Send news and photos from the home-front with these simple homemade postcards.

Materials

• Empty pasta box (with cellophane window)
• Half-gallon milk or juice carton
• Ruler
• Pencil

• Scissors
• Photographs
• Craft glue
• Permanent marker

Instructions

1. Measure and draw a rectangle around the cellophane window on the box. Keep in mind that according to postal regulations, a standard postcard should be no bigger than 4 1/4 inches high by 6 inches wide, no smaller than 3 1/2 inches high by 5 inches wide, and no thicker than 1/4 inch. Oversized cards, as well as ones that weigh more than 1 ounce, will require additional postage.

2. Cut out the rectangle and trace around it onto another portion of the box. Then, cut out the second rectangle. Position your photograph behind the cellophane window so that your image is centered. Glue down the edges of the photo to hold it in place. Then, lay the card facedown on a flat surface.

3. Next, apply glue to the printed side of the second rectangle and stick it to the back of the first one. Using the edge of the ruler, press down on the cards or stack a couple of heavy books on top of them to make sure the two layers stick together while the glue dries.

4. The postcard can be embellished further by gluing a colorful cardboard border (cut from the same box) around the photo or along the outer edges of the card itself.

5. Lastly, use the permanent marker to draw a vertical line on the back of the postcard to divide the writing surface into two sections -- the left-hand side for your message and the right-hand side for the recipient's address.

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