marooter

I am a 'sometimes' crafter who longs to be an 'every day' crafter, and joining swaps will push me to putter around in my craft room more often! (Or, as my husband lovingly refers to it, my 'crap room'!)

I love creating collages, mail art (collaged postcards and envelopes), tags, ATCs, twinchies, inchies, greeting cards, scrapbooks (honestly? haven't done either of those in ages, except as a last-minute giftie), I'd like to try minizines, mini books, smashbooks, junk journals, altered books, pocket letters...anything to do with gluing stuff to stuff! I also have a box of stuff that I add to all the time to eventually put together "flow" books (if you don't know what this is, look for Rosemary Morris on YouTube) One of my favorite things to do is make collaged postcards and master boards to cut up into postcards.

I have soooo much stuff (okay, I'm a borderline hoarder!), but I have trouble getting around to making anything with it. It seems like I spend more time reorganizing my craft room than actually crafting!

I love exploring other swappers' profiles, being inspired by their Flickr photos, and discovering new swaps and groups by looking at the swaps they are in.

I love the idea of things from 'my house' being sent to some far-off place, and receiving something from faraway. Its addicting finding non-bills or ads in the mailbox!

I love Jesus (but I'm not judge-y or preachy), I am the wife of a wonderful hubby who is a talented finish carpenter and loves to cook (he is currently developing a line of dry rubs) and Mom to an awesome 18(!)-year-old boy who loves video games, skateboarding and street fashion and who's dream is to go to FIDM. I am also mommy to a big, sweet baby girl, a black European Great Dane named Bella. She was born 2/28/15 and she's huge but she thinks she's a lap dog. She is my cutie-patootie-sweetie pie!

I watch a lot of papercrafting videos on youtube (Tammy Brackett, Rosemary Morris, Shannon Green, Diane H., Nik the Booksmith, Margerete Miller, I'm a Cool Mom to name a few). I love 'treasure hunting' at garage sales and thrift stores, where I would rather find treasures from than at Michael's or Craft Warehouse (don't get me wrong, though - I love craft stores, its just that its overwhelming sometimes!) though this is where my "hoarding" problem comes in. I collect stuff, but don't want to let it go because I love it so much! I do have a (neglected) Etsy shop, and my sister and I have been selling at the "Northwest's Largest Garage and Vintage Sale" a few times a year at the Clark County Fairgrounds and monthly at the "Twilight Rummage Sale" sale at the Eagles Lodge on 49th and Hawthorne in Portland. "It's an Indoor Swap Meet with a Full Bar". If you're in the area, you need to go! Its super cool and fun! (You can find both of these on Facebook)

I LOVE VINTAGE EPHEMERA (and I have tons of it!) Office supplies/papers/ledgers, magazines, book pages, music sheets, photographs, handwritten letters, lists or recipes, wrapping paper, maps, tickets, postage stamps, game pieces, old keys, etc. I love old scraps and bits and pieces! I also collect little bits to use in craft projects - cute fabric bits, ribbon, lace, pretty papers, stickers, buttons, little craft kits like cardmaking, scrapbook page, atc kits (not necessarily store-bought - I'd love for you to use things in your stash to put one together for me!), handmade things, rusty metal bits, miniatures, foreign stamps, fortune cookie fortunes, little trinkets or charms, clothespins, stickers, things from foreign countries, especially Japan (I spent some time there about 30 years ago), anything Mary Engelbreit (I have saved years of wall calendars, desk calendars and page-a-day calendars!). I also collect vintage Christmas items, especially glass balls (and other shapes) and the boxes they come in, sparkly little putz houses, kitschy figurines (I have a few Santas, angels and choir boys), stuffed felt ornaments with sequins, vintage Christmas cards and wrapping paper.

If you've made a postcard, ATC, etc for me, I would love for you to tell me a little about your technique/items used/favorite adhesive, etc. I see so many cool textures and finishes, but have no idea how to achieve them!

I like to find and use greeting cards and postcards from goodwill/thrift stores so I hope you don't mind receiving a card that may be 'semi-vintage' (not quite old enough to be truly vintage and therefore truly cool, but still cute, lol!) Or even truly vintage (20+ years or older)

I am not really a "letter-writer" and I don't sign up for "pen-pal" type swaps. If you receive a swap from me that requires a note card or greeting card, please don't be disappointed if I only write a quick greeting.

I am a 'Cheapie McThrifterson', so anything free or re-gifted or re-swapped or from your house or from the dollar store/thrift store/garage sale is great! (As long as it's not dirty or smelly, lol) ...Like I said I'm not too picky, just surprise me! (o;

Christian theme items are totally acceptable.

I'm not much of a tea drinker. I love Starbucks Via packets. And candy! (-:

As smoke-free as possible please and no horror, vampire, witch, gory, occult, nude or profane items.

IDEAS FOR STOCKING STUFFERS TOO (-; ** Vintage postage stamps (especially unused) ** Vintage photos ** Vintage postcards (blank or not) ** Vintage ephemera ** Vintage playing cards ** Non-vintage unused postage stamps ** Handmade items like: a mini-zine, mini book, ATC, postcard, pocket letter, ornament, pin, plushie, etc. ** Etsy favorite ** Gift cards - Starbucks, Dollar Tree, Target, Goodwill, Michael's, Amazon, Etsy to name a few ** Fun & funky crew socks

MAGAZINES: ** Back issues of any Somerset, Green Craft or Flow magazines. ** Back issues of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine: Premier issue 1996; Feb/Mar 2003; Apr/May 1997; Jun/Jul 2006; Dec/Jan 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005 ** Recent back issues of GQ magazine (for my son)