grimmlynn

I spend my days at home, looking after a houseful of animals and enjoying every minute of it. My husband, Ben is a very good help when it comes to taking care of the animals, too.

The animals that let me live with them:

• 3 cats (Chaucer, Poe and Mini)
• 5 aquariums (Cichlids, Tropical Aggressive and Bettas [they all have names, but I won't waste your time])
• 1 uromastyx (Sir Robin)

I am not extremely organized when it comes to my crafting supplies (or anything else), so you can always find 'fun piles' of random items around my living room.

I like to dance around my living room and sing musicals instead of doing boring, drab housework.

Generally, I have a good attitude. Don't be mistaken, though: I am a pessimist. Also, I have a negative outlook when it comes to most things. That doesn't mean I can't be cheerful about it.

My sense of humor is a bit odd, a bit dark, a lot sarcastic and mostly bizarre. The strangest things can sometimes make me laugh and many times it can be very inappropriate.

I don't care for drama and all the snippy remarks and hurtful comments that seem to come along with it.

I am usually up at all hours of the night since I don't sleep too well. Naps are a great thing! My most productive crafting generally occurs around 3 or 4 in the morning.

I love paper crafts! I am fighting my addiction to inchies and have decided to take a break for a while, but I still have TONS of inchie blanks and backgrounds if someone needs them.

I recently discovered matchboxes and have fallen in love with them!

I also enjoy candle and soap making.

I am somewhat new to dotee dolls, but am loving the ones I have made so far. I use polymer clay faces on mine, though, since I have yet to figure out how to cut a circle from felt. Whenever I try for a circle shape, it always winds up looking like a ninja throwing star.

I enjoy making jewelry. I like all different mediums for this, but I have come to especially love using game pieces or chunky plastic pieces.

I recently made a few ATCs and while I don't see myself collecting them or making tons of them, I think an occasional one will suit me just fine.

I like to play with clay...polymer clay, that is.

I love altering things I find at the thrift store, too. It doesn't matter what it is as long as I can decorate it or turn it into something else. :)

Collage used to be one of my major weaknesses, but I haven't done anything recently. I think I need to find some motivation for it because I collect papers and ephemera and have tons of possibilities.

Too much television can rot your mind.

I rot my mind to:

House
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Psych
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
NCIS

I love the following British sitcoms:

• Black Adder
• Absolutely Fabulous
• Are You Being Served?
• Monty Python's Flying Circus
• The Mighty Boosh

I love all books! Between Ben and myself we have managed to fill up countless numbers of bookshelves and can only dread the day when we might move.

I especially enjoy craft books from any year and concerning any category. I also like to read about things concerning the paranormal and aliens. I also love poetry books.
Ben likes to read history books and other educational material.

The Ninth Gate, Anything Monty Python, Benny and Joon, Thirteen Ghosts and basically any horror movie, cheesy or not. I also enjoy movies like the Anaconda series, Snakes on a Plane, King Kong, etc. so not a lot of chick flicks find their way to my DVD player. Also, I can't have a favorite movie section without mentioning MST3K...or Mystery Science Theatre 3000!

Musicals are something I couldn't live without! Sweeney Todd, Cabaret, Avenue Q, Cats, Wicked and Oklahoma are just some of my favorites.

I listen to things besides musicals, too. I like relaxing, soothing music with no words a great deal. I enjoy Celtic music and jazz.

I like more mainstream type music, too. Green Day, Counting Crows and Lady Sovereign just to name a few.

SWAPPING

I love the idea of putting together parcels for other people. I'm not a flake when it comes to sending my packages or anything like that. I will be on time and schedule permitting, I will send early.

RATINGS

Before you rate me negatively, send me a message and I will make things right! Also, don't worry about not getting rated. I will rate you because I feel like if you have taken the time to ship me an item or e-mail me a survey, etc. , you deserve to have your time spent rewarded. I might overlook it from time to time, so if I do, just PM me and I will rate right away!

AS A HOST:

When I host swaps, I will do my very best to ensure that no flakers participate. However, if that does happen, I will angel or find another kind soul who will. The flaker will then be banned from any of my future swaps. No one likes to be flaked on at all! It is not fun and not fair to all the good swappers out there! Also, if you are participating in one of my swaps and you notice a known flaker has signed up, let me know!

PACKAGING:

I do reuse packaging, so please don't be alarmed if you receive a swap or tag from me and it looks as though it has been used several times before...it probably has! Reusing packaging is a great way to save money and time (no running to the store at the last minute for a padded envie), but most importantly it helps keep less in the landfill. Also, I generally use a lot of tape to ensure it arrives intact to its destination. I am not a neat taper by any means, so I am just putting that apology out in the open. :D

HEARTS

I give out hearts if the swap is nice, well-made and thought out, so you don't have to send extras in order to ensure a heart.

SWAPS I JOIN

There are so many good swaps out there that I would dearly love to participate in, but I have standards about the swaps and these are my 2 biggest pet peeves that keep me from joining.

Mandatory Hearts

I don't join swaps if it mandates I give a heart for whatever reason (extras, etc).. Not only it is against the rules, it is also rude. If I was able to read in the FAQs about ratings and hearts, I should expect the same from a host.

Rating Requirements

If you can't meet your own requirements for the swap you are hosting, do you really expect me to join? As a host with a late swap or unfair rating, it would seem that you might be more understanding about the fact that life happens and not hold others to a different standard?

Things I like:

• My Animals
• My Hubby
• Zombie anything
• Earrings...all types
• Bats (the animal)
• Fingerless gloves
• Anything from or inspired by My Etsy Favorites
• Hoodies
• Strawberries
• Gothic-like crafts
• Daisies
• Dinosaurs
• Metal Charms
• Skeletons
• Beads
• Plastic Charms
• Buttons
• Kawaii anything
• Robots
• Journaling
• Hugh Laurie
• Anyone who wants to teach me to sew
• The colors grey, pink and orange
• Skull and Crossbones
• Genuinely nice people
• Paper crafts
• When my cats don't drag off my craft supplies
• Watermelon
• Letter sets
• Ultra fine sharpies
• Musicals
• Game pieces
• Being motivated
• Matchboxes
• Sweeney Todd
• Mrs. Lovett
• Incense (Sage and White Sage are my favorite)
• Ladybugs
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Rainbow Brite
• Care Bears
• Scratch off lottery tickets
• Hugs
• Reusing packaging
• Overcast days
• Feeling appreciated
• Totes of any kind
• Halloween (any time of year)
• Owl stuffies
• Stuffed Animals
• Autumn
• Bubblegum (all flavors)
• Zoos
• Aquariums
• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Quarter machine prizes
• The Corpse Bride
• Anything to do with Pirates
• Anything you have made by hand with time and effort
• Midnight
• Reptiles
• Novelty tins
• Cheshire Cat
• The Mad Hatter
• Graveyards
• Going to thrift stores
• Foreign Coins (for my hubby)
• Reversible Purses...they are too cute!
• Rain
• Gel pens
• Random envies
• Grape jelly
• Jolly Rancher Candies (all flavors)
• Candies from other countries
• Sleeping late
• Anything from or inspired by: My wists

Craft Supplies I Use the Most:

• Ephemera
• Glue sticks
• Paper
• Clay molds
• Sharpies

Things I don't care for:

• People who are mean for no reason
• Clowns (jesters and harlequins are okay)
• Too much TV
• Meat
• Coconuts
• Pecans
• Sunburns
• Religious stuff (any religion)
• Mint flavors