ArtyBeth3

Updated February 4, 2012.

I’m Beth from Oregon, USA. I can't claim native status though - I was born in Massachusetts and lived in New Hampshire before moving here.

I’m happily married to Mark. It’s just the two of us (no kids). We are both Christians and love Jesus!

Excitement for the day - we picked up a cat from the local shelter! We had been wanting one for a long time and today was the day we found the one for us. She is a 5 yr old domestic short hair and her coloring is gray & tortoise. She's a very small cat, only 6lbs. When we walked in to look at the cats, she looked right at us and when we put our fingers to her cage, she "head butted them," and I think it was love at first sight! We took her home and she walked around and checked out our house and then promptly went into our bedroom and hid under the bed. When we go in there, she comes out and is very friendly, but then she wanders and hides again. They say it takes awhile before they get relaxed and comfortable in their new surroundings.

Some of our combined hobbies are: square dancing, rock-hounding (looking for rocks & minerals) on the beach and out “in the middle of nowhere”), and riding our bicycles.

Some random things that make me happy:

• A day in which I have received happy mail!
• Song birds singing their sweet songs.
• Meeting other Christians who enjoy my love of paper arts.
• Cats (meow!)

I like to cook & bake. These days, we’re trying to be healthier by eating less processed foods.

I enjoy putting swap packages together to make my partners smile. Even though a swap says "sender's choice," I always take the time to look at my partner(s) profiles to try and send something they will like and use.

*Want to know what would make me super happy? Send your swap in an envelope that you have decorated in some way. It really doesn't take much to add a few colored swirls or squiggles, color a rainbow, add some stickers, use rubber stamp, make it out of pretty scrapbook paper…to make it go from a boring white envelope to a bright, happy one!

Please also remember to include your swap-bot name and swap name, so I can rate you easily.

Lastly, both my husband and I are nonsmokers. If you are swapping with me and are a smoker, please try to keep the odor as low as possible.

I LOVE paper crafting – probably because I love paper (there are so many colors & textures out there)! I enjoy making cards, envelopes, mini zines, and mail art. I've been a rubber-stamper for over 10 years. I do a bit of collage too.

FAVORITE THEMES: song birds, whimsical owls/birds, butterflies, cats, flowers, tea

FAVORITE COLORS: It's hard to pick, but at the moment I would say that I'm drawn to combinations of green, blue, pink & brown.

MY FAVORITE TEA: I drink mostly green and white, but I do like some herbal varieties (although not teas that brew up red in color - see more in my dislikes section below), and also some black tea if it's mixed with fruit, like mango. I prefer flavored tea rather than plain. Some I especially like are jasmine, fig, pear, mango, peach, apricot, genmaicha, lavender, and vanilla. Perhaps you’ll introduce me to other delicious combinations.

These are some specific brands/flavors I’ve tried and like:

• Good Earth: mango, peach & pineapple green tea
• Irving: Fig & pear white tea
• Teakanne: Gruner Tee - Fig
• London Tea Co: Organic white tea, elderflower & apricot
• Bentley: Passion fruit & papaya
• Benner: Winter Spice (herbal)
• Archer Farms (from Target): Jasmine
• Celestial Seasonings: Honey Vanilla Chamomile
• Bigelow: Eggnogg'n

I also enjoy loose tea and would be happy to receive it.

TEA I DO NOT LIKE: I apologize for my rather long list, but after swapping tea the last two years, it has given me a chance to try a lot of tea.

• Herbal teas that brew up red in color; they are too tangy for me (this includes: pomegranate, cranberry, acai berry, & raspberry…)
• Rooibos
• African honeybush/red tea
• Black tea
• Ceylon
• Earl Grey, English/Irish Breakfast
• Darjeeling
• Orange Spice
• Mint
• Licorice
• Anything decaffeinated
• Plain chamomile (it’s ok if it’s an ingredient)
• Plain lemon (it’s ok if it’s an ingredient)
• Stash brand tea

WISH LIST

• Pritt-brand glue sticks – I'm getting low and these are my favorite glue sticks for making envelopes.
• Pritt-brand glue sticks – I'm getting low and these are my favorite glue sticks for making envelopes.
• Did I mention that I am looking for Pritt glue sticks (smile!) If you would like to do a private swap, please PM me.
• MAIL ART SUPPLIES: return address labels, adhesive designer mailing labels, unused vintage postage, handmade decorative envelopes, washi/deco tape, mail/postage themed stickers, colored writing utensils…
• NOTE CARDS: song birds, whimsical owls/birds, butterflies, dragonflies, cats, flowers, Christian, inspirational, scenery (oceans, mountains, etc.), and tea related.
• TEA RELATED ITEMS: tea (bagged or loose), tea stationary, tea stickers, tea rubber stamps.
• OTHER BEVERAGES: Starbucks new blonde roast coffee (Veranda Via coffee packets); Starbucks Via packets (vanilla or caramel) including their iced tea packets in these same flavors; even their gift cards, hot chocolate (plain, not flavored)...
• SPECIALTY FOODS from where you live (biscotti, snack bars, chocolate (milk, dark, or white - plain or filled with caramel, strawberry, raspberry, blueberry or other berries), toffee, dried fruit (any except pineapple), and other fun food treats you think I might like. [I do not have any food allergies that I know of.]
• RECIPES: healthy & low fat are preferred. It would be great if you could write or type them onto 4x6 sized cards. I would like to receive recipes for casseroles, crock pot meals, side dishes, desserts, quick breads – would love recipes you've tried and like. Main ingredients could include: fruits & vegetables, chicken, beef, pork, fish beans/lentils... The only food I can say without a doubt that I do not like is LIVER (ugh) - I won't even let my husband cook it in the house! (LOL) Blank recipe cards are always appreciated too.

I’m pretty easy to please - SURPRISE ME (Think practical/usable, NOT things that collect dust.)

Plain, undecorated mailing envelopes, smoke or musty smelling items, silver and neon colored paper, lemon, lime, or licorice flavors (also see tea dislikes in tea section), hot spicy foods, perfume, make-up, lip balm, or bath products, animal prints, cutesy themed items (Disney, Kawaii, Hello Kitty, cartoons), horoscopes, tarot cards or anything that is dark or evil, St. Patrick's Day or Halloween items, Santa Claus/Elf items, Oriental themed items, eyelets, beads or yarn, Dotees or friendship books, Dollar Store (or similar) socks - they don't fit!, knick knacks; they collect dust and I hate to dust!