I also am having great fun carving -- it's addictive! My favorite
thing to carve has been the Mars Staedtler erasers, although larger
than pink or red erasers (1.5" x 3"), they are still limited in
size. I like the pink Speedy-Stamp also but not the price.
Yesterday I found another product made by Speedball, called Speedy-
Cut, which comes in 2.75" x 4.5" blocks for $2 at Hobby Lobby. I
have not yet carved it, but the consistency feels creamy like the
Mars erasers. I have also seen the PZ Cut mentioned by Don praised
on a few stamping sites. Am interested to know how you fare with the
gaskets and if the material is suitable.

I have a couple of questions in regards to stamp carving perhaps one
of the more veteran carvers could help with:

- The Mars erasers are so thick, they make the stamp rather bulky.
Do you par this down, and if so, what is the best way to ensure an
even trim?
- I have been using an Xacto knife for carving. I like the way it
handles, but it is difficult to get large white spaces carved
evenly. Is there a good tool to use for undercutting large white
spaces?
- What are people's feelings in regards to stamp size? I see
several of the new boxes going out have been micro boxes so imagine
the stamp is quite small to fit. I recently ran across a box with a
very large stamp -- as I am using a decent size sketch pad as my
journal, the image fit, but it would not have fit were a person using
a small sketch pad as their log.
--(last one ;-) What are your feelings about alternate materials for
the stamp? I ran across a box and the stamp appeared to be made from
some kind of leading rather than carved from rubber. It was a
beautiful stamp which appeared to be handmade, but it did not take
ink very well and even after several tries, I was not able to get a
crisp stamp. It occurred to me later as I cleaned the silver stuff
off my hands that maybe I wasn't supposed to ink it and the silver
would make the imprint? Not sure on this...

An insight is much appreciated! Thanks!

SpringChick


--- In letterbox-usa@y..., Fireflylight@a... wrote:
> It's official... I've become obsessive-compulsive about carving
stamps. I'm
> loving it!
> Here's the question...
> I have found some pink material made by Speedball - I think it's
called
> Speedy Stamp. So far, it is my favorite thing to carve in.
Erasers are
> good, but they are slightly too small for me. The problem with
Speedy Stamp
> is that it is kind of expensive. $6.00 for a piece that is about
3x6".
>
> Has anyone discovered anything cheaper and equally as good?
>
> On one stamp carver's website, she suggested using sheets of
plumber's
> gasket. Does anyone know what this stuff is? I spent a fruitless
half hour
> wandering the aisles of Home Depot looking for it. I just could
not bring
> myself to ask the big burly home improvement guys for it for fear
they would
> ask me what I needed for!
>
> "Are you doing some plumbing, ma'am?"
> "Um... no, I'm carving rubber stamps so I can go hide them in the
woods.."
>
> It was just not a conversation I wanted to have!
>
> So, anyways...
> Any suggestions would be appreciated!
>
> Thanks!
> Coleen
> F6P4