OwlAntler

I am a musical and crafty mother of a very busy and sweet preschooler and a crazy climbing toddler! I am also a full time student between Sept and June.

I like dark, odd, vintage, circus and steam punk themes, and deep, dark, bold, rich/opulent colours. My favourite colours are deep, dark, and solid red or purple and deep earthy colours like deep browns, greens, dark oranges and dark autumn leaf shades. I love black. I enjoy crafting with any colour, though I'm always drawn to my favourites.

INTERESTS

My most enjoyed crafts these days are card, atc and any kind of paper crafting. I make art usually on found or "re-purposed" wood or recycled cardboard with paper, paint, and found items, like old metal things, gears and clock pieces, strange buttons and fabrics. I try to incorporate a lot of old images or bits of fancy paper and vintage, Victorian, and circus photography or images into both the paper crafting and art along with previously destroyed or worn book pages and images from these books.

I wish I could sew everyday though I rarely get the chance to these days. I have a million spare scraps, lovely fabrics and old clothes that need to be used or "up-cycled".

When I have a big chunk of time, I try to sew, crochet or screen print if I don't have a big paper craft on the go. If I join a handmade swap, you can most likely expect something I have sewn, crocheted or screen printed, along with a paper craft like a card, atc or bookmark.

I have recently gotten addicted to using stamps in my cards and atcs. My faves are vintage looking, or nature themed stamps and all kinds of large background making stamps. Of course anything steam punk goes.

I also love taking pictures, and I enjoy letters and keep in touch with many penfriends.

I recycle and reuse items as much as possible. You may get something (like a wrist cuff) that I have made out of a skirt I have worn out (and probably handmade to begin with), and I try to keep most things out of our landfills by "re-purposing" or "up-cycling" it somehow. I always re-use envelopes, wrapping paper and cards if I can.

ANYTHING YOU HAVE HANDMADE. Some ideas could be: wrist cuffs, tote bags, hair accessories/mini clip hats/feather clips, steam punk block art, crocheted/knitted cuffs, legwarmers, hats........this list could go on forever. I cherish things that are handmade.

Card making/scrap booking/atc supplies (excluding plain card or blank cards... i have plenty)

Anything in themes of circus, steampunk, Victorian/Edwardian, or bohemia/"gypsy"

Clock pieces- either actual pieces or images, stickers or rub-ons of any kind of time piece- or anything steam punk-ish really

rub-ons, stickers or craft/scrapbooking paper with the following themes: Victorian/Edwardian, circus, steam punk, "vintage", insects, forest creatures, stripes, polka dots, stars, skulls, mushrooms, transportation vehicles (especially trains), bugs/insects/things with wings (I love beetles), and sea creatures (like octopus, squid etc...).

Fabric scraps, nothing too feminine and no floral patterns please....same themes as I mentioned above.

fancy lace, odd ribbons, or scrap booking/card making/atc embellishments and brads of all kinds.

Huge buttons (the bigger the better!) for my crocheted wrist cuffs. I like coloured buttons of all sizes and different shapes.

fabric scraps/swatches - especially with "things with wings" or insects, transportation vehicles (especially trains) or odd images.... also any plain coloured fabric or leather ,long enough to wrap around a large wrist- for a fabric wrist cuff or so I can make a little scented pillow.

Fancy feathers or any kind of feather hair accessory or feathered jewelry - browns/reds

wrist cuffs! I love wrist cuffs! Especially if you made it! I will always be interested in a cuff swap. Please let me know if you see any or want to do a private cuff swap :)

Strange socks especially knee highs.

Broaches or weird jewelry you found in second hands (especially bugs, octopus or sea creatures and forest animals like foxes or owls)

Again, ANYTHING HANDMADE. I am very fond of handicrafts and handmade gifts.

My daughter is FOUR (and a half)

She really enjoys crafting with me. Sending her something for a swap is encouraged. I'm still learning who she is, but so far this is what I've learned....

She likes - pandas, penguins, dalmatians, foxes, insects and bugs. She used to be really into Hello Kitty, Winnie the Pooh (especially piglet), anything Thomas the Tank Engine. scooby doo but has recently discovered Spiderman and she has become quite enamoured with all "rescue heroes" right now. She also just discovered My Little Pony, and Pokemon!

Stickers, "handy dandy notebooks" (she likes to write in her special books while I write letters), fun pens, animal writing paper, and old books. She just started collecting Pokemon cards. Do you have any old ones laying around? We would be over the moon to find some cards in a package!

PLEASE NO - Disney (other than pooh bear or scooby), Princess style plastic accessory stuff, anything scented or makeup product for kids. Thank you.

My son almost 18 months, and doesn't need any craft supplies.

I am sorry this list is so long but it will hopefully save me from being dissapointed.

-Please don't send sweets or candies. We do not eat them in my home! Thank you.

-overly girly pink or princess items, no pastel colours and nothing pink. Please!!

-no flower paper or embellishments. I do not craft with flower images

-NO DISNEY or movie character anything. Especially stickers. PLEASE!

-NO POSTCARDS or store bought cards please unless they are previous to the 1940s, have a vintage picture I could use in my cards on the front or handmade by you.

-no used postage stamps.

-no toe socks, animal prints, pens or pencils.

-No holiday cards or holiday themes..especially Christmas.

-For paper swaps, please don't send magazine clippings, plain card, or bookmarks. They will just go into my recycling box and it's disappointing.

-I beg you! NO more foam! I don't mean to be rude, but everyone is sending me these strange foam shapes. I don't use these for my crafts and my daughter has more than any kid needs now. She doesn't really use them either! sorry and thanks.

-I don't need envelopes of any size. They are being used for filler in paper swaps. Not worth the swap to send off lots of nice papers and get a bunch of envelopes in return.

-Postal labels and airmail stickers? No thanks.

I click sent after I have dropped your package in our pickup box out front. I am not actually aware of when the mail gets picked up from there and brought to the post office. (perhaps I should find out, but I keep forgetting!)