OwlAntler

Detailed info about my 1 and 3 ratings at the bottom....please read before dropping me from a swap.

I am a musical and crafty mother of a very busy and sweet preschooler and just had a baby (our second) on April 3rd. I am a handmade junkie and cherish handmade items. I am also a full time student. I taught preschool until our first child/mydaughter was born and decided to retrain once she was 2 and ready for social time away from home (hooray for daycare on campus!).

I like "dark" or odd vintage or Victorian themes, all kinds of circus and steam punk themes and deep, dark, bold, rich/opulent colours. My favourite colours are deep, dark, and solid red or purple and deep earthy colours like deep browns, greens, dark oranges and dark autumn leaf shades. I enjoy crafting with any colour though.

INTERESTS

My most enjoyed crafts these days are card, atc and any kind of paper crafting. I make art usually on found or "re-purposed" wood or recycled cardboard with paper, paint, and found items, like old metal things, gears and clock pieces, strange buttons and fabrics. I try to incorporate a lot of old images or bits of fancy paper and vintage, Victorian, and circus photography or images into both the paper crafting and art along with previously destroyed or worn book pages and images from these books.

I wish I could sew everyday though I rarely get the chance to these days. I have a million spare scraps, lovely fabrics and old clothes that need to be used or "up-cycled".

When I have a big chunk of time, I try to sew, crochet or screen print if I don't have a big paper craft on the go. If I join a handmade swap, you can most likely expect something I have sewn, crocheted or screen printed, along with a paper craft like a card, atc or bookmark.

I have recently gotten addicted to using stamps in my cards and atcs. My faves are vintage looking, or nature themed stamps and all kinds of large background making stamps. Of course anything steam punk goes.

I also love taking pictures, and I enjoy letters and keep in touch with many penfriends.

I recycle and reuse items as much as possible. You may get something (like a wrist cuff) that I have made out of a skirt I have worn out (and probably handmade to begin with), and I try to keep most things out of our landfills by "re-purposing" or "up-cycling" it somehow. May I request everyone reuse their envelopes as many times as you can or try to incorporate them into your crafts? Yes? Awesome!

If you are sending me a profile swap, please don't just send paper. I do love paper and I know it's cheaper to send, but mix it up a bit! Send some awesome paper and something else...especially if the requirements are for more than one item. I host paper swaps all the time and get a lot of paper. I join profile swaps to swap other things as well....here are some ideas.

ANYTHING YOU HAVE HANDMADE. Some ideas could be: wrist cuffs, tote bags, hair accessories/mini clip hats/feather clips, steam punk block art, crocheted/knitted cuffs, legwarmers, hats........this list could go on forever. I cherish things that are handmade.

Card making/scrap booking/atc supplies (excluding plain card or blank cards... i have plenty)

Anything in themes of circus, steampunk, Victorian/Edwardian, or bohemia/"gypsy"

Clock pieces- either actual pieces or images, stickers or rub ons of any kind of time piece- or anything steam punk-ish really

rub-ons, stickers or craft/scrapbooking paper with the following themes: Victorian/Edwardian, circus, steam punk, "vintage", insects, forest creatures, stripes, polka dots, stars, skulls, mushrooms, transportation vehicles (especially trains), bugs/insects/things with wings (I love beetles), and sea creatures (like octopus, squid etc...).

Fabric scraps, nothing too feminine and no floral patterns please....same themes as I mentioned above.

fancy lace, odd ribbons, or scrap booking/card making/atc embellishments and brads of all kinds.

Nice writing paper - Kawaii, steam punk, vintage, or odd/strange writing paper is the most pleasing to write on.

circus, steam punk, or "vintage" themes of anything- especially paper, fabric or hair accessories.

Huge buttons (the bigger the better!) for my crocheted wrist cuffs. I like coloured buttons of all sizes and different shapes.

fabric scraps/swatches - especially with "things with wings" or insects, transportation vehicles (especially trains) or odd images.... also any plain coloured fabric or leather ,long enough to wrap around a large wrist- for a fabric wrist cuff or so I can make a little scented pillow.

Fancy feathers or any kind of feather hair accessory or feathered jewelry - browns/reds

wrist cuffs! I love wrist cuffs! Especially if you made it! I will always be interested in a cuff swap. Please let me know if you see any or want to do a private cuff swap :)

Strange socks especially knee highs.

Broaches or weird jewelry you found in second hands (especially bugs, octopus or sea creatures and forest animals like foxes or owls)

Again, ANYTHING HANDMADE. I am very fond of handicrafts and handmade gifts.

My daughter is three!

She is starting to really enjoy crafting with me. Sending her something for a swap is encouraged as well. I'm still learning who she is, but so far this is what I've learned....

She likes - animals, particularly pandas, penguins, dalmatians, frogs, foxes, insects and bugs, Hello Kitty, Winnie the Pooh (especially piglet), anything Thomas the Tank Engine or SCOOBY DOO!

Stickers, "handy dandy notebooks" (she likes to write in her special books while I write letters), fun pens, animal writing paper, and old books.

If you can find scooby doo stickers or little scooby- doo notebooks, my daughter would be so happy, which would make me very happy too.

PLEASE NO - Disney (other than pooh bear or scooby), Princess style plastic accessory stuff, anything scented or makeup product for kids. Thank you.

I am sorry this list is so long but it will hopefully save me from being dissapointed.

-overly girly pink or princess items, no pastel colours and nothing pink. Please!!

-no flower paper or embellishments. I do not craft with flower images

-NO DISNEY or movie character anything. Especially stickers. PLEASE!

-NO POSTCARDS or cards please unless they are previous to the 1940s or have a vintage picture I could use in my cards on the front. Unless it is handmade by you, I am not interested in recieving any postcards or cards.

-no used postage stamps.

-no toe socks, animal prints, pens or pencils.

-No holiday cards or holiday themes..especially Christmas.

-For paper swaps, please don't send magazine clippings, plain card, or bookmarks. They will just go into my recycling box and it's dissapointing.

-I beg you! NO more foam! I don't mean to be rude, but everyone is sending me these strange foam shapes. I don't use these for my crafts and my daughter has more than any kid needs now. She doesn't really use them either! sorry and thanks.

-I don't need envelopes of any size. They are being used for filler in paper swaps. Not worth the swap to send off lots of nice papers and get a bunch of envelopes in return.

-Postal labels and airmail stickers? No thanks.

I have six 3 ratings. 4 of these ratings were from Autumn 2011. I joined more swaps than I could manage. I had gone back to school to retrain with a baby at home and I just got overwhelmed as I continued to join as many swaps as I did before school and kids. I sent all of my swaps, but because I was up to 10 days late on getting them out, understandably, many people gave me a three even with the extra's I included and an apology note with an explanation. Lesson learned. I am managing my time much better these days now that I have gotten the hang of juggling everything.

One of the threes was just unlucky. She received the first swap and rated me a 1 because she hated everything I sent her and then after receiving a makeup package, rated a 3 because I apparently sent a scented item which she claims she was allergic to. I'm sure I didn't send anything scented and she told me she wouldn't rate a 5 unless I sent a third package!!!

I just recently got another three. It was for an online questionnaire swap, which I enjoy doing to avoid homework ;) I didn't read all the questions before the swappers were assigned and one question asked to draw a picture, upload it and send it. I can't figure that out. I'm not computer savvy and didn't include a picture. The swap was sent on time, and the other 4 people rated a 5 without the picture, but one lady gave me a 3. Harumph!

I cannot make up the two 1's I have because these people are not on swap-bot anymore. I will have to live with them!

Please contact me about these two 1's. These were from 2008 on my "original member" account. I did send both swaps and they were both sent on time........

THANKS FOR READING. Happy Swapping!