thecrafthack

UPDATED Aug 2024

Note: I rate the same day I receive your mail. If 2 weeks have past and I have not rated you, please contact so we can determine if it has gone missing.

For those who receive my mail, I mail the first business day after a swap closes. Please get in touch with me if you don't receive my mail in a timely manner. Also, please don't forget to rate!

My name is Susan I've been off the platform for a few years now and based on my previous "About me" it must be at least 7'ish years!

I'm 100% empty nest now and getting back into some of the creative pleasures.

In my free time, I like to be out with my friends enjoying being social. I like to swim and have been using ResortPass to have day trips to local hotel pools. I try to go abroad at least twice a year. Once to see something new and once to revisit something I love (usually France). The rest of the time I travel to see my kids and my siblings.

I started to dabble in digital art on my iPad but I miss the tactile satisfaction I get from glue, paint, paper, and stickers so I'm back to swap.

Although I've lived in California for 30 years, I am and will always be a Minnesota girl. Go Gophers!

I like almost all the music. Still have that puck rock kid under my corporate/mom exterior. Love the British punk and new wave of the early 80s, and all the alternative bands of the 90s. I'm a big fan of French music (Carla Bruni, Francoiz Breut, Karpatt)even though I don't speak French....yet. I've been working on it as another creative outlet. I like "lounge music" (Nicola Conte, Jet Society) and heavy Bossa Nova sounds. I also love House/Deep House and my Current favorite station is Sirius XM Chill. For swaps, I can be into retro music theme like graphics of record players, cassette tapes, EDM, rave, classical composers,

I'm very much a book person. I read more than I watch TV. Jane Austen is my go-to author. I can pick it up anytime and anywhere.

I reread a lot of classic literature. Mostly to revisit it and consider how my thoughts have changed over the decades. I read assorted current realistic fiction that are usually on a best-seller list. I'm not much of a fan of dystopia or fantasy. I seem to gravitate toward stories about bookstores, libraries, mysterious diaries & letters.

I also like reading non-fiction history, philosophy, popular science, and biographies.

And there are also special interest magazines, especially on travel. I mostly read via Libby on my iPad.

I love swap items that are book or philosopher-themed (postcards, stickers, etc)

Regarding books, I have recently become interested in collecting library cards. I get excited if a library in a major city has a gift shop with library stickers.

I've narrowed down my crafting over the years. I like to paint, make greeting cards/postcards, crafting with Altoid mint tins, and gift tags.

I like tiny things like vintage game pieces, bubble gum machine charms, glitter and other sparkly things, mini wooden toys, Japanese miniatures, ephemera, unusual buttons (as in button and button holes), random small scrapbooking pieces that can be used on a greeting card or as decoration on an Altoid box.

I've been into making postcards. The mother of my childhood bestie has been ill for some time and I've been sending her postcards every week for the last 7 months. Some I pick up on travel but others I make myself. I think some of mine are way more fun than store-bought. Hope to find some postcard swaps that want them handmade!

If anyone has old record album covers headed to the trash, I'd happily take a postcard size of the cover to make handmade postcards and other things.

Travel, travel, travel! I've downsized a lot of life so I can travel more. I love to collect vinyl laptop/waterbottle stickers when I travel. Anything fun from the name of the city to just something quirky.

I love to shop flea markets and thrift stores. I like to find fun and interesting things to alter into my art. I also enjoy going to an out-of-the-way charity thrift store and the joy of finding a high-end label that only costs a few dollars.

I love museums, cathedrals, old churches and historic buildings. I can stare at paintings or beautiful architecture for hours. I always buy myself postcards of my favorite works of art.

I have a small collection of Japanese toy collectibles. Most of them I buy at a local shop in Japantown or online. I love the Be@rbrick, To-fu and Peecol figures. I also love the mini-food sets.

I've been into puzzles lately. It's something to do while I listen to books.

Stickers have to be my number 1 favorite thing. I love to swap and be surprised by new stickers.

I love postcards. I especially like ones retro in appearance, are from your hometown area, are homemade, or contain one of my favorite things. I enjoy a sense of humor but prefer not to get them if the humor is off-color or is too adult in nature (think of the tacky beach postcards with partially nude bathers).

I love good old-fashioned mail. I love it when there is a fun collection inside such as magazine clippings, stickers, little toys, charms, pieces of leftover scrapbook paper (6"x6") or anything else I can use to create a collage or collection.

I think little trinkets, metal pieces, charms, mini toys, game pieces (esp from old games). Anything shiny or little.

I like pretty much anything made out of paper even bits of paper that can be used as a tag, in a collage. Good thick cardstock pieces that I can use to make postcards or journals. Faces, Plain, textured, colored...I like it all.

I could really use some larger die-cut/laser cut paper objects for card making. I don't have a cutter myself so I rely on swaps for my supply.

Recently I received some bits of paper and the sender used a sewing machine to sew a paper pouch from a magazine page. I was in awe of the cleverness, simple but felt so special.

Airplane/airport-related or transportation things, vintage travel, vintage swimming pool, vintage ads. Northwest was my favorite airline. Travel-themed in general, luggage, airplanes, passports, globes, stamps.l

Of the travels I've done so far in my life these are the memories that are rooted deeply.

Amsterdam Flea Markets and the constant sound of the bike chain.

I enjoy taking the trains in Europe and viewing the beautiful countryside.

Paris...all of it. Anything France/French.

The crystal clear water of the Maldives.

I like cruising too.

Cook. These days I prefer to cook over going out.

I've become a pro at making fancy Ramen bowls.

I have a huge sweet tooth so I do like gummy-style candies (not super sour), chocolates, and caramels. I love trying international candies and sweets.

Coffee and Diet Coke. It's life.

I kind of hate making this list because in reality, no gift is a bad gift... However, here are a few things that would likely end up re-swapped.

Yarn/fabric...I can't knit or crochet. I have my own supply but have yet to do anything with it.

Disney...it was fun while my kids were little but it's not my thing anymore.

Religious. I will make an exception for funny Nun stickers.

Country or cute animal-themed unless it's weird...like a moose in military uniform or cats in Victorian hats. Quirky.

Nothing scented

Touchy feely Expressions. Like "heart and home" or "beauty of family and home." Not that I don't love my family....it's just too "Hallmark card" for my tastes. I prefer something with more wit and or humor without being crude. For example, I have a sticker of a salt shaker and it says, "Salty" I also have a sticker of a vintage cell phone and it simply says, "Call your Senator, not your Ex." I also have another I find funny of a coffee cup with "Rae Dunn" style wording that says "Morning Cup of Bitterness" Lol, stupid but funny.