Ktasticaz

I am a 40-something living in the Phoenix, Arizona desert, although I was born and raised in west Michigan. I am young at heart and have definitely found a love for papercrafts. I just love the texture of paper, colors, and patterns. And since I can't really draw, working with patterned papers, diecuts, punches, and stamps helps me feel more artistic.

I am married and I have the sweetest husband ever. We do not have kids, but we do have a chihuahua, Dexter. We love him dearly, even when he is bratty like a teenager. He makes me laugh every day. We also have a niece and two nephews who live in Michigan.

I am a bit of a perfectionist but I am working on that. I tend to spend a lot of time on the things I make. I also tend to get bored if I have to mass produce something so most things I make are one of a kind.

I am a collector of craft supplies. I love shopping for them at craft stores, thrift stores, antique stores, estate sales, just about anywhere really. You can never have enough, although I certainly consider quality before quantity. I hate finding myself needing something I don't have in the middle of a project.

I enjoy organizing. I keep trying to find new storage solutions and enjoy seeing the beautiful things in my stash every time I move things around.

I am so excited to join the swap-bot community. I hope to build connections with other crafters around the world. I would love to find pen-pals and/or swap partners within or outside of the U.S. Please message me if you're interested and we can try it out.

I think swaps are a great way to gain inspiration and ideas as well as to share supplies that we love and our partners don't otherwise have easy access to. Here in Phoenix, we have Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and Joann's that I keep shopping to death, but I do keep going back. Tuesday Morning is another good source for craft supplies. I'd love to enjoy things carried by other stores and from other countries.

I love spoiling my swap partners. I personally don't put my swap packages together before partners are assigned and I will always consider your profile to the extent I can when putting together a swap unless it's meant to be a blind swap. It's kind of a waste of shipping if it's not something the recipient likes and the benefit of unloading what you want to unload just isn't worth it when it's so easy to listen to what makes people happy. 🏃‍♀️ I just personally don't get that approach to swaps. Maybe that's just me?

I would never, ever flake on a swap and I don't see sending packages late as an option. If you do not receive a package from me, please let me know before rating me so I can find a way to make it right.

I don't hit "sent" on the swap until I have dropped the item off to be mailed. This could be at the end of the day or I may drop it off at our locally-owned "mailbox and more" type store (support local businesses!) so in some cases, the postmark could be the following day. 📫

And, I am very careful about confirming postage, but if for any reason an item comes with postage due, or if you are not happy with your package for any other reason, please message me and I will make it up to you.

I promise to rate you and will usually comment. I am happy to give out hearts when I can see that thought went into the package, even with the simple postcard.

My favorite crafts currently include making handbound books and journals, junk journals (although I don't often use "junk" in mine unless I've upcycled it), handmade cards and shakers, mixed media, collage, flipbooks, flip bags, and coming soon, pocket letters. I have a fuse tool but I just don't seem to have the right touch. Need to try it again. Any advice? I also enjoy making embellishments like tags, shaker paperclips, flowers, collage elements, etc.

My drawing and painting skills are severely lacking, but I love just about any color so I love colorful mediums like acrylic and watercolor paints, gelatos, markers, gel pens, etc.

I've attached my Etsy wishlist to give you a sense of items I love and my personal style. Of course you're welcome to order from there if you want to, but simply using it as reference/inspiration might be helpful. I've found that to be the case for my partners in the past.

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE:

Machine stitched fabric/paper tags/embellishments. I would use these in my junk journal, or to embellish special cards or gifts for special people and can't make them myself. Gorgeous!!!!

Vintage seed packets (with or without seeds)

Paper currency from other countries. If you're willing to send but it exceeds your comfort level for the swap, could we swap privately?.

Coffee-dyed papers, doilies, etc

Gelli prints

Handmade papers or other handmade items/artwork.

Those gorgeous collage sheets, digital papers, etc, that people find on etsy or similar sites.

Issues of Daphne's Diary, Flow, or other such magazines with amazing images (current or back issues). Even pages from these are appreciated.

OTHER LIKES

Jewel tones, bold non-primary colors (teals, purples/violets, bright pinks, raspberry, fuschia, especially). Also, black, white or ivory, and metallics/glitters. However, I like most colors, especially if paired properly. Brown isn't really a favorite but it serves a purpose and I do use brown distress inks and kraft paper all the time! Pastels aren't my favorite alone, but work fabulously for me when part of a shabby chic or vintage style.

Pretty vintage-inspired florals, wildflowers, botanical (especially vintage looking) victorian, shabby chic, illustrations/sketches, shiny and sparkly (except glitter that sheds), aged/distressed style, ledger papers, typography/fonts/letters, handmade or handpainted papers, gelli prints, etc. I don't care for sci-fi/fantasy, superheros, things that are cartoony (i.e. disney or most doodlebug), kawaii, country/farm, sporty, religious, eastery, babyish/childish (althoughtthere is some adorable vintage kids images out there I'm good with). I don't really make kids cards or baby cards. And I don't incoporate religious or holiday themes into my crafts or decor.

Non-junky "junk journal" supplies

Cool ephemera, vintage or otherwise, such as timecards and ledgers, book pages, plate images, music, playing cards with unique, interesting or pretty designs, old game pieces, play money, letter pieces (especially K, T, and/or &).

Ribbon, lace, fibers/cord for journals, cards, and tags.

Embellishments (vintage, vintage-inspired, sparkly/glitzy, other). Metal-based embellishments in any finish. Brads totally acceptable. Handmade, awesome. Not really into bottle caps.

Metal or sparkly buttons.

Washi tape or stickers (preferably florals or unique/interesting washi designs since I do have a lot of the ordinary washi prints. Etsy wishlist has some ideas).

Bookbinding twine, fabric, or paper.

Metal charms, unique beads, or cool buttons, especially those that have a sparkly style or vintage style. I also like brooches, clips, pins, etc that also make for good embellishments.

Decorative clips, pins, paperclips (i.e. decorative binder clips, Tim Holtz style clips, etc.). I have plenty of basic silver and gold paperclips and plain binder clips.

Samples of assorted jewelry findings for experimenting. I want to try making embellished stick pins!

Small fabric pieces (think usable scraps) suited to my style above. I have very little fabric and sometimes just want a piece for an embellishment. Small-scale prints preferred, but not required.

Die cuts and paper doilies (pretty colors or patterns especially).

Cool magazines or magazine images. Vintage fashion, or somerset, flow, daphne's diary are my favs. I don't care how old. I have plenty of recent fashion mags.

Quirky collage images.

Vintage inspired collage napkins or tissues. Preferably something other than holiday, seasonal, birthday, childish, country, or oceanic (or anything else from my dislikes for that matter). I would prefer uplifting quotes, vintage style collages with birds or butterflies type designs.

Pretty, cool, fun and/or interesting postcards (unused preferred, but not necessary).

Books or book pages (meaningful text, foreign text, non-religious sheet music, beautiful illustrations/sketches, nostalgic illustrations, and/or inspiring words/quotes for example).

Return address labels for me and/or happy mail stickers.

Stationary paper (personalized or not, samples okay)

Pretty envelopes (handmade or not).

Flipbooks, flipbags, pocket letters, shaker tags, stuff like that.

Cactus/ succulents stickers/washi

Words and upliftimg quotes (paper, die cut, book page, stickers, wood veneer, acetate, handwritten, etc).

And last but certainly not least, handmade things! Your craft/artwork is sure to impress and inspire me. Cards, tags, prints, papers, mail art, handwritten letters etc are all so very appreciated.

These are things I don't really care for and/or wouldn't use so I'd prefer if you not send if you can avoid it:

Plaid, country, farming, childish/cutesy, baby, eastery, religious, and sporty styles of anything.

Primary colors together that look too classroomy.

Pastels together that look babyish or eastery.

Any seasonal or holiday themes. Honestly, I really just don't decorate or craft in these styles.

Childish, cutesy, or holiday prints/patterns on papers, ribbon, etc.

Sci-fi/fantasy, comics, anime, disney, harry potter, etc..

Religious, spiritual, or occult-related items, witchcraft, tarot, etc...

Dollar store items. I really don't mean to be a snob here, but they just aren't the same quality and they're not worth paying the shipping to send it to me. I enjoy a good deal as much as the next person, but I definitely prefer quality over quantity and I am super selective about what I buy/use from there. Please, no offense.

Traditional yarn. I dont like the fuzz or texture of basic yarn. I have found linen yarn that is more like a thick twine which I love, and I've seen some ribbony yarn that would be so fun to use for packaging. If you've got something you think I might like with that in mind, I welcome a sample. I'm learning my way and could use it to wrap a package, on a tag or possibly an embellishment. Doesnt hurt.

Getting glitter/confetti everywhere, either from a craft where glitter sheds or from being loose in an envelope. Otherwise, I love glitter paper, shaker cards and the like.

Most things that have a strong smell. I just have a sensitive nose. So please try to avoid sending strongly aromatic items, whether they be perfumy, musty, or smoky. The exception here is with minty, lemon, and cinnamon type smells and teas.

Makeup, perfumes, or body products. I'm particular about what products I use. That said, if you like them, I'm open to sending per your preferences.

The desert sun in Phoenix is brutal (it can reach upwards of 118F degrees) so it's something to be mindful of, especially from April/May through September.

Thanks for taking these preferences into consideration. It's just information that is meant to help you get to know me. Hopefully attaching my Etsy wishlist will help with that too.