>But.... Is everyone's first attempt at
> carving their stamps so...rough looking?! ;)
>
> Wanda (Busy Bee)... who is becoming really jealous of those
CTers! ;)

Dear Wanda,

Everybody has the right to be new. Some of the fun of this craft is
improving in skill, as well as the art. Whatever it looks like now,
make the next one better. Keep on trying. You are doing stuff that
very few folks ever attempt.

Correct tools is vital for this. Honestly, you skimp on tools at the
risk of getting discouraged and quitting.

The Speedball carving set with about four gouges in it is fine. I do
not know how other folks do it with Xacto Blades but the gouges are
meant for the kind of work we do.

I recently bought a Two Cherries 0.5 mm gouge. It is immensely
satisfying to use. The tip is only a third as wide as the smallest
Speedball one. It is pricey, however; I spent about $32 on the one
gouge.

The best carving material is, by far, the Master Carve (has a logo
that says "carves like butter".) I like the thick stuff for personal
stamps and the thinner for boxes.

Sir Speedycut to me is too crumbly and both resists and then gives
unexpectedly. Not good. There is some thin pink stuff that works well
enough, especially for microboxes. But you can carve Pink Pearl
erasers and get something fairly okay, right?

Again, it is good to be a little dissatisfied with anything you do in
art. Let other folks believe you meant it that way: rough. Remember
that we do not really want to have store bought stamps or stamps that
look like they are store bought.

You might as JugglerMouse for tips on carving, BTW. She is the best
we have around here.

Respectfully submitted,
Sir Balthazar
P18 F66 X25

Wanda, was it you who said you were going to buy gum erasers? If so, that
may be part of your problem. I have found them to be too crumbly for my
tastes personally.

Cadenza

From: "Wanda"
Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Date: Mon, 04 Aug 2003 20:43:41 -0000
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] Carved my first stamp!


I was at Hobby Lobby shortly after they opened this morning to get
my supplies for carving rubberstamps. When I got home with it, I
couldn't wait to get started. But.... Is everyone's first attempt at
carving their stamps so...rough looking?! ;)

On the way home, I scouted out two or three places to plant boxes in
the near future.

Now to get off this computer and back to carving more stamps!
Hopefully I will improve soon!

Wanda (Busy Bee)... who is becoming really jealous of those CTers! ;)



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Yes, that was me. However, I have been reading online nearly non-
stop - or at least every free minute, since finding this group, LbNA
and a Webring on the subject of 'all things letterboxing', since I
first read the article in Family Fun this past Saturday.

So what I DID go after at Hobby Lobby, and what I came home with
were these items.... A Speedball Speedy-Stamp Stamp Making Kit:
4"x6" Speedy Stamp block, wooden handle, No.2 V-shaped line cutter,
No.4 U-shaped gouge, tracing paper and a leaflet with 5 images, and
I also got an extra Carving Block: Staedtler Mastercarve "Cuts Like
Butter". However, I figured the five images provided were much too
common for signatures with beginning letterboxers, so tried to carve
something different - a comical cartoonish bee, in a frame. However,
she looks seriously inebriated! But, I could live with her... Then
this evening I tried to carve a stamp for my first (to be) planted
letterbox. I wanted it to fit the theme of the place I have
selected. Having learned from carving the bee, to be more careful, I
looked for some appropriate gifs on the internet, rather than
drawing my own image. So I found an image, transfered it, reversed
it to use as a mirror image on the other end of the stamp, and wrote
wording between/above the two figures. Transfered it all, and
started carving... This one was even worse than my signature stamp!
Actually, I think I just chose the wrong gif to use, AND got started
out on the wrong foot this time.... BUT... I will keep at it and
practice, practice, practice. I hate to use the 'plain and simple'
examples from the brochure, since I am sure there are hundreds of
those out there from previous newbies, but I may have to, to get a
decent image.

Thank you so much, Cadenza, for taking the time to try to help
me!

Signed,
Still plugging (um, carving) away in South Texas...

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, wrote:
> Wanda, was it you who said you were going to buy gum erasers? If
so, that
> may be part of your problem. I have found them to be too crumbly
for my
> tastes personally.
>
> Cadenza
>
> From: "Wanda"
> Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Mon, 04 Aug 2003 20:43:41 -0000
> To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [LbNA] Carved my first stamp!
>
>
> I was at Hobby Lobby shortly after they opened this morning to get
> my supplies for carving rubberstamps. When I got home with it, I
> couldn't wait to get started. But.... Is everyone's first attempt
at
> carving their stamps so...rough looking?! ;)
>
> On the way home, I scouted out two or three places to plant boxes
in
> the near future.
>
> Now to get off this computer and back to carving more stamps!
> Hopefully I will improve soon!
>
> Wanda (Busy Bee)... who is becoming really jealous of those
CTers! ;)
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> .
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Sir Balthazar,

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kindness! Your words, "Everybody has
the right to be new." really touched me! I was beginning to feel a
little like a untalented hanger-on, in a semi-closed group of
experts. ;)
I think it's either going to take a lot more practice, or else the
luck of finding someone nearby who makes stamps and be able
to 'carve with them' awhile - or BOTH!
I was wishing that it was more like the CT area, here... SO many
letterboxes all over the place, and so many letterboxers. That does
sound wonderful. But with the setback of my carving dissatisfaction,
it will take me awhile to be able to plant many boxes anyway... I
will have plenty to keep me busy!

Thanks again for your help and wisdom.



--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Sir Balthazar"
wrote:
> >But.... Is everyone's first attempt at
> > carving their stamps so...rough looking?! ;)
> >
> > Wanda (Busy Bee)... who is becoming really jealous of those
> CTers! ;)
>
> Dear Wanda,
>
> Everybody has the right to be new. Some of the fun of this craft
is
> improving in skill, as well as the art. Whatever it looks like
now,
> make the next one better. Keep on trying. You are doing stuff that
> very few folks ever attempt.
>
> Correct tools is vital for this. Honestly, you skimp on tools at
the
> risk of getting discouraged and quitting.
>
> The Speedball carving set with about four gouges in it is fine. I
do
> not know how other folks do it with Xacto Blades but the gouges
are
> meant for the kind of work we do.
>
> I recently bought a Two Cherries 0.5 mm gouge. It is immensely
> satisfying to use. The tip is only a third as wide as the smallest
> Speedball one. It is pricey, however; I spent about $32 on the one
> gouge.
>
> The best carving material is, by far, the Master Carve (has a logo
> that says "carves like butter".) I like the thick stuff for
personal
> stamps and the thinner for boxes.
>
> Sir Speedycut to me is too crumbly and both resists and then gives
> unexpectedly. Not good. There is some thin pink stuff that works
well
> enough, especially for microboxes. But you can carve Pink Pearl
> erasers and get something fairly okay, right?
>
> Again, it is good to be a little dissatisfied with anything you do
in
> art. Let other folks believe you meant it that way: rough.
Remember
> that we do not really want to have store bought stamps or stamps
that
> look like they are store bought.
>
> You might as JugglerMouse for tips on carving, BTW. She is the
best
> we have around here.
>
> Respectfully submitted,
> Sir Balthazar
> P18 F66 X25

LOL!

Oh, please don't feel like an outsider in a group of experts, Wanda! I, for one, have been boxing for about 3 yrs. and have only carved two stamps, and neither is all that pretty! :-) Some of us really could not care less for the artisitic end of the passtime, and buy stamps. Or we just don't want to devote the time and energy to carving. To some, the clue-making, the solving, or the just-getting-out-there is what it's all about. If you want to perfect your carving, go for it! I've seen some awesome carved stamps, and others I just can't even discern what the picture is supposed to be. :::sigh::: Other times, a store-bought stamp is just the right one for a particular box.

Anyway, have fun with whatever it is about l'boxing that floats your boat (or moves your hiking shoes).

Mary
----- Original Message -----
From: Wanda
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 10:48 PM
Subject: [LbNA] Re: Carved my first stamp!


Dear Sir Balthazar,

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kindness! Your words, "Everybody has
the right to be new." really touched me! I was beginning to feel a
little like a untalented hanger-on, in a semi-closed group of
experts. ;)




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.500 / Virus Database: 298 - Release Date: 7/13/03

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Don't even worry about what they are looking like. They will get better,
and as you get the hang of it, you will learn to love it. Personally, I
have only been carving since April. Some of my letterboxes are a little
scary looking, but I am really starting to get excited about some of my
recent ones and the ones I'm working on now. I hope we don't feel closed to
you, because most letterboxers I know would reach out to help in a second.
It's one of the things that makes this hobby so great!

keep on carvin'

From: "Wanda"
Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tue, 05 Aug 2003 02:48:53 -0000
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] Re: Carved my first stamp!


Dear Sir Balthazar,

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kindness! Your words, "Everybody has
the right to be new." really touched me! I was beginning to feel a
little like a untalented hanger-on, in a semi-closed group of
experts. ;)
I think it's either going to take a lot more practice, or else the
luck of finding someone nearby who makes stamps and be able
to 'carve with them' awhile - or BOTH!
I was wishing that it was more like the CT area, here... SO many
letterboxes all over the place, and so many letterboxers. That does
sound wonderful. But with the setback of my carving dissatisfaction,
it will take me awhile to be able to plant many boxes anyway... I
will have plenty to keep me busy!

Thanks again for your help and wisdom.



--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Sir Balthazar"
wrote:
> >But.... Is everyone's first attempt at
> > carving their stamps so...rough looking?! ;)
> >
> > Wanda (Busy Bee)... who is becoming really jealous of those
> CTers! ;)
>
> Dear Wanda,
>
> Everybody has the right to be new. Some of the fun of this craft
is
> improving in skill, as well as the art. Whatever it looks like
now,
> make the next one better. Keep on trying. You are doing stuff that
> very few folks ever attempt.
>
> Correct tools is vital for this. Honestly, you skimp on tools at
the
> risk of getting discouraged and quitting.
>
> The Speedball carving set with about four gouges in it is fine. I
do
> not know how other folks do it with Xacto Blades but the gouges
are
> meant for the kind of work we do.
>
> I recently bought a Two Cherries 0.5 mm gouge. It is immensely
> satisfying to use. The tip is only a third as wide as the smallest
> Speedball one. It is pricey, however; I spent about $32 on the one
> gouge.
>
> The best carving material is, by far, the Master Carve (has a logo
> that says "carves like butter".) I like the thick stuff for
personal
> stamps and the thinner for boxes.
>
> Sir Speedycut to me is too crumbly and both resists and then gives
> unexpectedly. Not good. There is some thin pink stuff that works
well
> enough, especially for microboxes. But you can carve Pink Pearl
> erasers and get something fairly okay, right?
>
> Again, it is good to be a little dissatisfied with anything you do
in
> art. Let other folks believe you meant it that way: rough.
Remember
> that we do not really want to have store bought stamps or stamps
that
> look like they are store bought.
>
> You might as JugglerMouse for tips on carving, BTW. She is the
best
> we have around here.
>
> Respectfully submitted,
> Sir Balthazar
> P18 F66 X25


Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks, Cadenza. :) Since you have only been carving for about 4
months, you know what I am talking about! After neatening up my
latest stamp, I am going to go ahead and use it, in the box I hope
to plant this week. Even though it did not turn out like I wanted
it, it does have decent lettering. At least that's one good thing.

No, you don't feel closed. I was just frustrated with the carving
not going well.

Wanda


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, wrote:
> Don't even worry about what they are looking like. They will get
better,
> and as you get the hang of it, you will learn to love it.
Personally, I
> have only been carving since April. Some of my letterboxes are a
little
> scary looking, but I am really starting to get excited about some
of my
> recent ones and the ones I'm working on now. I hope we don't feel
closed to
> you, because most letterboxers I know would reach out to help in a
second.
> It's one of the things that makes this hobby so great!
>
> keep on carvin'
>
> From: "Wanda"
> Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Tue, 05 Aug 2003 02:48:53 -0000
> To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [LbNA] Re: Carved my first stamp!
>
>
> Dear Sir Balthazar,
>
> THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kindness! Your words, "Everybody has
> the right to be new." really touched me! I was beginning to feel a
> little like a untalented hanger-on, in a semi-closed group of
> experts. ;)
> I think it's either going to take a lot more practice, or else the
> luck of finding someone nearby who makes stamps and be able
> to 'carve with them' awhile - or BOTH!
> I was wishing that it was more like the CT area, here... SO many
> letterboxes all over the place, and so many letterboxers. That does
> sound wonderful. But with the setback of my carving
dissatisfaction,
> it will take me awhile to be able to plant many boxes anyway... I
> will have plenty to keep me busy!
>
> Thanks again for your help and wisdom.
>
>
>
> --- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Sir Balthazar"
> wrote:
> > >But.... Is everyone's first attempt at
> > > carving their stamps so...rough looking?! ;)
> > >
> > > Wanda (Busy Bee)... who is becoming really jealous of those
> > CTers! ;)
> >
> > Dear Wanda,
> >
> > Everybody has the right to be new. Some of the fun of this craft
> is
> > improving in skill, as well as the art. Whatever it looks like
> now,
> > make the next one better. Keep on trying. You are doing stuff
that
> > very few folks ever attempt.
> >
> > Correct tools is vital for this. Honestly, you skimp on tools at
> the
> > risk of getting discouraged and quitting.
> >
> > The Speedball carving set with about four gouges in it is fine. I
> do
> > not know how other folks do it with Xacto Blades but the gouges
> are
> > meant for the kind of work we do.
> >
> > I recently bought a Two Cherries 0.5 mm gouge. It is immensely
> > satisfying to use. The tip is only a third as wide as the
smallest
> > Speedball one. It is pricey, however; I spent about $32 on the
one
> > gouge.
> >
> > The best carving material is, by far, the Master Carve (has a
logo
> > that says "carves like butter".) I like the thick stuff for
> personal
> > stamps and the thinner for boxes.
> >
> > Sir Speedycut to me is too crumbly and both resists and then
gives
> > unexpectedly. Not good. There is some thin pink stuff that works
> well
> > enough, especially for microboxes. But you can carve Pink Pearl
> > erasers and get something fairly okay, right?
> >
> > Again, it is good to be a little dissatisfied with anything you
do
> in
> > art. Let other folks believe you meant it that way: rough.
> Remember
> > that we do not really want to have store bought stamps or stamps
> that
> > look like they are store bought.
> >
> > You might as JugglerMouse for tips on carving, BTW. She is the
> best
> > we have around here.
> >
> > Respectfully submitted,
> > Sir Balthazar
> > P18 F66 X25
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> .
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Mary,

Thank you for your reply. And thank all of you for putting up with
my dissatisfied whining over my meager stamp carving abilities.
Yes, Mary... with so many 'parts' to this activity, there are
different focuses for different letterboxers. I can understand that.
Thanks for reminding me.

So I am still going to work on carving, but for now, my main focus
will be getting out there with our two oldest grandchildren and
looking for boxes while enjoying the scenery. :)

Wanda


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Mary \(RI\)"
wrote:
> LOL!
>
> Oh, please don't feel like an outsider in a group of experts,
Wanda! I, for one, have been boxing for about 3 yrs. and have only
carved two stamps, and neither is all that pretty! :-) Some of us
really could not care less for the artisitic end of the passtime,
and buy stamps. Or we just don't want to devote the time and energy
to carving. To some, the clue-making, the solving, or the just-
getting-out-there is what it's all about. If you want to perfect
your carving, go for it! I've seen some awesome carved stamps, and
others I just can't even discern what the picture is supposed to
be. :::sigh::: Other times, a store-bought stamp is just the right
one for a particular box.
>
> Anyway, have fun with whatever it is about l'boxing that floats
your boat (or moves your hiking shoes).
>
> Mary
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Wanda
> To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 10:48 PM
> Subject: [LbNA] Re: Carved my first stamp!
>
>
> Dear Sir Balthazar,
>
> THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kindness! Your words, "Everybody
has
> the right to be new." really touched me! I was beginning to feel
a
> little like a untalented hanger-on, in a semi-closed group of
> experts. ;)
>
>
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.500 / Virus Database: 298 - Release Date: 7/13/03
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]