I have mentioned before that I have had the hardest time finding postcards. I have gone to cutting the top half of note cards off and using them as a postcard. But my Grandmother in me won't let me throw that back piece of the note card away, so I save it to use it for something else. I had them forever until, I was like duh! I could upcycle by decorating those extra note card backings and using them as postcards too! I then started thinking about what else I could upcycle that was postcard size and I found paint color cards from your local hardware store and sturdy junk mail that I received and usually throw away
*both are free, which is always good*).
I always have lots of magazines laying around and I have had a love for collaging since I was a kid. So why not combine the love of sending postcards and collaging? VOILA! Handmade postcards galore!! One of my best friends (who is in the process of creating her blog
Tarantula) and also joined
postcrossing.com, came over and we had a postcard making get together. The boys weren't interested in collaging, just cutting paper. Instead we put on Netflix and watched one of the best documentaries I have seen called
Microcosmos.
*Just had to add that since I think everyone should check it out, especially if your kids like bugs.*
We began by cutting out pictures and words from magazines. Then I introduced my friend to my love of Mod Podge! With a foam brush or small paint brush, put a small amount of mod podge onto the postcard shaped paper (she brought along some sturdy craft paper so we used that too). Then you take your picture place it over the mod podge you just put down and add another layer of mod podge with your brush. I continued to do this with all of the pictures until my postcard was to my satisfaction. I then added a final top coat of mod podge to the entire front of the postcard (the side where all of the photos are). Once again, VOILA! Your beautiful, handmade, collaged postcard that was made on the cheap is ready to send (once it is dry
*which I tend to find is one day*) to your many pen pals across the USA and the World!
Sidenote: If your collaged postcards tend to curl up on the ends after drying, I like to lay them on a flat surface, add a small layer of wax paper on top of them and get a heavy book, such as a cook book or phone book, and lay on top of the wax paper. The wax paper adds a barrier so the postcard won't stick to the book. I learned that the hard way after stacking mine and putting a book on top. Some of them adhered to each other! Let them sit until they are flat.
Sidenote II: If you choose to use the paint color cards or junk mail, they will not have a blank surface on the back to write on. I just wrote on a piece of stationary or paper that is cut to fit the back and either use a glue stick, double sided tape, or scotch tape to adhere.
Here are the postcards we made:
My friend's finished postcards.
Collection Of mine.
This one is made from a larger paint color card found at Menards.
This one is also made with a color card, I just cut it in half.
Another paint color card upcycle.
The other half of the above mentioned color card that I cut.
Hope these give you some inspiration to make your own handmade postcards or collages! I have lots of ideas brewing for more of them. But if you don't feel like being crafty and want to get your own postcards that are already made, check out
zazzle.com (thanks Melissa),
Indiana.gov for postcards of Indiana, or even your local visitors center or truck stop :).
