PostcardBulkMailing.com

With a little bit of ingenuity, it’s easy to make your own picture postcards. And believe it or not, it can take only a few minutes longer than sitting down in front of your computer and figuring out what to say to that friend from high school you haven’t seen for five years. Keep in mind you’re not just sending a postcard, you’re starting a crusade to ransom back the U.S. Postal System from all junk mail, all bills, all of the time.

 Let’s get started. All It Takes Is Imagination and a Little Bit of Time

The easiest way to make a postcard is to print out either a 4 X 6 or 5 X 7 photograph and stick a twenty-eight cent stamp on the back. A little known fact about the USPS is that they put very few restrictions on what can be sent from your corner mailbox so long as it doesn’t weigh more than 1.3 ounces. Don’t forget to draw a line through the middle of the back – your message goes on the left, address and postage to the right.

The difficulty here is that it’s tough to write on something printed out on standard photo stock (although a fine tip Sharpie will do it.) There are workarounds for this though.

Many craft stores carry peel-and-stick postcard backing manufactured from heavy stock that serves the dual purpose of allowing you to write your message without fear of smudging while reinforcing your picture so that it’s sturdy enough to survive its transit through the sorting machines. You can also order postcard backing online. Of course it will take you a little bit of time to fit and trim the backing to the postcard so this method may be best suited to a leisurely afternoon.

You can also try printing your photographs out yourself on heavy card stock. Several companies make heavyweight card stock sheets of multiple postcards that feed automatically into your inkjet printer. Many of these are packaged with software that allows you to visualize the format via your favorite word processing program. And if you lose the software, you can always download the template itself from the company’s website.

With card stock, you don’t have to restrict yourself to photographs. You can use any image in your digital files so long as its usage complies with copyright protection. Here’s an idea: embellish your postcard with stickers, sparkles, colored pens and rubber stamps! You can also turn card stock into a mini-collage using magazine pictures and scraps of fabric, although be careful when you glue as the final product must be flat. Apply a thin, tacky glue so the collage materials adhere as a sheet, otherwise you risk damage in transit. If you’re using a personal photo, the trick to card stock is assuring that it prints with the same degree of resolution and color as the original picture. You may have to do a little photo manipulation here. Play around with your favorite photo program until you get it right.

When One Postcard Isn’t Enough

There are many online services available that will format pictures into postcards for you. These are convenient if the photograph you want to send isn’t standard postcard size, or if you want a number of postcards with the same image – if you’re making your own Christmas cards, for example. All you have to do is upload your photograph on to their server and fill out their form.

Many of these services cater strictly to bulk mailers. However FedEx Office – formerly FedEx Kinko – has a Print On Demand option that starts at only ninety-three cents per card. (You have to order two.) The more you order, the cheaper the cost to you – just be aware that the price you see upfront usually applies to an order of a thousand cards or more.

Your local post office has also recently gotten into the postcard business through a specialty website called cardstore.com. In addition to allowing you the option of uploading your own photographs and art, they also have a collection of their own templates customized for every holidays and all life’s special occasions. You can personalize your message online in a variety of fonts (though not in your own handwriting) and of course hey take care of the delivery. You can even set up an account with them that allows you to synchronize your calendar and address book with their software so you never miss another birthday, anniversary or Valentine’s Day ever again.

The Postcard Revolution Starts Now

Especially in this digital age where so much of our communication takes place in electronic bits and bytes, there’s something special about a surprise in the mailbox. Sometimes it’s nice to store our memories in an old shoebox instead of on a hard drive. Postcards, like scrapbooking, are a way to remember how our grandparents shared so many of their special moments with friends and relatives. Why can’t the old ways be new again? The postcard revolution starts now.

List of Suppliers and Services

 Postcard Backing:

• The Vintage Postcard Shop, http://www.the2buds.com/pcsupply.htm. $3.95 for a box of ten; $7.95 for a box of twenty-five. Postcard templates

• Avery Office products, http://www.avery.com/avery/en_us/. Available at most office supply stores. Around $24 for a box of 100 4 X 6 cards, two to a sheet.

• Office Depot, http://www.officedepot.com/. Around $22 for a box of 100 4 X 6 cards, two to a sheet. Online Services

• Fed Ex Office, https://www.fedex.com/us/office/copyprint/online/print/packages/postcard.html. Pricing starts at $1.86 for two cards.

• USPS Cardstore.com, http://www.cardstore.com. Pricing starts at ninety-nine cents for a single 6 x 4.25 card