crevices. If it is to light , simply repeat the process. If it is too dark or you just don't like the way it looks, you can scrub the paint off with a toothbrush, and start over. For a different look, you can “ pickle” the brass pieces with white acrylic craft paint, or experiment on your own for a unique color effect.

PAINTING:

Items may be painted with acrylic, or metallic acrylic craft paints after antiquing them. I recommend putting one (1) coat of spray lacquer on the pieces (after antiquing them) before painting them. The paint seems to stick better .

AMMONIA FUMING:

HOW TO ACHIEVE AN AGED LOOK TO RAW BRASS using the AMMONIA FUMING method

THIS METHOD SHOULD ONLY BE DONE OUTSIDE OR IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA!!!!

 AMMONIA IS A HIGHLY TOXIC CHEMICAL!!!!

Please read the safety and hazard warnings on the ammonia bottle and follow them!!!

Materials needed:

1. FRESH ammonia (clear ammonia from the grocery store will work) IF THE AMMONIA ISN'T FRESH IT WON'T WORK
2. lg. plastic airtight container (tub)
3. small plastic container (NO LID), (like a margarine dish)
4. piece of plywood or cardboard
5. small blocks of wood to hold up plywood or cardboard
    

NOTE:
We have played with this process on a small scale, and have found that it works best with the heavier, more textured pieces, and filigree. It doesn't work well with the shinier, smoother brass. We suggest that you experiment with various pieces until you get the results you want.

DIRECTIONS:

• Cut the plywood or cardboard so that it will lay flat in your plastic container (tub) leaving air space around the edges, and prop it up off the bottom of the container with the scrap blocks of wood.
• Lay out your brass pieces in a single layer right side up on the plywood or cardboard. ( If your tub is tall enough, you can do several "shelves", separating the shelves with blocks of wood.)
• Pour some ammonia into the small plastic container (the amount you will use will depend on the size of the tub you are using, a small tub the size of a shoebox, you just need a few tablespoons. If it is a large tub, you would need 1/2 cup to a cup.) and place this into the bottom of the tub under the shelf of brass pieces.
• Then snap the lid on tightly and check it every few hours to see if the brass is starting to darken.
• Once it is at the color you like, remove the tray(s) and let them air out for a while. The brass may continue to darken a little even after removal from the fuming tub. You may also see some inclusions of verdi-gris spots on the brass, which will add to the patina.

• You may buff the pieces with brass wool (like steel wool, only made of brass), or leave as is.

SEALING:

After antiquing and / or painting, the brass pieces must be sealed to prevent tarnishing. Either a spray or brush on sealer may be used. You may use any brand of water - based varnish or polyurethane, or spray lacquer from your local hardware store. Use a satin or gloss finish, depending on how you want your pieces to look. I have found the best way to spray items is to lay the pieces on a piece of newspaper in a large, low sided box. Change the newspaper between each coat of spray.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION :

The rings can be broken off many of the charms by bending it back and forth. On the heavier charms, the ring must be cut off with a pair of side cutters. This sometimes leaves a rough edge that must be filed off or ground off with a Dremel tool. The puffed charms can be taken apart by cutting off the ring and opening the charm up. I do this when I want to use a puffed charm on a collage pin. If a piece doesn’t have a ring on it, use a glue on drop loop tab. ( Available on page F-3 ). Embellish your projects with faux pearls and rhinestones. Add a little sparkle with powdered or liquid glitter. To use a powdered glitter, brush on a light coat of water based varnish and while it is still wet, sprinkle on the glitter. Let dry. Shake off excess glitter and put several coats of water based varnish over it to keep the glitter from flaking off. This looks great on angel and fairy wings. Clothing can be embellished with charms - antique, paint and seal your charms before sewing or gluing to your clothing. Embellished clothing can be machine washed on the gentle cycle, inside out. Line dry. You can make some really cute pins by combining the brass charms with pre - painted resin pieces that are available in craft stores. Either hang the charms off the bottom of the resin piece with a glue on drop loop tab, or glue some charms directly to the resin piece. For example, I found a bird cage that I glued some birds to, and a flower in a pot that I glued a bow to and a bee and butterfly to the flower. To keep your chain from twisting while you are making a necklace, lay it on a corkboard and pin it down at each end. When using glue on drop loop tabs, I recommend gluing them on with an epoxy, available at your local hardware store.  I use a product called “Sno-Tex” on a lot of my winter and Christmas pins. It is available in the decorative painting section of your local craft store.