jannieb

Hi, I'm Janis from Texas. Yee Haw!

I have 26 year old twin boys and a 31 year old son who is developmentally delayed due to a rare chromosome disorder called "Ring 4". More information on this disorder can be found HERE

I have been married for 33 years. I was a military wife for 10 years. We lived on Ft. Huachuca in AZ: (Loved it!!). Ft. Eustis in Newport News, Virginia: (Liked it!) & Ft. Meade in Maryland: (Hated it!). He is a Veteran of the Gulf War & left 1 week after I found out I was pregnant with Grayson & came back 2 weeks after he was born. My twins were born at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

Grayson's Section

This is a pick of Grayson after we opened up some Tricky Cat blind bags & we got a rare one!

If you are sending me a swap & want to include something for Grayson, here are some ideas...

• He loves corny jokes. You can write them on the inside of the card or send a few on a sheet of paper.
• He enjoys getting $1 bills or as he calls them "tips" to save in his bank to go to movies & shows. He is saving up to go to the Power Morphicon this fall.
• He collects $2 bills & says they are his "Magic Money.” He collects them for good luck & never spends them. He keeps them in a lock box & is the only one with a key.
• He loves the Power Rangers
• He loves The Wiggles. Greg & Sam (the yellow wiggles are his favorite).
• Cats - the real thing & in general. He collects cat ATC's & has his own binder for the ATC's that you guys have sent him.
• Gum, Popcorn & sour worms.
• Everything makes him happy, so just getting a plain ol' PC or card in the mail makes him smile.

You can address cards to him at my address (PM me if you need it) or send it along with a swap.

Likes & Wishlist in no particular order

• I LOVE killer whales...all whales & dolphins really, but Orca, Narwhal, Sperm whales, & Beluga
• Bottlenose & Commerson's Dolphins are my favorites!!
• My #1 favorite thing to swap & receive is ATC's, Artist Trading Coins, Inchies & Twinchies too!
• An origami killer whale.
• A mosaic eggshell magnet or ATC
• Bright & happy suns
• The Mayor from The Nightmare Before Christmas. I love when he panics & rotates his head to reveal his frazzled, stressed out face!
• Zipper pouches.
• Edgar Allen Poe
• Animals dressed in hipster clothes.
• Mariachi Bands, Mexican art, & Day of the Dead
• I collect vintage postcards & photos from Miami Seaquarium, Sea World, Sea Land of the Pacific, Marineland & any other aquariums or destinations depicting whales/dolphins in aquariums.
• Good Luck anything - Pennies, coins, tokens, clovers, charms, pocket cards, etc.
• Numbers
• Worry stones
• Beaded rosary & other catholic items.
• • New & used dog/cat/animal rabies or registration tags & licenses as well as blanks.
• Wooden nickels, bottle caps.
• Keys (any type)

I LOVE tuck-in's. Here is a list of some of my favorites:

• Pieces of scrapbook paper...especially with polka dots,& numbers, but others are good too.
• Tissue paper or napkins for collage.
• Interesting papers like Gelli print scraps, paint, ink or splattered paper. Stained paper (like coffee stained.
• Die cut paper pieces: I am particularly looking for circles & bubbles similar to these.
• Die cut paper gears or metal type gears plus other metal ATC embellishments.
• Blank Library cards
• Numbers of any kind - paper, chipboard, metal, etc.
• Clocks - die cut pieces, dials, parts, etc.

Other stuff I like..

• I love funny chickens & roosters like Hei Hei from Moana, Foghorn Leghorn, Alan-A-Dale from Disney's Robin Hood. etc.
• Kliban Cat
• Cute avocados!
• Kelly Rae Roberts
• Thimblestump Hollow - Huskyshuffler is my favorite!
• Chris Ryniak art & vinyl figures.
• Joe Ledbetter art & vinyl figures.
• Mark Ryden art.
• Marion Peck art.

Animal Loves...

• Whales & dolphins as listed above
• Octopus
• All cats & dogs
• Chickens & roosters
• Betta fish & Goldfish
• Blue-Jay's, Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, Chickadee
• Black & White Cows, Spanish bulls (not the fighting part, just that type of bull)

• Improperly packaged items that get damaged during shipping
• Strong smell of cigarette smoke
• Nudes (not opposed to receiving one...just not what I would typically go for)
• Gore, or gross stuff like medical specimens & realistic horror.
• Monkeys & Chimps, (Apes are Ok)
• Animals donning circus gear :(
• Sea shells
• Spiders - YUCK!

Please do not send: These are things I do not need or have an excess of, so while I appreciate you sending them, please be aware that they might be shared with others, which will put a smile on someone else's face too.

• Journal or Planner items
• Foam /reward stickers
• Iron On's
• Jewelry
• Scented sachets or perfume.
• Books or Bookmarks (I do audiobooks)
• Gems, rhinestones, bling, GLITTER, spangles, confetti or sequins.
• Make up, or Bath & body stuff of any kind.
• Food or drink of any kind (no tea bags/drink or coffee packets please)

I am the founder of the Experienced ATC Swappers Group as well as the USA ATC Swap group.

I prefer hand drawn/painted ATC's. I also enjoy Collage ATC's that show good work and attention to detail and Mixed Media ATC's as well. If it's in your unique "style" then that's even better.

Besides my favorite animals & themes listed in my "likes/ wishlist" section above, I like...

• All Dog breeds - Faves are: Dachshunds, Pugs, Greyhound
• Cats (and my son Grayson collects cat ATC's)
• The Nightmare before Christmas background characters too like DR, Finkelstein, Bat Boy, Mummy Kid, Vampires, Clown with the tear away face, Witches & the Harlequin Monster.
• Edgar Allen Poe
• Backyard birds - especially Blue Jays, Tufted Tit Mouse & Chickadees.
• Mariachi Bands, the colors& style of Mexican art, & Day of the Dead.
• Beta fish, goldfish
• Octopus
• Animals dressed in hipster clothes.
• Lowbrow Art
• Zetti , Distress & Grunge.
• Houses: row houses or house shaped ATC's.
• Numbers
• People & animals - with big eyes. Odd, weird, surreal, quirky, puns, whimsical, cutesy, realistic, cutesy or fantastical.

Just because it's not listed here doesn't mean I don't like it or want it. I am open to any & all topics & themes.

I use a LOT of tape on my envelopes, so please have some scissors ready if you're expecting a swap from me.

I swap USA only due to postage costs, wait times & reliability. I will however, swap with Canada on an individual basis.

I ALWAYS send, I ALWAYS rate, & I will ALWAYS let you know.If something is going to be late. I will angel any of my swaps.

**Feel free to use any of my past swap ideas, wording, or pictures to host your own swap or to start an International version of a swap I am currently hosting. No need to ask. We are all here to express our creativity & meet others who enjoy our interests, so if helping others achieve that I am happy to help.

I welcome any FRIENDLY guidance, advice or reminders. I enjoy constructive criticism… not being blasted in the public forums, so please contact me first. I am always willing to talk it out.