National Postcard Week (May 1-7, 2011) is just around the corner!

According to the National Postcard Week website:

To celebrate the week, postcard collectors either design and make their own postcards or purchase them to mail to friends and family. Always being sure the words National Postcard Week and the date are on the Postcard. This year the dates are May 1-7, 2011.

NPCW began as a way for sellers and collectors to promote the hobby of postcard collecting.

So, the Postcard Lovers group is going to participate in our own special Swap-Bot way!
(Be sure to read the 10 guidelines for this swap found at the end of the swap description.)

Here's the details:

MAKING YOUR POSTCARD

Everyone can be creative. Pick up a pencil and , pen or marker and get started!

• Start with a theme. NATIONAL POSTCARD WEEK MAY 1-7, 2011.

• Add something personal: what you find appealing, your geographical setting, an event, a topic or topics you collect, sell, love to send or buy. Got a scathingly brilliant idea???? Try it out!!!

• What is your objective? In this case to promote postcard collecting, your preferences or willingness to trade, as well as adding to your collection.

• Concentrate on putting your ideas into words and pictures in a postcard format. Keep it simple. Put your sketch on paper. Put it aside. Later come back to is, cut it into parts. Move the parts around, change the size, words, pictures, drawings. Make some parts smaller, some larger. I sometimes find that my title is never large enough and my photos are too large. Use stickers, rubber stamps, what ever you have on hand if you just can't draw..... Show your idea to someone. Watch their reaction, particularly their facial expressions which show whether they really like it or not.

• Try out different ideas and concepts, one will be sure to be the one for you.

• Do you take good photos? Think about using a photo. You will need to add National Postcard Week and the date to the photo. If you use a computer program, you can make your photo smaller and put the text around the photo. Check your local public library. Many have computers you can use to design your postcard and print them. You will need to bring your own card stock.

PRINTING YOUR POSTCARD

• When you are ready to print. Think about where you are going to print them. Is there a small print shop near you? Drop in and explain your project and ask if they can help.

• Using your own computer and printer with any good card making program can be fun. Most will print four postcards to a piece of card stock. If you use an ink jet printer, be sure they are dry before stacking them and don't let them get wet. The ink will run. Laser printers do a good job of printing but are quite expensive to purchase.

• You can use a printing company, a computer or hand make your postcards.

• Some of the online printing companies can be found by searching for postcards. Two that I know of that do a good job are VistaPring and Uprint. There are many others, but these two I know others have used.

Here's the guidelines:

(Originally from The Tucson Post Card Exchange Club, but modified slightly for this swap.)

1. National Postcard Week and the date must be on the postcard, preferably on the front. 2011 is the 28th year.

2. Your name, user name and mailing address should be included, preferably on the front, but can be on the back.

3. The minimum size is 3-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches. Those are post office requirements.

4. The maximum size is 4-1/4 x 6 inches.

5. The minimum thickness of is 90 lb. card stock. Most home printers will print on 110 LB card stock, sold in many discount stores.

6. All postcards printed should be of the same designs. You can design more than one. If you do you should send all designs in a trade.

7. For NPCW requirements, a minimum of 100 copies is recommended to give other traders a chance to receive a copy. HOWEVER, for this swap, we will only have 1 partner. Feel free to sign up with the NPCW (see below) if you would like to participate in the BIG event.

8. To give your card extra worth, numbering them is an excellent idea. /100 on the back is okay. (not necessary for OUR swap)

9. Be sure to Autograph your postcard. Include your name, user name, and swap name somewhere legible on the postcard.

10. All postcards should be mailed during NPCW from May 1-7, 2011, and sent individually with a stamp. Get a hand cancel at the post office desk.

For more information about participating in the NPCW activities:

• HOW DO I TRADE WITH OTHERS?

• PostcardCollector.org

• The Daily Postcard