Who likes original postcards? How do postcrossers decorate their postcards and why is it worth trying?
Imagine opening your mailbox.
Among bills and advertisements, a postcard from Japan is waiting for you.
At first glance, you can already see that someone spent a little time on it.
Colourful washi tape, a few small stickers.
A beautiful stamp that perfectly matches the illustration.
A few sentences written neatly.
Suddenly, an ordinary postcard becomes a small work of art.
If you belong to the Postcrossing community, you have probably received such a postcard more than once.
If you are just beginning your adventure with this hobby, you may be wondering:
Can you really decorate postcards?
The answer is:
Of course!
What is more – for many postcrossers, decorating postcards is just as enjoyable as sending them.
Is decorating postcards mandatory?
No.
And it is worth emphasizing this right from the start.
Postcrossing does not require postcards to be decorated. The official rules only say that you need to send a postcard and write the address and Postcard ID clearly. Anything beyond that is purely your creativity.
Some people send simple cards with a beautiful message, while others create small colourful compositions.
Both approaches are equally welcome.
The most important thing is that the recipient feels they have received a postcard prepared with kindness.
Why do postcrossers decorate postcards?
There are really many reasons.
For some, it is a way to express themselves, while for others it is another form of creative hobby.
There are also people who match the decorations to the recipient’s interests.
The most important thing, however, is one thing: decorations should bring joy.
Both to the person creating the postcard and to the one who receives it.
Washi tape
If you have browsed postcrossers’ galleries, you have certainly noticed colourful paper tapes.
That is washi tape.
It comes from Japan and has been extremely popular among stationery lovers for years.
You can use it to:
- decorate the edges of a postcard,
- separate the message from the address,
- create a colourful frame,
- highlight the theme of the illustration.
In shops, you will find thousands of designs, including tapes that even look like postage stamps.
Stickers
Stickers are probably the easiest way to decorate a postcard.
They do not have to be big, sometimes one little heart is enough.
They look best when they relate to the illustration or to the recipient’s interests.
If someone mentions in their profile that they love foxes, a small fox sticker can be a very nice touch.
Hand-drawn illustrations
You do not have to be an illustrator, in the Postcrossing community it is the idea that matters.
A simple drawing of a coffee cup, a little cat, a flower or a small mailbox.
These are tiny details that make a postcard one of a kind.
Stamps
More and more postcrossers have their own stamps.
Some of them include:
- a name,
- a nickname,
- a small illustration,
- a favourite animal.
It is an interesting way to sign a postcard.
Some people even create their own logo, which appears on every card they send.
Decorating postcards is great fun, but it is worth remembering that the card still has to pass safely through postal sorting centres.
If you are sending a postcard with a lighthouse, you can use:
⚓ blue tape,
🌊 a seagull sticker,
🐚 a seashell as a small drawing.
The whole thing will look consistent and aesthetic.
When decorating a postcard, remember to:
✔ not cover the address or the postcode,
✔ not cover the stamps,
✔ not use very thick decorations,
✔ leave a little free space for postal postmarks and possible postal markings,
✔ choose good-quality materials that stick well to the card.
Not everyone likes richly decorated postcards, and that is also worth knowing.
On the Postcrossing forum, you can find many discussions about decorations.
Most users like them very much.
Some, however, prefer simple postcards with plenty of space for a message.
That is why it is always worth checking the recipient’s profile.
Sometimes you will find information there that decorated postcards are welcome.
And sometimes you will discover that the recipient values beautiful stamps or a long message the most.
At the end, we would like to leave you with one thought.
Do not decorate postcards just to get more "Favorites".
Do not do it out of obligation.
Do it if it brings you joy.
Because that is exactly what Postcrossing is about.
It is a hobby that lets you slow down.
Sit down with a cup of tea.
Choose a beautiful postcard.
Add a few colourful accents.
Write a few warm sentences.
And then send a small piece of your world to someone who lives thousands of kilometres away.
And can you imagine a more beautiful journey for an ordinary postcard?