Last weekend I had planned to make some thank you cards for some recent birthday gifts. When I returned home from a rushed craft store trip, I realized I had picked up a package of blank cards without envelopes. I didn't want to make envelopes and I didn't want to drive right back to the store to exchange them. What now?
Luckily, a few weeks ago I had found these great free blank postcard downloads at Designedly, Kristi. They are formatted 4 to a page and there are many different fonts to
choose from. Instead of cards, why not postcards?
Materials
• 1 postcard PDF file (see link above)
• 1 piece of 8.5" x 11" card stock (light blue)
• 1 piece of 8.5" x 11" patterned 2-sided scrapbook paper (blue/brown polka dots)
• 1 piece of 8.5" x 11" white computer paper
• Drinking glass (or any template to cut circles)
• Rubber stamp ("Thanks a Latte")
• Ink pad
• Scissors
• Glue
Instructions
- If necessary, cut the solid colored card stock down to the standard 8.5" x 11" paper size. (My card stock was 12" x 12" originally.) Then print the PDF postcard file onto the card stock and cut the postcards apart.
- Using a drinking glass, trace a circle (about 3 inches) onto patterned scrapbook paper. Stamp the white paper with "Thanks a Latte" and cut out using wavy-shaped scissors. Arrange the white circle on top of the patterned one.
- Glue the circles onto the front of the postcard. Write your message, address the card, and stamp it.
I'm pleased with how they turned out. Plus, I think these handmade postcards help convey how much I appreciate the good wishes from family and friends. Handmade beats store bought any day.
If you're worried about the postcards going through the machines at the post office, you can ask them to hand stamp them. And of course, check the official postcard regulations about size and weight limitations before you start your creation.
More Inspiration
Check out these blogs for more postcard ideas:
- Mrs. Beckinsale shows a variety of fabric postcards. She even uses tea to dye one of them so it has an aged look.
- Papergail shows the postcards made of cast handmade paper that she's sending off to an exhibition. I love the textured look.
- Re-Nest shows how to make postcards out of vintage book covers. What a great idea!
Here's to sending more "regular" mail rather than just the electronic kind. It's always nice to get something in the mailbox that's not a bill or an advertisement!