Where do I find postcards?

Most of you know I am in a postcard club, Postcrossing, and I love to send and receive snail mail. So, over the years, I've accumulated hundreds of unused postcards that I have available and ready to mail out. With Postcrossing, you fill out a profile where you can indicate your postcard preferences (like cars, the ocean, black & white vintage prints, celebrities, etc.).  I pride myself on selecting the perfect postcard for the recipient and most of the time they seem to like what they've received. There have been a few times where their preferences threw me for a loop and I didn't have anything close (Renault car, SpongeBob Squarepants cartoon, Starbucks).

I also love sending postcards to friends and family (even locally). I think it's an easy way to let loved ones know you're thinking of them...and who doesn't like receiving "good" mail?  It's cheeky to sign a fake name too! i.e., Sending glittery love, Mariah Carey


I like to order standard-size photo prints at Walgreens or Walmart (I wait until they are on sale), then you can attach them to the self-adhesive blank postcard to make your own postcard. My resource for the adhesive backing is The 2 Buds. The backing makes the postcard very sturdy for mailing (just 33 cents within the United States and $1.10 for international mail).

I have printed many of my own photos from vacations and whatnot but I have also "borrowed" shots from google, which is not illegal because I'm not profiting from someone else's photography. Obviously I would never use copyrighted work. Here's two examples (a movie poster and and a photo I took in Spokane):

Sometimes I write a letter on several postcards, and then mail one card a day. I'm not sure about the order that the cards are delivered in but I number them (i.e., 1 to 5) so the recipient  can piece together the cards as a full letter when all are received.

Where can you find FREE postcards?

*Movie theater lobbies often have postcard-size film information that you can mail as-is or attach the adhesive backing.
*Museums and art galleries offer free postcards as advertisements. The Phoenix airport, which is my local airport, has free museum postcards at Terminal 4 downstairs by the art display cases, in their Airport Art Gallery and even near the big works of art that are hanging before security -- there are free postcards right there!
*Art festivals are a great place to find free cards of the artisans' work.
*Local coffee shops often have stacks of postcard-size flyers advertising music festivals or film festivals.
*Libraries have similar stacks of info and you can find a postcard-size advertisement for an author or book.
*Some businesses utilize postcards as a means of advertising; usually there are piles of postcards near the register. If you start looking for them, you'll find them! Some businesses will have cards from other stores in the area and to promote business for each other. I've found cool restaurant postcards, tattoo shop postcards and beautiful small boutique postcards, advertising their business.
*Magazines will sometimes include advertising postcards for cosmetics or liquor. Watch for them!
*Hotels will often have a postcard or two in the drawer, as well as stationery, if you need it.
*Accumulate through swaps. I swap postcards through Postcrossing, Swap-Bot and my penpals. Don't be hesitant to speak up for what you are looking for, and if you want to add to your collection of unwritten postcards available for mailing, then ask for them unwritten and in an envelope.
*Put the word out to friends and family and they'll start finding postcards for you. Mine does!
*Make your own postcards with supplies you have already: A chunk of cardboard from food or other goods packaging works great or makes a nice canvas to decorate with paint, stickers, glitter, etc. Here are some I've made:

 
So where have I come across all these different postcards that I've purchased?

*Online:  etsy, eBay, Amazon, Cafe Press, Zazzle (great selection but the postcard paper stock is thinner than typical postcards), or purchase directly from the artist/company website.
*Gift shops are probably the best source because you can see/touch/select the ones you want in person, as opposed to online shopping.
*Retail stores:  Harley Davidson, Walmart, IKEA, etc.
*Museums
*Airports
*Visitor's centers when traveling
*Stationery supply stores
*Casinos
*Bookstores
*Supermarkets
*Drug stores
*Gas stations
*Convenience stores at truck stops
*Thrift stores: Super cheap
*Estate sales: Sometimes there are a bunch available, like a shoebox full. Make them an offer on the whole lot.
*Garage sales: Hit or miss, but cheap and often you can find a book of postcards (with a few missing) with a theme (like dogs or artist Thomas Kincaid)

Good luck! Remember, to get good mail, send good mail!