Postcrossing Blog

Klemen was the lucky user that registered the Postcrossing postcard no. 3.000.000. He is 22 y.o, lives in Vipava in lovely Slovenia and he collects stamps. Postcards help him learn about other countries and people of different cultures.

How did you come across Postcrossing? What got you hooked?

I collect stamps and my friends, who know that, told me about Postcrossing and so I become a big fan of it. I love receiving cards, learning about other countries and people of other cultures.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies?

Lots of them: collecting stamps, mountaineering, cycling, …

Show us your mailbox, your mailman/mailwoman, your postoffice or the place where you post or keep your postcards!

On the picture is the mailbox in Vipava, where I mostly post my postcards for others.

Show and tell us about your favorite received postcard to date, and what makes it special.

This is my favourite postcard… there is a clear reason why: it’s the 3,000,000th postcard! :D

Letterpress (the magic art of relief printing with a press + movable type) holds a very special place in my heart. I love to stroll my fingers on the paper and feel the reliefs, knowing they were made through the love and hard work of a very patient person.

It turns out there are tons of patient, creative people with antique presses out there, as I found out while surfing Etsy… So many in fact, that it was nearly impossible to resist the temptation of stretching this post to include just another card… :)

So here you go, a post with a selection my favorite holiday cards, from the hands of the letterpressers of the world. Enjoy!

sarahparrott825

Fugufugu press

maidavale

amyb13

paperlovelypress

sweetharvey

brooklynbookbinder

Got any tips to more letterpress goodness? Do share! :)

Every year come November, we scout the internet for the cutest Christmas stationery, hour after hour of intensive and dedicated research. Our requirements are simple: something different and uncomplicated, and at the same time, something that will make the recipient smile. :)

This year, we’ve decided to put together a small guide to tip you on the best Christmas stationery we found out there. There will be several parts to this guide, so that we can cover different styles and sources. If you have any tips, please share them with us on the comments!

Our first stop is moo.com! Many people turn to Moo to make their own personalized postcards or business cards (using your Flickr photos, for instance), but did you ever notice their Ready Made design collections? There is some serious talent and cuteness there! Here are our 5 favorite picks for Christmas (texts from the moo site):

1. Blanca Gomez is a Spanish illustrator who began drawing as a child in Madrid, and although forced to grow up and get a proper job, she kept drawing by night. Her self-professed 'dedication to small things’ shines through here as a keen eye for detail.

2. Marc Johns, a Canadian artist, creates whimsical drawings filled with dry wit and humour. His simple style shows objects combined in weird and wonderful ways and gives a voice to the inanimate objects we thought we knew so well.

3. Tired of the same old greeting cards with mushy sentiments and “sorry for your loss” drivel? If so, are you in for a treat! Superindustriallove takes pride in its irreverent and offensive greeting card creations. Give them out at church or to kids in the hospital. Send them to slightly senile relatives or just buy them for your own amusement – the possibilities are endless.

4. Frieda Bird is a graphic-designer living and working in Germany. She hardly ever leaves the house without a pen and some paper as she just loves to watch and draw. Everyday life, animals, people, things. Most of all she likes to spot and capture sweetness in everyday moments.

5. Lara Cameron started creating patterns as a break from her graphic design job. Overwhelmed with positive feedback, she decided to take it a little more seriously. Her delicate work shows art deco and Japanese influences.

For lots of more lovely Christmas postcards, visit moo.com!

Pirjo is 29 years old and lives in the lovely city of Tallinn, capital of Estonia. She got hooked on Postcrossing when her baby was born and now, she collects stamps and postcards of her favorite farm animal (cows), and chats with other Postcrossers on a daily basis.

How did you come across Postcrossing? What got you hooked?

In the end of 2006 I read in a newspaper a small text about Postcrossing. I like to collect everything so I was right away very interested about it. I registrated myself and took one address, but I must sadly say I didn’t send this postcard, I didn’t have much time then.

In April 2007 my son was born and I stayed at home and rediscovered Postcrossing and started to send postcards out and I loved it. Soon I went to Postcrossing Forum where I met a lot of great postcrossers and started to swap and tagging :) That was lots of fun! And I must say that I made some great friends with whom I talk everyday at MSN messenger and by e-mail.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies?

During Summer I go rollerskating everyday and I love it.

Show us your mailbox, your mailman/mailwoman, your postoffice or the place where you post or keep your postcards!

My postoffice and where I keep my cards.

Show and tell us about your favorite received postcard to date, and what makes it special.

That’s a very hard question :) My all time favorite postcards are with cows and here is my collection.

When I was 7 years old my first working place was at a farm. My grandmother had a very big farm, I was herdsman and had to wash cows. Before, when I was 2 years old, all my lunch naps where at the farm :). So, I’ve been around cows a lot :).

Meet the two users from Northern Mariana Islands, USA. Jude, living in Tinian, and a Public Library project. There’s more to do in a tropical island than just watch the views!

How did you come across Postcrossing? What got you hooked?

Jude: A home-schooling friend mentioned it on her blog. Always a lover of mail, especially postcards, I joined immediately and love it.

TPL: Jude suggested it as an activity for our Summer Reading Program and it’s now an ongoing year-round project. One of the elementary school teachers who got involved during our Summer Program plans to use postcrossing with her students when school begins in September. That’ll make 3 of us!

Do you have any other interesting hobbies?

Jude: Like with everything I get into, I’m pretty gung-ho about Postcrossing so it’s my main passion at the moment. But, yes, I’ve always had many hobbies. Besides beachcombing and snorkelling most recent interests include genealogy, taking photos, writing, hiking, and now making postcards for both myself and the Library to send. The few postcards available on Tinian are expensive and since postage alone strains both our budgets, homemade is the only option.

TPL: For us it’s more a question of activities than hobbies but yes, we like to offer activities that are both fun and educative for children. This is a small island and the Library is a crucial community service. Children are the most frequent Library patrons all year.

Show us your mailbox, your mailman/mailwoman, your postoffice or the place where you post or keep your postcards!

Post Office on Tinian

Children practice before writing postcards

Students studying postcrossing cards and map

Show & tell us about your favorite received postcard to date, and what makes it special.

TPL: I love so many it’s hard to say but I think the aurora borealis and rainbows share the top of the list with lighthouses, windmills, culture dress, traditions, dancing and scenes like terraced rice farming! Actually we’re easy to please – glimpses of the world are colorful mailbox jewels.

Jude: Well, since we are new and considered exotic it seems like everyone wants a card from us. In self defense we have to require that you send first with your address on your card . We WILL send you a card as soon as yours arrives! I always try to read profiles before responding. I’ve gotten as many as 18 cards in one day. That takes a lot of time – so I like to limit the emails to your “it’s arrived.” messages.