Making Halloween Postcards from a Master Board

 

I love Halloween, but that wasn’t always the case. As a shy only child, trick-or-treating felt like pure stress. I wanted that pillowcase full of candy and homemade treats, yet the idea of putting on a costume and knocking on doors (even with friends) made me want to hide. Back then, many neighbors expected a performance: come inside, tell a joke, sing a song, or recite a poem before the goodies appeared. It was a nightmare.

I’m grateful those days are behind me. (I buy my own candy now.) Instead of going door-to-door, I go all-out at home. I decorate every room—tables set with spooky flair, the whole house transformed, and even the bedroom dressed in Halloween quilts and shams. I simply can’t resist the seasonal cheer. 

 As an avid card-maker, I also wanted a quick way to stay in touch. So this year I supplemented my usual Halloween cards with simple postcards to let people know I’m thinking of them. Anyone can make these using the “master board” technique.

 Here’s how: 

Take the lightweight backing from a 12” × 12” scrapbook paper pad (about the weight of a file folder, not heavy chipboard). Lightly pencil lines to divide it into six 4” × 6” postcard blanks. 

Then the fun begins. Tear up any Halloween-colored ephemera you have on hand—catalogs, packaging, junk mail, receipts, anything that arrives this time of year is perfect (I cut images from the front of the Vermont Country Store Catalogue)—and glue the pieces down across the sections. Add rubber stamping, a light spatter of gold paint, and any other details you like.

 Once dry, cut the board into six finished postcards. Mail them by adhering spooky stamps.

It’s a quick, satisfying project that’s perfect for Halloween-loving adults and kids. You end up with charming, personal cards ready to mail, and a fun afternoon of creating.

 Halloween has become pure joy for me: cozy decorations, thoughtful handmade notes, and zero pressure to perform for candy. 

 

How do you celebrate the season these days?