How to Make Your Own Post Cards.

Everybody likes getting something in the mail that isn't a bill. But letters are time-consuming and expensive, at 41 cents per ounce. A post card, on the other hand, only costs 26 cents to send, and can be as simple as you want, or quite elaborate. And you don't have to buy them: they are easy to make, and if you like making paper crafts, they can be a lot of fun. However, in order to qualify for the lower postage rate, a post card has to fit within the postal service' s parameters. Here's what you need to know to delight and surprise your friends and acquaintances for mere pennies!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Cardstock or other paper, as long as it is between .007 inch thick and .016 inch thick. It may be two permanently bonded pieces of paper, or regular cardstock, any color
• A permanent marker or pen
• Permanent markers or pens in several colors, or other waterproof media for decoration (optional)
• Stickers, labels, wafers or decals (optional)
• 26-cent postage stamp
• Papercutter, OR razor-knife and metal straight edge, OR scissors, ruler and square
• A firm, sturdy cutting surface, like a cutting board or craft table

1. Select cardstock which will be legible when written or printed on. If using a very dark color, white typing correction fluid may be used to make legible marks on it. The cardstock must be of uniform thickness and can't be folded or creased.
2. Cut cardstock to regulation size, which is a minimum of 5 inches in length, or a maximum or 6 inches in length. The height must be no more than 4 1/4 inches and no less than 3 1/2 inches. The corners must be square, or have no more than 1/8 inch removed evenly from each point. The sides of the post card must be parallel, and it must be rectangular. A square post card is unacceptable by the post office and costs more to send.
3. With a permanent marker, divide the post card vertically. The right side must be at least 2 1/8 inches wide. The right side is ALWAYS the address side. There must also be a message side in order for it to be acceptable to the post office.
4. After the card is cut and divided, you can begin to decorate it. Only paper additions are acceptable to the post office, and they must be permanently glued down. You can decorate both the back of the card and around the message area with markers, paints, stickers, or whatever you have that won't gum up the post office machinery. Leave the address side as blank as possible until it's time to address it.
5. When you're finished decorating your card, write your message on the left side of the card. Stick the stamp on the upper right corner. Write your return address, if any, opposite the stamp but still within the right-side address block, and write the address to which the post card will be delivered in the middle of the address block.
6. Let it dry, if necessary, then mail it!

Tips & Warnings

• For further information, visit the official website of the U.S. Postal Service, which is: http://www.usps.com/. Also, there is a program there which will do all the fun stuff FOR you, but it's for a price.
• Go to http://postsecret.blogspot.com/ for an example of some very creative and interesting post cards.
• Only use regulation sized cards. The post office will send them back if they don't fit, or they will charge you more money to send them, or they will simply go missing.
• Make sure the cardstock you use can take a postmark legibly.
• Any attachments, such as stickers or labels must be securely glued on. Anything that interferes with the post office's machines is unacceptable.
• Don't write anything threatening or obscene on a post card. It's illegal. The same goes for erotic pictures. (sigh...)
• Avoid writing anything personal on a post card that you don't want the mail man or anybody in the household of the recipient to see.