Rediscovering the Joy of Postcrossing
My Journey Back to Mail Art — My Process
The first step in getting back into making mail was reactivating my Postcrossing account. I’ve been a Postcrosser on and off for almost 20 years, and I’ve noticed that people on the platform fall into a few categories: postcard collectors, folks who just love getting mail, number-oriented collectors who send cards just to get cards, and the creative/crafty types who’d love to make all their cards but don’t because the other groups might not appreciate them.
Postcard collectors are pretty specific about what they want—not just in terms of content, but also size, stamps, and the condition of the postcard. Many even request that postcards be sent in an envelope to avoid damage.
Then there are the people who just love getting mail. They usually have long lists of the kinds of cards they like and aren’t picky about size or shape. This group often loves irregularly shaped postcards since they don’t have to worry about storing them like collectors do.
The artsy crowd is down for just about anything. They love washi tape, stickers, photos turned into postcards, hand-drawn cards, embellished envelopes, and even fabric postcards for those interested in textile art.
Navigating these diverse needs and expectations is like making a deliciously diverse soup. Here are a few key things I keep in mind when creating my postcards:
1. Keep it Flat: I always aim for my postcards to be flat to avoid damage during mail processing and make storage easy for the recipient. If I use wax seals, I make sure they’re adhered with adhesive, not just wax, and I use the smallest seal head I have.
2. Collage Considerations: Creating collages on the back can make the postcard thicker. If there’s a lot of layering, I ensure it gets hand-canceled to avoid damage.
3. Design Matters: Good design is crucial. Postcard people are detail-oriented and notice everything from stamps to handwriting. Embellishments should have an intentional layout, proportionate to the card size, with an engaging color scheme.
4. Personal Touch: I use the recipient’s profile as a guide for my design, aligning stickers with their interests, using their favorite colors, and writing personalized messages.
The most important part of creating a custom postcard back is ensuring the postcard is strong enough to support your embellishments. If it’s not thick enough, you can add a piece of cardstock to the back. I use white line double-sided tape for this—it’s strong, inexpensive, and perfect for securing washi tape and stickers. Washi tape wasn’t made for mail art, and its adhesive often doesn’t hold up during mail processing. I reinforce it with double-sided tape to keep everything in place.
For supplies, I love Amazon, but I also shop at Temu for lower prices and a broader selection. Just watch out for any text on the items—sometimes the spelling or grammar can be off – which actually can be kinda fun but something to keep in mind.
Here are a few of my go-to postcard sets that can withstand just about anything:
1. Anderson Design Group: Their American Travel, Coffee, and World Travel collections are thick and beautifully printed. Their cards are not cheap but they are stunning. You can get knock offs on Amazon but I promise you, they are not the same.
2. Chronicle Books: The Floret Farms Cut Flower Garden set has thick cardstock and exceptional photography. I also love their Bibliophile: 50 Postcards set for its quirky, librarian-chic designs though the cardstock is thinner.
Postcrossing has been a great way to dive back into paper art and connect with a community that loves snail mail. If you’re an active Postcrosser, please share any tips and tricks you’ve learned along the way.
See you in the mail! .
