thevmatt

I am a mixed media artist in Lynchburg, VA. I share my art on my Instagram accounts (links above).

I'mma Homeschooling momma of 3....I'm in 1st, 5th, and 7th grade;) We stay BUSY with extra curricular: swimming, wrestling, and baseball. We also have 4 dogs and a cat that keep us busy too.

I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I have many interests, but am here for swapping. I like to send quality items and works. I mainly join ATC, mixed media, fb/deco, penpal, and greeting card type swaps.

****New Pen pals wanted**** So, I love to write personal, CHATTY, medium to long letters. I love decorated mail, and sometimes send little things like ATCs, greeting cards, mixed media papers, die cuts...just little lite weight flat things. If you're in the USA I can afford a little bulkier package or envelope for swapping things. I do mainly enjoy swapping handmade things though. I prefer handwritten chatty letters.

So, some of my hobbies are martial arts, volleyball, watching youtube crafting/arting videos. I love to look through Pinterest for ideas, and new takes on art/mixed media.

I mainly do mixed media on my ATCs. I love stamped images, stencils, different papers to gelli print on, I LOVE LOVE LOVE gelli printing....if you have not gotten one... DO - you will not regret it!!!

I homeschool the kids. So, I do a lot of researching on all the topics that go along with that;) Its hard...that's all I'm gonna say! LOL!

Before I list all these "wants"...I just want to say that I am always growing and learning in my art...so one of the best things anyone can give me is more knowledge of their techniques, so if you are sending anything mixed media or handcrafted....a brief or detailed;) explanation of your steps to get what you got is just really awesome and very appreciated!!!

Things I like to receive:

1.) Stamped images: Really any, and I especially love them stamped on WHITE TISSUE PAPER. I will take as many as you can send. The tissue paper is very easy to add to any texture, and then it turns translucent except for the image lines. It's really neat, if you have not tried this, please do, it opens a whole other world. So, some image ideas: - sentiments (any, holiday, hellos, happy birthdays, any!) - Cute girls: I do like bigger images, but any mixed media ones, gorjuss, etc. - ANY mixed media stamps - different colors too. - any shapes, objects: examples are - coffee cups, trees, flowers, shoes, butterflies, houses, postage stamps, clocks, keys, anything;) - Background stamps- any big background stamps would be cool. NOTE If you do decide to send stamped images on tissue paper, don't worry so much about them tearing or being folded, etc. just fold them up flat to mail, no big deal;)

2.) used postage stamps - I collect them and would love any you might have on hand. They can be any...but of course the more unique the "better";) Some of my favorite designs are people, buildings, animals, landscapes, and planes...ok, so I just named about all the design categories...haha. I do like the postage mark on them, not the black sharpie cross over, but I will not refuse a stamp, any will do!

3.) handmade, by you...pretty much anything: Any gelli printed backgrounds, any mixed media-type backgrounds. I probably would use them for ATCs, but I would prefer the cuts larger.....like so they can fit in the envie of course, but almost the size of it...hope that made sense. They don't have to be "perfect"....honestly they will be layered on 1,000 times any ways;) I like handmade card embellishments, ATCs, flip books, etc. I love making greeting cars, so if you make them, I love to see other cards and see how they are put together....get some ideas.

4.) Plain and simple embellishments: nothing fancy or really thick - regular round brads, enamel dots, simple paper flowers, border stickers, border punches (the papers punched out by you, not the punches themselves), plane tags (big ones), journal cards, etc.

5.) die cuts: The papers (not the dies) - doilies, any Tim Holtz alteration or mixed media die cuts, flowers, fences, trees, sentiments for holiday and birthdays...ANYTHING hahaha.

6.) Decorative papers and stickers: Very plain with these too...I like grungy, shabby chic, vintage type card stocks, not really out doorsy bee design type stuff...unless its Tim Holtz grungy looking....pretty much everything looks good with his style.

I would rather not get cosmetics, candies, or other non craft related things...unless it is unique to your country (not US).

I don't particularly like regular ATC size decorative paper...I have so much already. I enjoy handmade papers....that you've painted, stamped, doodled on, etc. I appreciate even your grocery lists, any lists or notes you've written on. I can use them in my mixed media projects.

MAINLY, I just like nicely put together swaps that fit the requirements...lol! I don't rate down for swaps that I think are ugly or don't agree with.