9O96O

Updated May 5, 2022

• Personality style: ISFP - Adventurer

• Married for 37 years. Childless by choice.

• In mid-life I started to lose my hearing and now I'm profoundly HOH. I lip-face read. I do not know sign language. I've started the process of getting a cochlear implant.

• I'm always looking for creative ideas and inspiration.

• Gmail: [email protected]

• rSmith - PO Box 31013 WILLOWWEST - Guelph, Ontario - N1H 8K1 - Canada

What to write

If you are stuck on what to write on the back of the postcard or the note you're sending me, here are some topics that might inspire you:

• What are your favourite craft supplies? Is it available on Amazon?

• Got a favourite artist/writer/YouTuber who inspires you? (Example one of my favourites: Austin Kleon)

• What are you currently watching/streaming? (Movies, TV)

• Do you have other hobbies? What are the pros and cons of that hobby?

• What are the best 2 or 3 things about where you live?

• Pick something from this Icebreaker List.

CREATIVITY IS GOOD FOR US

• Study Says Making Art Reduces Stress, Even If You Kind Of Suck At It

• "Reduction of Cortisol Levels and Participants’ Responses Following Art Making," found that 45 minutes of creative activity significantly lessens stress in the body, regardless of artistic experience or talent.

• Crafting can reduce your chances of developing mild cognitive impairment by 30% to 50% according to a 2011 study published in The Journal of Neuropsychiatry.

• "The very act of creating and sharing art is an act of courage and vulnerability." -- SM Posey, Rubber Soul

• "Create. Not for the money. Not for the fame. Not for the recognition. But for the pure joy of creating something and sharing it." --Ernest Barbaric

• "You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." --Maya Angelou

🤗 ABC List - Things I find interesting

Handmade is what I like because it's unique and personal. There's a greater feeling of camaraderie and community when sharing something we've made. It's a means of supporting and encouraging play, mindfulness, creativity, originality, and authenticity.

Deco Books

I am currently into collaborative booklet swaps (deco swaps, "go-round" zines, travelling journals).

My deco book style is similar to my ATC style: flat, little to no embellishments. Cutouts, drawings, paint, ink, stamping, and handmade booklets made from upcycled note cards and art cards. Examples

Deco groups and tags of interest:

Deco Books ♥

Deco Books TAG

These groups sometimes have deco swaps:

Cheap Postage Swaps, Tags and Fun

Zines, mail art & other cool stuff

Extras

No need for extras.

The extra I'd really like is a bit of correspondence❤️. I'd love to know a little about what you have sent to me.

If you love to send extras go ahead. But rest assured, I do not rate based on extras.

The things I send

I put a return address label on everything I send out.

If you haven't received a card within a month of my send date, please let me know.

I keep a photo-log of my outgoing swap items--front, back, and at the mailbox.

If the postal equipment damages my card, let me know. I'll send you a photo of the card as it looked before I mailed it.

I will resend if my swap doesn't arrive.

Sending and receiving mail, including global, in 2021 has been as short as 4 days between Canada and the Netherlands, and as long as 8 weeks to Australia. On average 15 days within North America.

Canada Post Service Alerts

Postcrossing Postal Monitor: Ongoing mail suspensions

ICC Logistics site - Mail disruptions

📩Re-sends sent to:

2020 and 2021 Re-sends

2022

@Barbara for CPG: Cut n Paste PC #328363 (Global). Received May 5.

If you join one of my swaps here's what you should know about my hosting style:

I screen participants to minimize the risk of flakers getting in, and those who do not rate, and those who leave blank comments. I will remove participants with swapping histories that worry me. If you have any negative unresolved swapping history and want to join my swap please proactively message me to explain.

Nudge

If you haven't received a postcard around the one month mark, let me know. I will send out a nudge message.

If I have had to send more than one nudge message to a member, I may "ban" them from future swaps.

Blank comments

Please, no blank comments. When rating please comment on the card received. Let's make our partners feel like their projects matter. If you have a hard time thinking about what to write, this example might help you: Thank you for {describe the item}. It brightened my day...Thank you for the Van Gogh sunflower postcard. It brightened my day.

As a host, I read the comments each participant receives. I really appreciate reading a little description of the item you receive. I get to live vicariously through you, and by describing it we get confirmation that you received your partner's item.

Rating booster or "Leave a Comment" swaps are red flags.

Finished

I check to see that everyone is rated and will add a "Finished" stamp to the Discussion section when all items are sent, received, and rated.

Angel

Please give your partner 4-6 weeks after the sent date, then send them a message if you haven't received the swap. Give your partner some time to respond to your message (2-5 days) before posting the "1". You can change the "1" later when the item is received. PM me to let me know you posted the "1" and have not heard from your partner and I will angel the swap.

To all who join my swaps and rate promptly and with a nice note...

Great swapping advice, tips and checklists:

Thinking of hosting a swap? Things you should consider.

Joining a swap tips

Hosts: Rating Requirements Too Low?

Groups and Tags I help manage:

All about ATC

ATC's Only

Hand Carved Stamps and Images

Snapshot Photo Craft Projects

Active FB Swappers International

Handmade Postcard TAG

Zeen TAG

Deco Books TAG

Please PM me for a private swap. I will create an official swap for us.

While you are in the honeymoon-phase of membership, successfully completing private swaps are a great way to show you are serious and committed to swapping. It's also, a great way to find out if you are committed to swapping. Swapping may seem like a good idea, but 3-4 months in you may find it costs too much, or you are not as enthusiastic anymore.

Many hosts have felt the sting of accepting a new member into a public swap before the 6-month mark only to have them disappear, leaving behind unfulfilled swaps. An example that affected me.

• A WYSIWYG site for writing in Markdown

• Dingus wysiwyg Markdown site

• So You Wanna Trick Out Your Profile

Other info:

• Printing--cheap way to make personal postcards

• Deco Book swappers on Groups.io

• IUOMA International Union of Mail Artists

• ATCs For All

The meaningful comments you leave are a big reward and motivator!