Postcrossing is an online project that allows members to send and receive postcards from all over the world. It connects people across continents in a quest to experience the delight of receiving real mail from new places.
While the default Postcrossing experience involves being randomly matched to send postcards globally, many members choose to participate in themed exchanges or make special requests. These options add an extra layer of fun and personalization to the postal adventures.
In this post, we’ll explore how themes and requests can enhance your Postcrossing participation. Read on to learn how to find, join, organize, and fulfill themed exchanges and special requests within the Postcrossing community.
What Are Postcrossing Themes?
Postcrossing themes allow members to exchange postcards around specific topics or categories of interest. Common themes include:
- Locations – countries, cities, landmarks
- Hobbies – books, cats, tea, yoga
- Celebrations – holidays, birthdays, weddings
- Collections – stamps, coins, postboxes
- Time periods – history, vintage, retro
- And much more based on members’ passions!
Themed exchanges add purposeful intent to the postcards you send and receive. Instead of random matches, you get to share your fascination with like-minded Postcrossers. Maybe you geek out over trains and love gathering rail transport postcards. Or you adore colorful maps and want to receive cartography postcards from across the globe. Themes help connect you to others who share your quirky interests.
Participating in themed exchanges also allows you to be more thoughtful in choosing postcards to send. You can select just the right postcard to match someone’s special interest, often putting more care into writing a relevant message. In turn, you enjoy receiving mail specially catered to your unique passions.
How to Find and Choose Postcrossing Themes
The main place to discover Postcrossing themes is in the Postcrossing Forum. Under the Postcards category, you’ll find an extensive list of themed exchanges. Browse through active themes and you’re sure to find several matching your interests.
Some things to look for when evaluating themes include:
- Recent activity – this indicates an active exchange with engaged participants
- Number of pages – more pages usually means more members participating
- Clear rules – well-defined rules help avoid confusion
- Responsiveness – check if the organizer responds to questions
Once you’ve identified some promising theme exchanges, take time to read through the pages. Get a feel for the types of postcards being sent and the discussions between members. This will help you determine if a theme exchange seems like a good fit.
It can also be helpful to search the forum using keywords related to your interests. For instance, searching “space” will reveal exchanges for astronomy lovers. You can also post in the forum to suggest a new theme if you don’t see an exchange that matches your passions.
When selecting themes, consider exchanges that will allow you to send postcards you actually own or can easily acquire. Finding postcards that fit a theme can sometimes take effort, so pick topics aligned with the postcards and places you have access to.
Fulfilling Special Requests
In addition to organized theme exchanges, individual Postcrossers often make special requests for specific postcards on their profiles.
For instance, maybe a member collects postmarks from small towns and asks for mail from rural areas. Or someone who loves polar bears requests postcards featuring arctic animals. Other typical requests include UNESCO sites, handmade cards, stamps from certain countries, or mail from specified cities.
There’s something extra heartwarming about finding that perfect postcard to make someone’s day. Whenever I flip through my postcard collection, certain pieces jump out as ideal to fulfill a fellow Postcrosser’s special request. I’ll set them aside and wait for the chance to match them to the right recipient.
Searching member profiles for requests related to the postcards you have enables you to thoughtfully send mail others will cherish. I’ve been overjoyed to receive postcards catered specifically to my idiosyncratic collecting quirks thanks to my profile requests. It adds a personal touch to Postcrossing when someone takes the time to make your mailbox dreams come true!
Organizing and Participating in Themed Exchanges
If browsing current themed exchanges doesn’t satisfy your interests, why not organize your own? It’s easy to set up a new theme exchange on the Postcrossing Forum.
First, select a narrow, well-defined theme. Niche themes tend to attract more engaged participants than broad ones. For instance, “Retro Video Games” is more specific than “Games”.
Next, create a forum thread outlining your theme exchange. Include any rules like send 1 to receive 1, allowances for resending lost mail, postcard condition, etc. Providing clear expectations upfront prevents confusion. Appointing moderators can be helpful for larger exchanges.
Some optional ideas to consider:
- Allow new sign-ups for a limited period, then close registration to keep the exchange manageable.
- Set a timeline for finish dates and keep the exchange active for mail delays.
- Enable spreadsheet or list tracking of sent and received postcards.
- Host themed exchanges around events like World Postcard Day.
- Collaborate to exchange postcards in rounds between a fixed group of members.
Once your exchange is set up, announce it on the Postcrossing Forum and in related social media groups. Invite interested members to join. As postcards get sent around, keep the thread active with photos and comments. Interacting with fellow participants builds a fun community around your unique theme.
When participating in exchanges organized by others, be sure to read and follow all guidelines. Check in on the discussion thread and keep the moderator updated on your incoming and outgoing mail. Share photos of the postcards you receive and give feedback on the exchange experience. Being an engaged, reliable member of themed exchanges makes the experience more rewarding for everyone.
The Joy of Themed Postcrossing
In my years of involvement with Postcrossing, participating in themed exchanges has been a definite highlight. Choosing just the right postcard for a fellow book lover or train enthusiast adds an extra layer of meaning to the practice of sending mail globally.
One of my favorite exchanges was a Literary Postcards theme, where we sent postcards featuring bookish quotes, passages, and artwork. My bookworm heart fluttered with each card quoting a beloved novel that landed in my mailbox. Discussing favorite reads with fellow bibliophiles around the world turned postal adventures into book club connections.
Themed Postcrossing has also expanded my postcard collection in marvelous ways. An architecture exchange garnered me gorgeous cards showcasing Art Deco buildings worldwide. My set of cat-themed postcards grew exponentially thanks to a special feline lovers exchange. Focusing on specific topics brought delightful mail I never would have received through regular Postcrossing alone.
In a world where social media often connects us superficially, themed Postcrossing provides space for deeper sharing of passions and knowledge. There’s something magical about snail mail enabling communities to form around niche interests spanning the globe. Themed exchanges forge friendships, foster learning, and remind us we can always find kindred spirits when we share glimpses of who and what we love.
Conclusion
While sending and receiving surprise postcards from random strangers is the default Postcrossing experience, themed exchanges and special requests add purposeful connections. Selecting postcards that speak to someone’s passion lights up hearts beyond the standard joy of receiving mail.
Dig into the Postcrossing Forum to discover exchanges that pique your interests. Or get creative and organize your own niche theme to attract fellow enthusiasts. Consider fulfilling special requests from members seeking specific postcards too.
Postcrossing offers much more than just random worldwide mail. Themed exchanges provide opportunities to share your passions, expand your knowledge, and connect deeply around topics you care about. Add some purposeful intent to the postcards you send and receive to enrich your Postcrossing adventures.