COLLECTING POSTCARDS (and what to do with them)

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Collecting Postcards – or Deltiology – is the 3rd largest hobby in the world. Even Queen Victoria had a personal collection. Why is it so popular? There’s a variety of reasons. Postcards are:

  • AFFORDABLE – you can purchase them for as little as 10 cents each (in bulk, estate sales, flea markets, thrift stores) and the average cost is $1-$3.
  • VERSATILE – Age, subject matter, publisher or artist, location, item, holiday and theme are just a few of the collections you can focus on.
  • NOSTALGIC – Easily capture memories of trips, occasions, people, buildings, activities, events, etc.

Everywhere we go, I try to pick up a postcard (or 2 or 5 or more) as an inexpensive memory. On trips, I actually write out a postcard and send it home to us. It’s wonderful when days after coming home, we receive a little reminder of the fun we just had.

DISPLAYING POSTCARDS

So, you have some postcards, now what? You can easily just set them in a box, bowl or basket on a table. It makes a wonderful decoration and people (including you) can shuffle through them.

Put postcards in a box and set them out to be viewed. Postcards placed in a bowl make a lovely display. Postcards in a strawberry box has a rustic charm.

Be a little creative and make a paper bouquet or unique display.

Create a postcard bouquet. Be creative! Postcards at different heights held by wire on stones. Keep your eyes open for unusual items to display your postcards. A glass jug, some sand, shells and postcards can capture a vacation in a jar!

You can easily put them in an album or scrapbook, or create a travel ring binder or book.

Postcard albums are perfect for your treasures!

This postcard album was purchased in Ireland - filled with Irish postcards!

Create a travel ring binder for postcards and other memorabilia A hole punch and metal rings can transform your postcards into a travel book. Create a travel book with postcards and other memorabilia

A tiny bit of effort, and some frames or old windows can make wonderful displays!

(You can use the right arrow on the pictures below to forward through some creative ways to display your favourites. Feel free to click on a picture for more information.)

 

With some imagination and a little Modge-Podge, you can make a more permanent display. My friend, Regina, collected postcards on every trip out West and used them to create a border around her wall (in lieu of wallpaper).

Who needs wallpaper? Postcards from travels out West make a great border.

She also had a collection that complemented the outdoor theme in another room.

Forget wallpaper! Postcards depicting a specific theme adds a personal touch as a border in any room.

Need more inspiration? Take a look at these…

(You can use the right arrow on the pictures below to forward through some creative ways to display your favourites. Feel free to click on a picture for more information.)

 

Put a map on your wall and instead of push-pins to mark the places you’ve visited, add a postcard.

Add postcards to your travel maps.A map, some pushpins and postcards can capture all of your travels in one place.

Don’t want to put them on a wall? No problem. You can use Modge-Podge to add them to a trunk, tray, suitcase, furniture or anything that you desire!

Modge podge a desk, trunk or other furniture for a permanent postcard display.  Postcards can be adhered to a tray for a daily reminder of past vacations. Gather postcards with the same subject, mood or event and create a fabulous screen.

They have super graphics, so can easily be repurposed, too. Recreate them by making gift tags, greeting cards, gift wrap or jewelry.

There are postcards for every occasion! Turn some into heirloom ornaments.Postcards can turn plain brown paper into elegant gift wrap.Use postcards to create unique, memorable jewelry.Make one-of-a-kind gift tags using postcards.Gift tags made from postcards can be used for more than gifts!

I love postcards! But not as much as some people who created permanent memories by turning them into tattoos!

Have your favourite postcard tattooed for a truly permanent reminder of great days!

Now THAT’S a display!

3 comments

  2. Lillian Torzy says:

    Some great ideas Sandy. Giving me ideas for my new place. Closing is next Wend. on the house I am living in and closing on new place at end of July.

    Reply

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