Welcome

Welcome to the Swappermania Blog!

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WHO AM I?

I am a Christian married mom of 2 boys, living in northern Minnesota. We are both veterans (me- Army Reserves, Hubby- Air Force).  My husband has had multiple strokes and has a heart issue. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after the birth of my first child. My youngest son was diagnosed at age 5 with Diabetes Type 1. 

I am a work-at-home mom as a self-taught graphic designer. I make and sell computer labels, stationery, and planner stickers and filler pages.

Do you Periscope?  I like to participate in bible studies on the #jesusdidit scopes (http://www.jesusdidit.org/) and also occasionally get on Periscope or YouTube and do some crafting and encouraging chats. I do both bible-based scopes and just plain babbling chats and craft scopes (videos). Come and join me sometime!  https://www.periscope.tv/createdbybarbi and don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel!  https://www.youtube.com/btvrdik

I enjoy all sorts of crafts, paper-crafting, beading, and my big hobby is sending and receiving fun snail maill!  I would love to exchange some happy mail with you!  I show it on my Mail Call Monday videos on YouTube (don't worry, I don't show addresses). I have met a lot of great swappers and happy mail senders all around the world.  Would love to see your name in my mailbox!

Send to:

Happy Mail/Swappermania
Barbi Tvrdik
PO Box 74
Barnum MN 55707
USA


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Check out more fun snail mail ideas on my Pinterest board!
https://www.pinterest.com/btvrdik/snail-mail-fun/


My fave Bible verse:

* Romans 8:28 (KJV) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

HAPPY MAIL FROM TERI

HAPPY MAIL FROM TERI 

https://youtu.be/NUCRDVfJQr0

I received a beautiful package of reciprocal happy mail from Teri S. THANK YOU!!!
 Visit her group here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/inspiredmixedmediahappymail/

 Make sure to LIKE the video and SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Channel!

 Check out my ABOUT ME section to get my address for sending happy mail :)

Do you #Periscope?

I love using Periscope! You can watch (and do your own) Live Feeds from around the world. In the past few months I did a "Scope" to say Hello to everyone, while I walked to my mailbox.

Watch me get my mail LIVE on Periscope, do bible studies, crafts, and just hop on to say hi... my screen name is @createdbybarbi (same as my Twitter & IG).

Get the free app here:  (Not sponsored, I just love it.)
https://www.periscope.tv/

Watch me on your device or by using the Firefox browser here:
https://www.periscope.tv/createdbybarbi

Do you #Periscope? Comment below with your screen name and I'll gladly follow you.

Snailmail Fun

I posted my newest video from yesterday... did you see it yet?

https://youtu.be/kQ_RgDU2710

In it, I mention 2 groups I do swaps & send fun mail in.  Here are the links to them in case you want to check them out.


SnailmailersRus
This first one is more for pen palling and exchanging different things in the mail. They do "tags" where you tag the person above you, and send them the item listed for that Tag Category. Then the person below you tags you, and sends to you. So you never get the same "swap partner" and you can get all sorts of fun snail mail.  You can also post if you are looking for a pen pal.

Wishes Galore
This is a group of a bunch of sarcastic ladies where you can jump into some fun conversation (warning: some adult language on there... lol) and once you get to know everyone, you can post a daily wishlist of small items you'd like to receive in the mail. Then people can grant your wish, and you can grant other people's wishes and send them items off their wishlists.

Tell them Barbi sent you if you join :)  (No I don't get anything for referrals... just want to know how many people actually check them out from reading this blog.)

And of course, I always welcome fun snail mail/ friend mail/ happy mail :)  Thank you!

Send to:
Barbi Tvrdik/swappermania
PO Box 74
Barnum MN 55707
USA

Dollar Tree Haul / Operation Christmas Child

Dollar Tree Haul time :) 

  

Watch my latest vlog here and find out WHAT'S IN THE BOX...
http://bit.ly/2m7Anlk

Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE!  :)

UPDATE: July 2017

7-27-17

Hello all you pallers and crafters out there! I am baaaaack. Sorry for the LONG time of not updating my blog. Does anybody really even read blogs anymore? I think more people like to watch videos now. So I got a NEW WEBCAM and as soon as my craft room is a little cleaner and I have the kids back to school and it's a little quieter around here, I can do more videos.... yaaaaay!

I had a crazy summer so far. It's been cooler up north here this year. We needed to turn the space heaters on right before the 4th of July!  Now it's 80 and it feels HOT!  LOL.  (*The humidity is high up here.)  We don't have a/c, just ceiling fans. So we'll be hot for a week or 2, then it'll be Fall again... lol.
Soooo.... I had my BD on June 8 (got the webcam that I mentioned above). Then my youngest son got real sick from a stomach bug and ended up in the ER twice.  He has Type 1 Diabetes, so it just hit him harder.
Then this past week, my husband was in the hospital again. This time he had a mini stroke while at work. He only had to spend one night overnight, and now is back to work already. (What a guy, huh?)
Tomorrow we are having my oldest son's bday party sleepover. Having about 4-5 boys over to camp in the front yard. Might have a water balloon fight too. All that fun stuff. Wish me luck.  Ha.  He just turned 11 on July 18, and is already an inch taller than I am!  (Both boys got their dad's tall genes.)
My youngest turns 7 on Aug. 31.

So now I am just trying to keep my sanity until school starts again.... ha ha.  Summer really does seem like it's flying by. It always does around here though. We don't have very long summers weather wise. So I have been feeding the wildlife (chipmunks, birds, rabbits) and recently we saw a woodchuck and a BLACK BEAR in our back yard.  Yep, a bear. Yikes. Not something this city girl likes to see SO CLOSE to the house.

I am slowly trying to get caught up on mail. Sorry for taking so long as usual. I am the world's slowest pen pal & swapper, I swear. People probably gave up on me by now.  Sorry.  I just do what I can, when I can. Being a mom of a Type 1 Diabetic, and having hypo-thyroidism myself, it really zaps me of any remaining energy real quick.

Oh, and I got a PO Box awhile back.... so if you want to write or send me any Happy Mail, here's my addy.  Mention you saw my Blog please so I don't wonder where you found my address.

Take care & have a happy rest of the summer!


Barbi




Barbi T.
Swappermania
PO Box 74
Barnum MN 55707
USA

JANUARY QUICK SWAP: Happy Mail (USA ONLY)

Location: Regional - USA ONLY

Last day to signup/drop:  
January 5, 2018

Partners posted:  
January 6, 2018

Date items must be sent by:  
January 10, 2018

Number of swap partners: 1

DESCRIPTION:

This is a simple swap that hopefully brings some happiness to your mailbox. 
This is for the USA only because of the quick turn around. :-)

SWAP DETAILS~ This one is a little different. You will send your partner 3 items that you think would make them smile, with a nice letter.
After you receive your partner's name & email, email your partner RIGHT AWAY to find out some of their likes/dislikes.
And remember to send them your address and list of likes/dislikes too.
Some ideas: stickers, a blank postcard, a blank greeting card with envie, anything! 

As long as it is nice quality and generous (please don't send mini stickers, reward stickers, teeny tiny stuff...) You get the Gist? Or if they have an obsession with pens.. send a nice pen.. It doesn't have to be much, and you don't have to go shopping, but try to make someone's day!

Swap requirements:

Please, no flakers, if you think you won't be able to send on time or meet the requirements, don't sign up.
We want HAPPY MAIL and swappers ONLY on Swappermania!


Please only send nice, quality items that you would like to receive. 

It is preferred that you post a photo of your swap going out or use tracking, but not mandatory.

Post your photos on the Facebook Event page. PLEASE cover addresses on envelopes!

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SIGN UP FOR MONTHLY SWAPS HERE:

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Hostess: Barbi Tvrdik

Questions cheerfully answered 
(Use Comments section or for a faster response, send me a message on the Facebook Event page).

Happy swapping :)

PARTNERS WILL BE POSTED ON THE FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE, AND ALSO EMAILED TO EVERYONE.

 * Please be considerate and send your swaps out on time.  If you can't, please just email your partner to let them know if it will be late. Thank you!

Fall Colors and Happy Mail

I did a YouTube video showing my Fall Colors here and the mail I got today... take a look here: https://youtu.be/mioaKRHNIEs

And don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel!  There will be more happy mail videos to come!

UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

Really? Is it really September already? Am I the only one that thinks this summer really flew by too quickly? Fall comes a bit early to us up here in the northland. The trees are already starting to change colors and the nights are getting much cooler. I had to turn on the electric heater the other night... hubby says it's too early to start up the furnace...lol.(not for me!)

Last month I had a nasty fall, thanks in part to wet grass and a dog on the other end of my leash taking off after some small critter. I ended up in the ER and after Xrays, found out I have a compressed disc. It was very painful, and I might still need physical therapy to help relieve some of the pain, as I wanted to limit the prescription paid meds to very minimal (as I DO take care of 2 kids all day), and could really only take them at night.

This is our final weekend of summer vacation. My oldest son started football already (his first year playing), and only has 1 game left after today. Fine with me, I really don't want to sit out on a cold field if I don't have to!  I don't envy hockey parents at ALL... wouldn't want to sit in a cold arena. I get enough cold weather as it is.  My youngest son just turned 6 (Aug. 31) and has now lost BOTH front teeth, and one bottom front tooth. I told him we should paint him orange for Halloween this year and he can be a Jack-O-Lantern :)  We had a nice family visit from my mom (AKA SuperGrandma) a few weekends this summer (Dad can't stay due to asthma) and now are gearing up for back to school. This means lots of medical forms for me (due to allergies, asthma, and my youngest son's Diabetes Type 1). New teachers, new classrooms, new friends, new schedule. It will take a couple weeks for us probably to get into the swing of things. In that time, please pray for my sanity and that I will have good enough health to get back into my craft room and also get my new business up and going (more on that later).

I want to keep doing Happy Mail videos on YouTube, but didn't get much Happy Mail this summer. I have joined 2 new groups on Facebook where we do contests and have fun little giveaways, and got some fun mail from those. I am on a wish group on Facebook (Wishes Galore) where we wish for small things and grant other peoples' wishes. I am still trying to get caught up on sending stuff out for that group, and have received some nice things from people on there.
I also buy/sell on a fun site called Listia (kind of like eBay but you use credits instead of money).

As for swapping and palling... I have quit swapping friendship books, but still swap everything else (label/sticker/goodie/memo bags, slams, decos, exchange slips, postcards, stickers, etc.). No new pals for me at this time. I just can't keep up with writing, and feel bad when it takes me months to get back to people. It's just easier for me to keep up with people on Facebook.  (Not on Facebook? Well why not? lol) 

Want to exchange happy mail? Find my info here.
http://createdbybarbi.blogspot.com/2016/01/mail-call-happy-mail-2016.html

Looking forward to getting back into the swing of things again this Fall :)

~Barbi

KATCH me I'm FALLING

OK so apparently KATCH (where all my past Periscope videos were located) is closing. Like... gone. Luckily I found out in time, and transferred all my videos over to YouTube. Now I'm in the process of posting the more current mail call scopes on my blog, since you can only view them if you have the link.  So if you're here, you can scroll down and see my past 'Scopes' (videos). I am in the process of loading them all here now... so check back. And please Comment, Like, Subscribe to my YouTube channel while you're there :)  Thanks, have a great day!  :)


Want to exchange happy mail with me?
http://createdbybarbi.blogspot.com/2016/01/mail-call-happy-mail-2016.html
Find all my social media links on my mail blog (look in the right hand column -->)
http://swappermania.blogspot.com/
My art/creativity blog:
http://createdbybarbi.blogspot.com/

#happymail scope - Party in my mailbox!!! #snailmail

Recorded Feb. 9, 2016 via Periscope

Want to exchange happy mail with me?
http://createdbybarbi.blogspot.com/2016/01/mail-call-happy-mail-2016.html
Find all my social media links on my mail blog:
http://swappermania.blogspot.com/
My art/creativity blog:
http://createdbybarbi.blogspot.com/
Find me on LISTIA:
https://www.listia.com/profile/102933

New Year - No Resolutions

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WELCOME TO SWAPPERMANIA!

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JAN 2016
New Year - No Resolutions

Hey there swappers and pals!  If you've been following my blog or YouTube channel, you're probably wondering where I've been. Still here, freezing in northern Minnesota. It's been a crazy ride for our family the last half of 2015.

My oldest son had a surgery which led to complications, which led to him being in the hospital (he's ok now, but is having trauma/anxiety issues which stems from this medical emergency).

We took a family trip to South Dakota (no, not Mount Rushmore, we went to Sioux Falls since that is where my husband's job sent him). We stayed in a beautiful hotel and while we were there, they experienced record rain/flash floods, the power went out in the hotel (no generator), and it was mass chaos. The hotel didn't flood luckily, but many cars out on the road were going everywhere. It's a trip that we will never forget.

My husband has had some multiple health issues going on, and then a pharmacy here gave him the wrong pills in his bottle, which he took for a week before realizing why he was feeling the way he was... and then ended up in the hospital with stroke symptoms, and his whole one side being back at 50% strength. He is still doing physical/occupational therapy. He currently isn't able to do his job (precision measurement), but they found other things for him to do there, so at least he didn't lose his job. He is having more hours away from work due to Dr. appts, etc. so that paycheck loss kind of stung us for awhile. 

Then in the end of October, our youngest son started feeling ill. One week after my husband was home from the hospital, on Nov. 2, our youngest ended up in the hospital for 5 days. He was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1 (sometimes called Juvenile Diabetes) and also had a staph infection.  We are now living a "new normal" since Diabetes Type 1 is a lifelong disease (still praying for a cure.) 

The end of 2015 has been a HELL of a year, to put it mildly....

Then... we got a call from the school saying we were nominated to be a family to receive a Blessing Bag.  They wanted a wish list from us for gifts the kids would like (and us, too).  I also saw something in our church bulletin about the community collecting gifts for a family and it was a local organization called Best Christmas Ever (http://www.bcemovement.org/).
The family sounded a LOT like us... hmmmm.... so a lady from church asked if she could stop over one Sunday afternoon.  We said sure. Since she also works at the school, I thought she might be bringing over the Blessing Bag.  Well lo and behold, several cars pulled into the driveway, and our livingroom was full of people delivering presents and more presents, gift cards, etc.  It was the Best Christmas Ever!  Literally!  I was doing everything I could to hold it together, but yes those tears did fall.
(Here's a news clip of this wonderful organization, a month before they showed up at our door.)
 (Here's a video of another family that received gifts from BCE.)

The next day, I still had to go to the school to get our Blessing Bag... but it was not just ONE bag... it was several.  They gave us gifts, cleaning supplies, household goods (that stuff adds up you know), food, and a wreath.  The kindness of our community has just blown us away.  I don't even know how to begin to say thank you for it all!  Words can't even express it!

So... instead of being bitter and angry at all the BAD things that happened to us in 2015, I am choosing to be GRATEFUL that I still have my sons and my husband here. We still have our pets. We still have our house. We still have electricity and internet (we all know it's a necessity...lol). We still have food to eat. And we are stocked up on Toilet Paper for quite awhile!  LOL.
The people here have shown us how much God loves us, and have given us HOPE that we CAN survive through the suffering, with the help of His people.

So... now here we are in the new year. 2016. I am SO happy to move on to a new year and I have HOPE and DREAMS for myself and my family. I am doing something small each day for myself, and CREATING ART is one of those forms of therapy that I really need. (See my art blog HERE). I haven't done any art or crafting for a LONG time. My craft room misses me. It has become a dumping ground... I can't even SEE my desk right now. I just stack stuff and walk out. And say someday, I will get around to cleaning that desk off. I have all my mail organized for each month from Oct-Dec., and am still contemplating doing one mass Mail Call video to get caught up. 

 

I have decided to stop swapping FBs, and concentrate more on my art.  I am not quitting swapping anything else... only friendship books.  I will still swap Decos, slams, any bags, postcards, happy mail, exchange slips, etc.   Just not FBs.  If I get any in the mail, I have people that will take my excess, so don't worry, I'm not one of those people that tosses them in the circular file (trash).

  * RELATED POST: What is a Friendship Book? Deco? Etc.

 Now, let's talk GOALS, not resolutions.  Who really sticks to those silly RESOLUTIONS every year anyway?  Definitely not me. Lord knows I try. Maybe for a week or 2. And then we go back to our old habits, or life just gets in the way.  What are your goals/resolutions for 2016?  Would love to hear about them in the Comments section below.
 

Not necessarily in any specific order, here are a few of my goals for 2016:
 

* Read Bible App daily
* Get caught up on mail
* Organize craft room

* Sell more on Listia & ebay this year

* Create more digital stationery and maybe even start selling labels again

* Walk more  (hoping to get a treadmill soon for these long winter days)

  I look forward to sharing my mail journey here with you on my blog on this new year. Thanks for commenting, watching my videos, and just being here for me. Cyberhugs to you all!

~Barbi

Monday Mail Call - May 18, 2015

View this video on YouTube HERE.


Thanks for watching!

~Barbi



Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.  

It lets me know people have seen my video.



Related Links:


* GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
* ATC Basics / What Are ATCs? 

* Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>

Monday Mail Call - May 11, 2015

View this video on YouTube HERE.


Thanks for watching!

~Barbi



Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.  

It lets me know people have seen my video.



Related Links:

* GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
* ATC Basics / What Are ATCs? 

* Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>









 

Monday Mail Call - Apr. 30, 2015

View this video on YouTube HERE.





Thanks for watching!



~Barbi







Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.  

It lets me know people have seen my video.





Related Links:



* GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
* ATC Basics / What Are ATCs? 

* Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>

MAIL CALL Monday 04/13/15

View this video on YouTube HERE.


Thanks for watching!

~Barbi



Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.  
It lets me know people have seen my video.


Related Links:

* GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
* ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?

* Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>

MAIL CALL MONDAY 3/23/15

The latest Mail Call Monday Video (from last week 3/23/15) is up...
http://youtu.be/6F9gvt0aMpM

Thanks for watching!

~Barbi



Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.  
It lets me know people have seen my video.


Related Links:

GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?

Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>

MAIL CALL MONDAY 3/16/15

The newest Mail Call Monday Video (from today 3/16/15) is up...
http://youtu.be/WJRiSEvM5Tc

Thanks for watching!

~Barbi



Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.  
It lets me know people have seen my video.


Related Links:

GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?

Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>

MAIL CALL MONDAY - End of Feb.

I'm playing catch-up on my Monday Mail Call videos.
Here is the completed video for the end of Feb.
The newest one should be done either later tonight or tomorrow morning, whenever it uploads.

http://youtu.be/npLvGbYInQU

Thanks for watching!

~Barbi



Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.  
It lets me know people have seen my video.


Related Links:

GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?

Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>

MAIL CALL MONDAY / TUESDAY 2/17/15

Hi everybody! I finally got my Mail Call Monday video from last week edited and uploaded.

Here it is:

http://youtu.be/N-5N0XdHbsI


Thanks for watching!

~Barbi



Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.  
It lets me know people have seen my video.


Related Links:

GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?

Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>