Catrad

Well, I guess most importantly I am a mum (my son just turned 6 in June) and a wife (married 6 years last September). I am lucky enough to have a very patient husband who has hobbies of his own (more expensive than mine!) so he generally lets me get on with my crafting, and even manages to feign interest when I show him my creations! I also work, part-time at present, but my hours are due to increase soon. This will either mean less crafting or less housework. Ha! No contest! Who really needs a clean house anyway?!

I have an eclectic mix of music on my iPhone, which ranges from 50s Rock n Roll right through to up-to-date dance and pop. I particularly like stuff I can sing to, and stuff I can dance wildly round the kitchen to. The stuff I always go back to are classics like The Beatles, Elvis, Bowie, Johnny Cash. Also 90s Britpop like Oasis, Blur. Slightly more modern Gomez (which NO-ONE has ever heard of!), Chemical Brothers. The last album I actually bought I think was Mika, which seems ages ago!

I love to read, although I rarely find the time any more. My favourite authors are Stephen King, Jeffrey Deaver, Mark Billingham, Joe Hill, Dean Koontz, and I like the Horror / Thriller genre best, although a good crime novel will usually get me riveted too.

I tend to watch a lot of kids films at the moment with my son, especially Disney Pixar films. But in my life as an adult I like (again) a nice horror (although I never get to watch any as my hubby isn't keen on them!), or something with a good bit of substence and plot. Recently watched Inception, and enjoyed it. My all-time favourite film takes me back to my childhood, which is Labyrinth. Love it love it love it!!

Don't watch a lot of TV really, but when we do we'll watch mainly documentaries or comedy programmes. We like a bit of South Park & Family Guy, and I still love Flight of the Conchords even though it's not been on for ages. And for any Brits reading this (as I doubt you Americans have had this programme yet, if at all) I did get somewhat obsessed with Psychoville.

My main love is papercrafting. I love pretty patterned papers, ribbons, brads & buttons. I was introduced to card making by my mother-in-law in 2005 when she inspired me to make all my wedding stationery - invites, place names and favour bags. I quickly became hooked, and since then have made all my own cards. this was originally a cost-cutting exercise, but I'm sure many of you reading this will appreciate that was hopeful, if not completely delusional! I also enjoy scrapbooking, and have made some scrapbooks as gifts for people that I have been so pleased with it's been difficult to give them away! My most recent major project was a family history scrapbook for my parents, with 20 pages, devoting 10 to each parents family. I loved creating it, and journelling about my ancestors. It made both my parents cry when they opened it (for Christmas), and also various aunts and uncles too when they've been shown it - I choose to take this as a compliment! Finally, I have (very) recently discovered ATCs, and that is how I found this site. I love the idea of swapping creations, and getting inspiration from others work to improve your own. However, please bear in mind that I am a beginner in this field! I hope I can create some lovely ATCs and bring smiles to those who receive my work.

I should probably list some likes and dislikes now...

My favourite colour is red, I particularly like a red/black/white combo. I'm not so keen on tans or browns.

I like bold bright patterns, I don't like anything too flowery and old-ladyish! Having said that, I do use a lot of paper flowers as embellishments, I just don't like flowery papers so much. Does that make sense?!

My favourite flowers are poppies (it's that whole red and black thing again!) and roses.

I love ribbons, brads (but not eyelets, I've never been able to get on with those), buttons, and I am a complete peel-off addict. Actually, I should probably re-iterate, I LOVE ribbons! I just can't seem to resist a ribbon swap, or ribbon in a tag game!

I also love pretty backing papers that I can use for card and ATC making.

Oh, and I have recently been sent some book pages to use for ATC backings - I love using them, but I just can't seem to be able to destroy a book myself for the purposes of art. I even have a likely candidate at home - no covers, old and a bit knackered, but I just can't do it, I can't bring myself to tear the pages out! So please send me the odd book page if you have one lying around - it will save me the agony of trying to decide whether to destroy this book or not!

I don't really do much stamping, but I love pretty pens, and -how could I forget!- glitter glue!!

I love chocolate - dark choc the best, but I don't like white choc much (tho the rest of the family does!). I like weird combinations of flavours with sark choc too - I had some with chilli once and it was YUM!

I like jelly sweets best like Haribo, all types of nut, raisins, sherbet... and I have no allergies so no worries there. I'm not too keen on liquorice (although again, the rest of the family are), but you know the bobbly sweets you get in packs of Liquorice Allsorts? The aniseed ones that only come in pink and blue? I do like those!

please don't send me teas - green or otherwise - I don't drink them, and neither does my husband (yes, I know, Brits who don't drink tea, we do exist!). However, if you have a desperate urge to send me a drinks mix, hot chocolate is the way forward!

I don't use any cosmetics, and I'm not particularly keen on any toiletry items, with the exception of bubble bath and face masks. I have no allergies, and I've no particular fragrance preference, although I did once have some bubble bath that smelt like gin & tonic - it was great!

Ummmm

I like cats & dogs (I have 2 black & white cats).

I play in a band - I take both my saxophone and flute each week, and play whichever is needed more (it's a works band and a lot of members work shifts and can't make it every week, so you never know who'll be there!). I can also play piano too, albeit quite badly!

I like to read, and I love old books, especially ones with inscriptions in (to & from, with a date are the best). I don't mind what sort of condition they're in really, as long as they're in one piece and don't have pages falling out.

I like science and maths, but not sport or religious stuff so much. Although any Christian stuff I am sent I would pass on to my mother-in-law or childminder.

Ok that'll have to do for now. I'll add some more if I think of anything

I pledge to always get my swaps out on time, but should I ever have a disaster and not manage it I will pm you if I am physically able. I am not a flaker!

I also pledge to rate my received swaps as soon as I can after getting them. However, I am not as organised with this as I am with sending the swaps (priorities and all that!), so if I've not rated you for something it's either that it hasn't arrived yet, or I've forgotton to do it. I can be a bit ditzy at times with rating, so just message me and I'll get right onto it.

I like recycling, and will often re-use envelopes. However, I will secure things properly, and will do my utmost to ensure the contents get to you safely.

If I receive something that I can't use, or doesn't inspire me, I will swap it onwards and upwards. That's part of the point of Swap-Bot surely?! I love receiving crafty stuff in a swap, making it into an ATC, then sending it on elsewhere. Very 'circle of life'!

Oh - and I love to receive little notes with my swaps - what you're up to, what the weather's like where you are, little things like that. I don't expect essays, but I love getting little glimpses into other people's lives.

Thanks for reading this far - now go and get swapping!!

Catherine