DeboraCreates

Last updated: June, 2025:

I have had pen pals and have been swapping since I was about 10 years old. Receiving "happy mail" is always fun, and it is a joy to spread cheer as well.

I love to try all different types of art forms and paper crafts, and often say my hobby is "collecting art supplies."

Mail art, collage, card-making and journal-making have been my primary hobbies for the past 20 years. I was published in a few rubber stamping and cardmaking magazines in the early 2000s. My card techniques / styles vary from artsy rubber stamping to simple, clean lines.

Gelli printing has been another obsession for about 10 years. I live in a small space so I don't have my gel press out very often these days.

I love collage, and I keep several art and junk journals going at once.

While always an art enthusiast, I began to take mixed media and fine art workshops later in life.

DECO BOOKS:

I am grateful for deco swapping. I have always adored mini book art.

The collaborative and ephemeral nature of deco books is appealing. I look for opportunities to create whimsical entries and repurpose found images/backgrounds on my pages.

Pages made by others inspire and challenge me, and I also enjoy passing them along to the next person to enjoy and add their creation. I love looking at these little books when I receive them, when I create in them, and before I send them out.

For me, it all comes down to sending "happy mail" or "mail art."

Themed decos are an enjoyable challenge (see below for dislikes), but "open theme" often suits me best.

Art-style decos are my preference.

This mainly is because lately it is difficult to include large/bulky/rigid and/or taped decos in swaps - based on either swap requirements or partner preferences.

Dislikes:

ICMs decos are not my favorite but I will decorate them. It's easiest for me if they are Unthemed.

UPDATE JUNE 2025

I am phasing out decorating stapled & taped decos as they are too heavy and expensive to mail and do not inspire me.

Single-brad-in-the-corner decos also become more rigid and difficult to mail as more signers add their artwork, so I prefer not to receive those as well.

I can no longer devote time and money to things that do not bring me joy. Art decos bring me joy!

I do not care for horror, occult or celebrity themes themes.

Please do not send adult-only themed for these same reasons.

Snark and Sarcasm are OK!

Please do not send me "xyz on Postage" themes, as I do not collect stamps and therefore never have the materials for these decos.

I do understand I may receive any of my dislikes in "Sender's Choice" swaps, but I may "pass" on them, depending whether I have materials to suit the theme (so images are always appreciated for challenging themes where I may not grasp the context).

As decos evolved from friendship books, I value the "friendship" aspect and always give hearts to someone who took the time and went through the expense to both create in and mail a deco to me.

Before I send along a really old deco, I try to verify the address of the owner and update it if necessary.

I appreciate those who take the time to do the same. There are groups on Facebook and Groups.io to do so.

I truly appreciate all of the wonderful deco book swap coordinators here on swap-bot (you know who you are!) and on Groups.IO.

As of June 1, 2025, about 82 decos have been returned home to me (since I started swapping them in 2022)!

Some I made for myself, others were made for me. I appreciate all of the artists who helped make that happen!

It is noteworthy that most of the ones returned to me were the smaller decos...either with fewer pages and/or with flatter embellishments.

I returned 82 decos in 2024 and have returned 53 decos as of June 1, 2025.

I am often open to accepting extra decos in swaps, but art decos only.

Kindly ask first, as circumstances may change.

Please PM me if you are interested in a private deco swap!

SWAPPING:

• I try to rate people within a week of receiving the swap (usually on the weekends).

• Rating me is the best way I will know that you received my swap, and I appreciate the time you take to rate me.

• Please send me a PM if you do not receive my swap within two weeks of my sent date.

IMPORTANT

Kindly do not send any scented items, or those that may smell of smoke, or any food or drink items.

Please do not put flashing graphics on my profile. If you do, I will delete the comment. Also, if you have lots of flashing graphics on your profile, please understand that I will not be able to read it. Thanks in advance.

I collect new OR used postcards with different views of these Manhattan, NYC themes:

• Broadway
• Museums
• Theaters
• Times Square
• Madison Square
• Foley Square
• Union Square
• Greenwich Village
• Washington Square Park
• Gramercy Park
• Flatiron District
• Garment District
• Lower East Side or Broadway in NYC
• Manhattan Night Life / Clubs (looking for the Limelight in particular)
• Scenes from the 70s/80s/90s
• Views of the Staten Island Ferry

I also collect vintage telephone ephemera.

I do not swap:

Friendship Books (FBs) , FS, "Sticker Books", sticker slams, washi books, Lyrics Books (LYRIX), Slams , label bags or any other type of bags.

Please do not send any items made with loose glitter, dried flowers , used tea bags or candy wrappers. (Dried flowers can create a customs issue. I have food and scent sensitivities.)

Thank you for taking the time to read my profile!