• Postcards can be used to deliver many sorts of greetings.antique postcards image by ennavanduinen from Fotolia.com
  
  Postcards are a way to keep in touch with friends in family whether you are traveling, spreading good news or just want to say hello. There are countless design options available to let your acquaintances know that you created postcards with their interests in mind. The United States Postal Service requires that all first class postcards be no larger than 4.25 inches high by 6 inches long, so keep your mailing materials below this limit to avoid additional postage charges.
  
  

Location

• Focus the design of your postcard on your location or activities if you are on vacation or traveling. Take pictures of the local scenery, attractions or wildlife and turn a 4-inch by 6-inch photo print into a postcard. Have someone else take pictures of you while kayaking, rock climbing or engaging in other adventures. Insert thought or speech bubbles in the photos, either with paper and glue or with the help of photo editing software. Make the postcard bright and eye catching.
  
  

Personalization

• Design your postcard to reflect the life and personality of the recipient. Decorate the card with a photo collage of her favorite things, such as their favorite foods, activities and colors. Alternatively, write her name with a colorful marker or calligraphy pen and add accents with small stencils or rubber stamps. Ask your postmaster about appropriate postage; glue and decorations add weight to postcards and may increase the mailing cost.
  
  

Children

• Children's drawings can be transformed into postcards for grandparents, uncles and aunts, or anyone who has an interest in your child. Buy thick white cardstock and cut out 4-inch by 6-inch sections. Have your child draw pictures of your family, the postcard recipient, animals or whatever pops into his mind. Cover the cardstock with clear contact paper to protect the drawing while the postcard is in the mail.
  
  

Special Occasions

• Decorate postcards with a festive theme if you are sending them as holiday greetings. Cover the front of postcards with wrapping paper and ribbon for Christmas. Draw Jack-O-Lantern faces on orange construction paper for Halloween postcards. Cover your postcards with clear contact paper so your designs do not get torn or damaged in the mail.