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Personal Postcards

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If your printer can print 4×6″ photographs, you can create your own postcards too. It’s really quite easy and all you need are some blank 4×6″ index cards (a lot cheaper than photo paper) to get you started.

postcard template screenshot

Here’s a look at the postcard template I created in Pages on my Mac. My printer, a Canon Pixma MG6620, can print borderless photos which means I can take a postcard graphic (a digital sketch here) to the very edge of the paper. The template was created in Pages using layout mode which means each element is manually positioned exactly where I want it to be. I set up the first page as the postcard back. I’ve put my creek graphic at the bottom with the return address just above it and a simple vertical line to separate the note from the address. Although you see a text box containing the recipient’s address, this is not part of the template. It’s easy to add text boxes for a particular card if I decide I want to type my note/address, but I plan to handwrite most postcards I’ll send so I left them off the template. Adding a text box only takes a second should I decide to type something.

The second page contains only one thing – a graphic placeholder. This could be a photograph, photo art or a custom graphic. All I have to do is click the icon at the bottom right corner and find the image I want. Creating a placeholder in Pages is easy. Put an image on the page where you want it, then choose the Format > Advanced > Define as Media Placeholder. Once that’s done you’ll see the picture icon at the bottom of the placeholder image.

I put the back of the postcard at the top of my template for a purpose. I’ll want to print the back first. Why? Because a photo or complex graphic will be putting a lot of ink on the card. Unlike photo paper, everyday index cards aren’t coated so all that ink is going to soak in and it will need some time to dry. So, to save time, I print the quick and easy back first. If I’m sending multiples of the same card – an invitation for example – I also print all the copies of the back side, then reload them into the printer and print all the copies of the front.

How do I use this template now that I’ve built it? First of all, it’s a quick and easy way to send a personal note to someone. There are still a number of elderly people in our family who don’t do email so this is a fun way to keep them in the loop. It’s also useful to create custom RSVP mailers to include in invitations. I love sending custom postcards to the grandkids – especially when they’ve done something special. I has a lot more impact than an email or Facebook note.

Paper Options

I bought a package of 500 unlined 4×6 index cards at Staples for about $8.00. You might also look in the Project Life section of your favorite craft store. Most of their accessories are 4×6 and will give you higher quality paper and more color options. A package of 100 cards will average around $15.00. While “matte” photo paper is more difficult to find, it can serve as a good middle option for both quality and price.


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