MM's Brain Dump: Postcrossing

Monday, August 25, 2008

One of my cards arrives

GB-44355
Originally uploaded by alcott1.

I know that a number of my postcrossing cards have arrived as the website tells me so - but this one has made it onto Flickr!

It traveled 4099 miles in 6 days.

The person I sent it to seems to have lots, click on the picture to go to her photo stream.

Postcrossing

US232357
Originally uploaded by MollsMusings

I've joined a fantastic internet based postcard site - Postcrossing, and started receiving cards from all over the world.

There has been a lot of recent press about the death of the postcard, but I truly think this has been greatly exaggerated.

Projects like Frank Warren's wonderful Postsecret have made postcards fashionable again, the the proliferation of the free cards in pubs, cinemas and other public places.

But I love the idea of Postcrossing (for those who know, it's a bit like Bookcrossing, but less random). When you register with the site you can send 5 cards, the addresses given can be anywhere in the world, you send the cards and wait - the receiver logs when they have arrived and then your address starts to be given out to senders - and the cards start to arrive not long afterwards!

I've sent out 10 postcards to places such as Taiwan, Finland, Estonia, German, USA and The Netherlands; and so far I've had seven back.

I specifically asked for "boring or dull" postcards, and so far I've had some good ones, my favourite has to be the 'Alice in Dairyland' signed card from Wisconsin, USA - doesn't that milk look appetising!?