Custom Vacation Postcards | Family Economics

By Cathe Holden

When our family goes on vacation, there’s always a desire to bring home souvenirs for family and friends. But the cost of gift-shop souvenirs can add up quickly when children are shopping and want to buy something for every friend. Now that most parents are carrying digital cameras on vacation, it’s easy enough to make your own fun and unique souvenirs: custom vacation postcards!

Before embarking on your vacation, download the PDF file that I designed of postcard backs, and with your desktop printer, print the image onto 8.5” x 11” label stock, available in office supply stores. You can also request the same service of printing to labels from a copy store by bringing them the PDF file on a disk. Print several copies, and trim out each postcard back, leaving the label backing intact. You can pre-address your postcard backs, or take along your address book when you go. While on vacation, print out copies of some fun shots of your adventures mid-trip in 4” x 6” format at one of the many stores that offer this type of instant service. Once you have your photos in hand, peel off the backing from the postcard labels and attach them to the backsides of your photos. Be sure to bring along enough postage stamps!

The kids will enjoy sending postcards to their friends and their friends will feel quite special finding something so exciting just for them in their mailbox. Custom photo postcards aren't just for vacation; it's nice to send a favorite photo just to brighten someone's day. Dress up in costume early and send fun photos for Halloween or send seasonal cards as holiday greetings. There are many special moments throughout the year you can share with your own custom photo postcards.