marooter

I am a 'sometimes' crafter who longs to be an 'every day' crafter, and joining swaps will push me to putter around in my craft room more often! (Or, as my husband lovingly refers to it, my 'crap room'!)

I dream of creating greeting cards, scrapbook pages(honestly? haven't done either of these in ages, except as a last-minute giftie), mailart, postcards, collages, tags, ATCs, twinchies, inchies, I'd like to try minizines and smashbooks...anything to do with gluing stuff to stuff! I am fascinated with 'altered' books and items, too.

I have a ton of crap, but I have trouble getting around to making anything with it. I'd rather get an envelope full of random stuff in a swap and use it to 'smashup' a postcard, atc or envelope.

I enjoy 'knitting' with my Knifty Knitter, its so relaxing and I can do it anywhere! One of my goals this year is to make a bunch of hats and scarves for Operation Gratitude.

Every once in awhile I will do a needlepoint or cross stitch project (love the mini ones by Mary Engelbreit). I also want to relearn crochet.

I could fritter away hours exploring other swappers' profiles, being inspired by their Flickr photos, and discovering new swaps and groups by looking at the swaps they are in.

I love the idea of things from 'my house' being sent to some far-off place, and receiving something from faraway. Its addicting finding non-bills or ads in the mailbox!

I love Jesus, I am the wife of a wonderful loving guy, Mom to an awesome 12-year-old boy, as well as a big blue Great Dane named Gretchen and a crazy little tailless kitty named Tooter who terrorizes poor Gretchen! (Feb. '13 update: I'm afraid Tooter is coming into her last days. She's getting very skinny and doesn't have as much energy as she used to. We've had her since we were married 14 1/2 years ago. )-: )

I spend a lot of time 'lurking' around crafting blogs(especially ones that feature thrifted/vintage goodies), websites(a few faves are Gauche Alchemy and Heidi Swapp) and Flickr(especially Swapbot pics!), I love browsing through Somerset magazines; I loved Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion and was so sad to see it end (I have saved every issue, although I'm missing a few). I have an email file folder filled with a bazillion craft project tutorials that I'll get around to 'someday'! I love 'treasure hunting' at garage sales and thrift stores, where I would rather find treasures from than at Michael's or Craft Warehouse (don't get me wrong, though - I love craft stores, its just that its overwhelming sometimes!)

Jan. 2012 - My latest 'vintage adventure' was when my sister and I went to a local semi-annual sale called 'Portland's Largest Garage Sale' at the Expo Center. We love 'picking' together! I found a box of old papers, cards, letters, newspaper clippings, etc. and when I finally got around to sorting it out (I just LOVE doing that!) I found a series of letters from the 1960s from a young lady traveling in Europe written to her parents. It was like reading a novel! I know that's weird, but I just love that kind of stuff! (o;

I love vintage ephemera: office supplies/papers/ledgers, magazines, books(and just the pages too!), music sheets, photographs, handwritten letters, lists or recipes, wrapping paper, maps, tickets, postage stamps, etc. I love old scraps and crap! I also collect little bits to use in craft projects - cute fabric bits, ribbon, lace, pretty papers, stickers, buttons, little craft kits like cardmaking, scrapbook page, atc kits (not necessarily store-bought - I'd love for you to use things in your stash to put one together for me!), soft funky/chunky yarn (not baby yarn or primary colors), handmade things, little metal things (like watch/clock pieces), miniatures, foreign stamps, fortune cookie fortunes, little trinkets or charms, clothespins, stickers, things from foreign countries, especially Japan (I spent some time there about 20 years ago), anything Mary Engelbreit (I have saved years of wall calendars, desk calendars and page-a-day calendars!). Mary Engelbreit cross stitch kits/patterns, especially the 'mini' ones and Christmas ones. I also collect vintage Christmas items, especially glass balls (and other shapes) and the boxes they come in, little cardboard houses, kitschy figurines (I have a few Santas and choir boys), stuffed felt ornaments with sequins, vintage Christmas cards and wrapping paper.

I've just recently begun to fall in love with cute robots and Hello Kitty. I don't really have anything 'kawaii' but I would love to get some! I like Snoopy too, takes me back to my childhood (o;

If you've made a postcard, ATC, etc for me, I would love for you to tell me a little about your technique/items used/favorite adhesive, etc. I see so many cool textures and finishes, but have no idea how to achieve them!

I am a 'Cheapie McThrifterson', so anything free or already in the house or from the dollar store/thrift store/garage sale is great! ...Like I said I'm not too picky, just surprise me! (o;

Christian theme items are totally acceptable.

I'm not much of a tea drinker, but I won't complain if get some. I love Starbucks Via packets (-:

As smoke-free as possible please and no horror, vampire, witch, gory, occult, nude or profane items.

That's what I can think of so far, but I will surely be adding as I go!

My decorating style is very eclectic - I have a lot of vintage or vintage inspired knick knacks like an antique typewriter, a vintage cardboard dress form that I made into a lamp, vintage suitcases, old books, funky picture frames, lots of jewel tones and/or muted colors like gold, reds, black, greens, purples, off-white (no blues, pastel or primary colors). I have lots of fruit/vegetable and rooster stuff in my kitchen(same basic color scheme), my powder room is beach/ocean theme(light greens/blues and white) and my master bath is hunter green and purple, with an oriental theme.

My 12-year-old son Cody is currently into gymnastics and parkour/freerunning, dubstep music, video games (Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS), CoD, Halo, Minecraft, Nerf and airsoft guns, Calvin & Hobbes, the Wimpy Kid books and movies, drawing, graffiti art, anime' art (just started learning how to draw anime' faces from youtube videos), decorative Duct Tape, sketch books, Sharpie markers or any other really nice 'art' markers or pens, graphite pencils, fill-in-the-blank books (like Dude Diary series). His fave shows are American Ninja Warrior, Call of the Wildman, Top Gear, Gator Boys, Phineas & Ferb, Spongebob, Gumball, Level Up, Supah Ninjas, Star Wars Clone Wars, Kick Buttowski, Fish Hooks, Motor City. His fave treats are Starbucks iced mochas, skittles, Haribo gummy bears, York peppermint patties, Hershey kisses, hot chocolate and those new chocolate milk and vanilla milk straws.

Gel Pens

Return Address Labels

Glue Dots

1" Circle Puncher

Deco Tape/Washi Tape

Papercrafting Kits (Scrapbook, Card, Tag, ATC)

Good quality photo paper (not from Dollar Tree). I don't print photos at home very often, but on the rare occasion I want to print one out, I have no photo paper and don't want to buy a whole pack (I know, I'm cheap!), so if I get a sheet or two in a swap that would be great.

I'd like to experiment with Distress Inks, Alcohol Inks and Glimmer Mist but know nothing about them

The following back issues of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine:

Feb/Mar 1997, 1998, 2003

Apr/May 1997, 1998, 2003

Jun/Jul 1998, 2003, 2006

Aug/Sep 1998

Oct/Nov 1999, 2007

Woohoo! Just completed my 100th swap! Go me! (-;