elmi

6 July 2009: I am so sorry for disappearing for the past 2 weeks, but my life was turned upside down and I've only been back since yesterday... I am slightly behind on swaps, but I promise I will send out all due swaps - I will never flake on anyone, that is not my style. Things have changed a bit for me, so I'll be scaling down on swaps in the future.

Although I'm a Graphic Designer by trade (Flash-based interactive learning content), at heart I'm really a paper crafter/card maker, although I only get time to craft late at night. I really love stamping, I adore my Cricut, and I am totally addicted to designer papers & scrapbook tools. I am a born-again Christian, I am happily married to an amazing man, and I love my cat :-)

I live in sunny South Africa where we don't have white Christmasses, and we do have the Big 5. I speak 2 languages (English & Afrikaans), and I think South Africa is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

I've always been a creative computer geek, so I started scrapbooking 6 years ago to force my creativity 'outside the [computer] box'. That rekindled the love I've always had for stamps & paper, and I quickly switched to card making & paper crafts. I am what I call a "careful crafter" (not to be confused with perfectionist, LOL!), because it can take me many hours to finish a simple card! But since this is my creative outlet, I'm happy to just go with the flow and make sure that I am proud of the results.

The rest of my spare time goes into my Mac (manipulating photos and surfing blogs), and reading paper craft or scrapbook magazine.

I love reading, especially Christian non-fiction, and also like a good movie now and then. I prefer crafting over watching TV, but when I do I only watch TV series - CSI, Criminal Minds, Bones, MacGuyver (that guy rocks!!), M•A•S•H, Life, Numbers, Veronica Mars. I also love music and tend to stick to the rock/alternative/contemporary genres. We got an XBox 360 last year, and I just LOVE playing RockBand2 or GuitarHero: World Tour with my husband or on XboxLive! I also enjoy playing Prince of Persia now and then.

But most of my time is spent with my husband, who is my biggest "hobby" :-)

• My current favourate colours are earthy, subtle colours, like olive green, burgundy, faded blue, burnt marmalade, vintage browns & creams, and the combos lime green+dark brown, dark teal+turquoise+dark brown, and metallics+black. I don't like pastels and typical 'baby colours' (like soft pinks), nor bright primaries -- except where they work well with other colours I do like :)

• I don't have a "favourate" style, but I do tend to like vintage, shabby chick, distressed/weathered, lots of details (collage etc.), as well as clean and simple, stylish, elegant.

• I love learning about new places & cultures, and like to trade postcards with people from all over the world. Just PM me if you'd like to swap.

• I like receiving letters in the post.

• I love nature - macro photography of fauna/flora, sunsets, the ocean, wild animals (my favourate is a leopard), dogs and cats, butterflies, dragonflies, daisies, sunflowers, cosmos, space photography, etc.

• I love watching people, and just enjoy the general everyday complexity of the human existence. I'm a casual student of human nature and quotes about people, wisdom, or life in general is always high on my list.

• I like words and language. I collect quotes, and read Jane Austen novels so I can expand my vocabulary.

• I LOVE Cafe Latte's!

• I like 'full cream' anything, and chocolate.

• Audio books. What a time saver!

• ATC sleeves. Can't buy them here.

• I collect postcards (store bought or quality handmade) and they don't have to be weathered. I like city views, multiviews, maps, cultural, heritage sites, nature, art (classical, masters), humourous, quotes, collage, etc. As long as it is tasteful (e.g. no crude humour or nudity), also no ad/punch out/free postcards (unless they're special).

• I also enjoy collecting the postage stamps that come with my mail (although I am not a serious stamp collector), so if you have to choose between using one stamp or many - use many!

• Souvenir-type items, like magnets, key chains, photos, postcards, insignia, maps - to name but a few.

• Any printed material (e.g. newspaper, magazine page) in a language other than English would be appreciated (used for collage).

• Handmade cards and ATCs.

• Bookmarks, magnets, mobiles.

• Scrapbooking products or tools, especially Creative Imaginations, Making Memories, Tim Holtz. I love metal embellishments, brads, alphabet letters, rub-ons, flourishes, LOVE flowers!, butterflies, dragonflies, see-through products, etc.

• Anything stationary, especially nice notebooks or notepads, quality card blanks.

• Anything Christian-themed (I'm not Roman Catholic, so please no saints!)

• Beautiful papers, especially designer scrapbook papers, or pretty handmade papers.

• Please put care and effort into what you make for me. I always mail out only my best effort and I'd like to get the same consideration. The good news is, if you put effort into something, it will show and I WILL like it!

• I'm not into fairies, dragons, and most fantasy-related stuff (except LOTR & Narnia)

• I have no use for anime, manga, kawaii etc.

• I love receiving handmade stuff, but if it's sloppy, unpolished, and obviously not thought through, I'll be very, very disappointed.

• Please don't send me stuff I can eat or drink, unless it is part of the swap requirements.

• I don't appreciate propaganda, whether it's political, religious, for some social cause, or whatever. The ONLY time it is acceptable is within a humorous or academic context. (PS: For Quotecard Postcard: I have no problem with quotes from religious leaders [like Gandhi or Dali Lama] that are not religious per se, in fact, those tend to be some of the most profound observations about life and I like that.)

• Please don't include sticker sheets as extras, especially Disney. I have no use for them.

• Strong smelling stuff like perfume or incense.

• I really hate the smell of old smoke, so please consider that if you're a smoker.

• I don't like ginger, almonds, liquorice or 80% dark chocolate (too bitter for me, I'm a sweet tooth). I also don't drink tea (except Rooibos).

• I don't like "scary", "horror", "guts and gore", stuff that's meant to shock and be sensational, exploitation of the female body, gossip, the labeling & judging of people, and "politics for politic's sake".

• I do NOT want stuff that's Halloween related: witches, wizards, werewolves, vampires, blood-sucking anything, gargoyles, ugly looking weird creatures, skulls and skeletons, ghosts, etc. - I find it unpropitious.

• Although I respect your right of expression, please don't use swear words when making things for me.

I know I said I'm a Christian, but I also know that most people I swap with are not, so please don't feel you have to act different around me, or try to send me religious stuff or what not. I am not easily offended, and I enjoy receiving diverse stuff that reflect the personality & experiences of the sender. As long as you steer clear of the items on my "Don't EVER send me" list, you're safe :-)

I pledge to always rate fairly, and ask the same in return. I will give a heart when someone has poured their heart into a package, and not necessarily for extras, and hope you feel the same way. I ALWAYS send out my swaps, usually on the deadline date. I'm a slow crafter, and it has happened in the past that I did not finish big handmade swaps before the deadline - but I always let my partner know, and always send it as soon as it's done. If that's a problem for you, let me know and I'll do my best to accommodate you. I can assure you that I always send out quality and you won't be disappointed!

I don't mind recycled packaging and envelopes; as long as everything arrives in one piece and undamaged, all's well :)

I will always try to resend stuff that go missing, but I also ask that you give it enough time to reach you. Up to date I have only lost one package in the mail (which I resent successfully), so hopefully it will stay that way!

If you ever have any issues or suggestions, or want to do private swaps for some 'local goodies', please PM me!