Hunger Games Postcard (DIY)

If the citizens of Panem could travel from district to district in The Hunger Games, maybe they would send each other postcards...

This style of card with 'greetings from' and the name of a city filled with images is very popular in America.  Each card featured images of beautiful places to visit, resources and other things that the city was known for.  Postcard collectors in other countries often look for this type of card.  This San Francisco Postcard from Postcard.org is a great example, and today's tutorial will show you how to make your own district postcards.  I found info about each district and what they produce at thehungergames.wikia.com.

You will need:

a sheet of 8.5" x 11" card stock

marker

tape

x-acto knife

glue stick

 clear contact paper

Chose which district you will be sending your card from and print it on the card stock.  Cut out both the front and back of the card.  Color the edges of your letters, number and the word 'greetings' with a marker.  Use a light color to avoid losing detail, like yellow or light blue.

With your x-acto knife, cut out the centers of the letters and numbers, removing all of the light gray sections.  If the letter or number has a middle section (like the D and R), save it to glue in later.

Find images in magazines to go along with the resource made by the district your card is from.  Flip over your card and tape the pictures over the letters.  You can use a variety of small images or one large image that fills all of the letters.

The card will look like this from the back...

...and this is how it looks in the front.  Great, isn't it?

Glue the middle sections of your D, R, and applicable numbers on the images and then glue this section to the back of the card.  Because the front of the card is smaller, there will be a white border around the front of the card.

Cut a section of clear contact paper slightly larger than the card.  Remove the backing and set it face up on the table.  Set the card down on the contact paper and press gently.  Cut off the excess contact paper from the edges.  If your card has bubbles, starting from the center of the card, rub a pencil or marker to smooth them out.

Here are the templates for each card to print and a list of image suggestions for every district:

District 1: Luxury

images to look for in magazines:

diamonds, pearls, precious stones

gold, silver or china decorative items

chandeliers, statues, paintings

District 2: Masonry

images to look for in magazines:

weapons, hammers, picks

stones, bricks, cement

bridges, walls or buildings made of brick or stone

rock quarries

District 3: Technology

images to look for in magazines:

computers

wires, gears and buttons

robots

workshops

satellite dish

District 4: Fishing

images to look for in magazines:

fish, whales, sea shells and other marine life

water, oceans, waterfalls,  lakes or ponds

nets, fishing poles, hooks

people fishing off of boats, bridges or beaches

food with fish in it

District 5: Power

images to look for in magazines:

power lines and windmills

wires, light bubs, plugs, and electric outlets

sparks or lightening

'high voltage' or 'caution' signs

District 6: Transportation

images to look for in magazines:

roads, highways, bike paths and train tracks

suitcases, passports and tickets

planes, cars, boats, trains, buses

District 7: Lumber

images to look for in magazines:

forests, tree stumps and trees

saws and axes

boards or wood blocks

wood grain pattern

District 8: Textiles

images to look for in magazines:

fabric

sewing machine, needle and thread

clothing

images of factories with thread or fabric visible

police uniforms (peace keeper outfits)

District 9: Grain

images to look for in magazines:

fields of grain

bread or crackers

images of uncooked rice

ovens or kitchens

District 10: Livestock

images to look for in magazines:

cows, pigs, chickens

farms, fences or cages

meat, either raw or in food

knives, pans, grills

District 11: Agriculture

images to look for in magazines:

orchards, gardens or fields

plants, vegetables, fruits

shovels, sprinklers, ladders, gardening equipment

fruits and vegetables in food

District 12: Mining

images to look for in magazines:

coal mines

hard hats, picks and shovels

coal (or images of black rocks)

fire