And on another note ...

 This post is not about letterboxing, but it may be useful for those especially taken with house plants.

So, as you may know, we took a month-long road trip across the country. There is so much to say about that, but it will keep for now (more posts to come!). One of the conundrums when considering leaving the house unoccupied for a month was how to keep the house plants from withering from lack of water. Well, we discovered a great DIY method, and you know what? It worked like a freakin' charm!!

this is what I found upon returning
from our road trip - happy plants!

Look closely - we positioned the plant over a bucket of water, using the lid with holes cut in it. Then we poked a cotton (doubled-over) clothesline up through the hole(s) in the pot and pulled it through to the top of the dirt. We dangled the clothesline into the water in the bucket, and voila! the clothesline wicked up water and kept the dirt in the pot at just the right moisture level! 

The clothesline was coaxed through the bottom of the pot, and
laid on top the dirt. The other end dangled out the bottom of the pot and into
the water. It wicked the water up into the soil, thus watering the plant!

All the plants, including my picky Ginseng Ficus bonsai, were watered and happy during our absence. I must admit I was a bit skeptical it would work, but really had nothing else to try. I am thrilled it worked ... and so were my plants! 

I actually had this string of pearls sitting over a smaller bucket while we were gone. It did so well I decided to continue with the wicking-cotton method; I rigged up a small container to hold the water. 

here you can see the cotton clothesline
dangling into the water

Prior to leaving, we arranged them all under one of our skylights, which I am sure, didn't hurt. No direct sunlight, but lots of light. 

So, you may want to give this a try the next time you have to leave your plant-babies unattended over scheduled watering. Just make sure you use cotton clothesline, or something similar, that readily wicks water (not plastic or poly-anything). We used cheap buckets from Ace Hardware and cut holes in the lids with a hole-cutting drill bit. The hardest (and messiest) part was running the doubled clothesline through the bottom of the pot to the top; I taped the tip to help poke it through. You can separate the clothesline into smaller strands for smaller pots/holes.

Have you had to leave your house plants for extended periods of time? What did you do to keep them watered and happy?

Yellow Stazon.

Q: "I am interested in the use of Stazon to set the toner. You say you "tapped" the ink over the image. Can you explain further? Thank you!"

Yes, and thank you for the question!

This has to be one of the best tips I have received since I have returned to 'boxing - maybe even since I began carving so long ago. I have used this technique now for parchment transfer as well as pencil transfer. The contrast is somehow such that I can get more precise carving than when I don't use it.

It is simple: after transferring your image to the carving material, simply tap the ink pad over the entire image. I roughly 'cut out' the image from the larger piece of material I am using to ensure I only ink the image I want to carve, not material I may wish to use later. Once you give it a go, you will understand 'tapping' - gently applying a thin layer of ink to the image. I am careful not to apply too much ink because it will take a bit longer to dry. Then, after tapping ink all over the image, I set it aside and let it dry. This only take a short time - no more than 30 minutes, for sure, and more than likely much less. Then it is ready to carve.

I hope that helps explain the use of yellow Stazon ink for carving - for me, it really makes the transferred lines/shapes pop to accommodate more precise carving.

Shameless plug.

 "You've been busy!"

Well, to be frank, if one has found all the local boxes, all there is to do is carve and plant!

This is definitely a shameless plug for the many boxes in Grays Harbor that are live and ready for finders. 

the beach is calling!

When first getting back into 'boxing, I dug through my old carves and decided to plant a local series called Explore the Shores. It is fun, but it does not have the beachy flavor that is so appealing when close to the shore. So, I carved a micro-series and created a fun Passport-type adventure, sprinkling them all over the town - you can't help but to learn things you didn't know about this kitschy, little resort town when finding these! I also chose to disguise them all as a rock, so they were extremely fun to plant! I was so jazzed, I carved another set to lure boxers to the Gems of Grays Harbor - our many state parks. 

A boxer could rack up some serious finds with just a day trip to OS, but it would be even more fun to spend the night and then search out more more the next day. And spring is a great time to come, especially if it is one of our fantastic sunny (or even dry) days; few bugs and perfect finding temperatures - not too hot and not too cold. Don't forget to bring your camera! You will be surprised with scenery you just won't see in the city. If you come down (or up, as it may be), hit me up for an exchange! If you choose to visit the coast of Washington, I promise you will not be disappointed. Your find-count will thank you :)

ps. I just realized that I have been back 'in' boxing for a year now! Wow! I love this hobby! :)

Cleverly disguised as a rock.

 Oh my goodness.

Where has this idea been my whole life?

Obimaster displays our first 'fake rock' find
from this last weekend

From the first time I saw LCAB's tutorial video on making 'fake rocks' for letterboxes (find it in the sidebar >>), I have had this itch to give it a go. But, I hadn't even found one in the wild, so really wasn't sure if they would even work. I had so many questions ... but they have all been answered now, especially after finding one on a recent boxing foray. In a word: they work like a charm!

But, even before we found this little jewel, we gave making them a go. Messy, it is! But, I've got it down now. First, we did it together, but the last round I tackled myself, and made a bunch!

so, this is what we decided on when
what LCAB recommended wasn't readily available

in process the first go-round;
we used playground sand as the base
to mold the concrete

here is a finished one of the first batch ... as you can see,
I  gave it a spray of texturized brown,
which around here matches the mud on a trail

this is a microbox 'rock' - my absolute favorite! In our neck of the woods,
grey, sandy rocks work best for most places, so I sprinkled playground sand
on the wet concrete, kind of like aggregate

here is that microbox -
it actually slides out so the finder can access the contents;
I added Gorilla (duct) tape to the outside of the film canister
to give it a little thickness so they wouldn't just slip out
when you picked up the 'rock'

hidden microbox in-situ - it's a beautiful thing!

Basically, you mix the concrete to desired consistency (definitely not too wet!), then mold it around the box (we used the cheapie boxes from Dollar Tree), making sure the concrete is not obstructing the lid (LCAB does a great job describing this part). I also sprinkled sand over the wet, molded concrete to give it more texture. Then, the hardest part: you have to wait until it sets up good and hard. Around here, in the cooler temps, that is 24-48 hours. After they are dry, I spray the bottom with a dark spray paint to cover the bright colored plastic. Yes, this will get scraped off over time, but we will see how long that lasts (it can't be any worse than camo-tape turning bright blue from exposure, right?)

The microbox (film canister) rocks were a little more tricky: I took a handful of concrete, shaped it into a ball, then with my thumbs made a hole in the center. Then, with a film canister covered in 1 (mil.) plastic sheeting, I pushed it into the hole-space and molded the concrete around it. When it seemed right, and after a sprinkling of sand, it was left to set. The 'dryer' the concrete mix, the easier it was to mold into the rock shape I wanted. Too wet and it would droop - not good (but made me laugh!). Too dry and you can't do anything but add more water. I eventually got the hang of it. With the concrete product we chose, I had to move kinda fast.

So, instead of camo-tape, use concrete to cover those boxes. I have found them amazingly easy to hide, especially in urban areas with landscape rocks, around trees, and under logs. If the grey, sand-color stood out, I just found some mud to rub on the top and it disappeared like a charm. And if they were intended for planting on a trail, I sprayed them with textured spray paint - it comes in a few different appropriate shades.

But, the real test is yet to come - when finders try to find them. I do think that it is important to tell finders what they are looking for - no matter a box, a pouch, or a rock. My thought is that the quicker they can find it, the quicker they can do their thing and get it re-hidden before attracting unwanted attention. On the trail is easier, of course, but in most urban or suburban locations, timing is everything when ducking muggles.

Out on a beautiful trail in Everett

Lookin' to downsize.

So, everyone wants to talk about what they carry on the trail  - what they deem important inside their letterboxing pack. I recently posted about creating an 'emergency letterboxing kit' to keep in my car (or in my bag) for those impromptu boxing opportunities. Just having that little kit has made me yearn for a smaller letterboxing pack. 

This is a perfect size for a small backpack,
and it is made wonderfully - unfortunately, it is not cheap.
Definitely a downside. But, it won't wear out!

I love my little Ori backpack, truly - it is the perfect size, it is made beautifully, waterproof with a trail-proof bottom, and it comes in a lot of really nice colors. I think you would be hard-pressed to wear this thing out. But, it is not cheap, which is definitely a downside. And it is not heavy, but what I carry in it is. 

The weight of the 8" x 5" Moleskin logbook, all those inks,
and the plastic box all adds up!

In addition to my log and ink box, I carry other things in there, too: gloves, letterbox first-aid (extra zips, felt, and small logbooks), a small first aid kit, and an extra pen & notebook for planting notes. And of course, my cell phone. Frankly, it feels like too much - I want to downsize!

This might be more like it ...

This Moleskin logbook is only 5.5" x 3.5",
and that oversized Altoid tin (4" x 3") doesn't weigh anything close to that plastic box.
And just two ink pads is a lot lighter than a whole rainbow.

I was thinking about getting a smaller pack, as well, but I may just swap out the book and ink box to see if that makes enough difference. I think I will miss all the colors, but in reality, the boxes we have been finding lately (really since we have been back in) don't require a rainbow of colors. I have known people who have carried Tombow markers, and it is really cool to have all those colors, but I would be afraid of mucking up my spendy pens with a black-ink-encrusted stamp. I also used to carry a small, damp rag to clean stamps, but that seems to be unnecessary at this point, as well. Nowadays, I just end up using a dark ink, for the most part.

on the trail in Troutdale, Oregon

Now, I will say I am fortunate - Obimaster carries all the other items that are nice to have on the trail: a small trowel, waterproof gloves (mine are not, unfortunately), clippers (for those nasty blackberry brambles), small flashlight, and probably other things I am unaware of ... it is his pack, after all. I am in charge of the ink and stamping business, and he is the tool-guy. So it works. But, if you need to carry those things because you don't have an extra boxer with you who is a tool-guy (or gal), I am sure there are small lightweight clippers to be had, and you could use an old fork in place of a trowel (in fact, that was a great suggestion from a fellow boxer last time we were talking about boxing packs). We don't have a big bug problem around the PNW, generally, so I don't carry bug spray in my pack - it is in the car, though, in case we are boxing in August on the peninsula. Yikes!

What do you think? Is smaller better? Just for fun, I weighed the large log and ink box and the smaller kit to see if there was a difference. Turns out the larger log and inks are 1 pound, 8.4 oz, while the smaller options are 1 pound lighter. Doesn't sound like a lot, really. But, maybe the smaller log and inks would be more discreet, especially if I were to get a smaller backpack or bag. (I am now remembering that Thunderbird wears a fishing vest - hm, not a bad idea!) 

Perhaps discretion is motivating my desire to downsize a bit - it seems like there are way more muggles on the trails than I remember from years ago. The parks are packed, parking is a premium, there are always dog-walkers, and kids are everywhere. (Don't get me wrong - that's a good thing!) All those other park visitors are making it more challenging to not attract attention while working out a clue. My goal is to find the box, stamp in quick, and get it back in place before being spotted - which is almost impossible. Even in the middle of winter! Maybe that is why more boxes are planted in cemeteries - not a lot of muggles hanging around there :)

Douglass Pioneer Cemetery

Just in case ...

 I don't know where I heard it, but it was like an earworm: Emergency LB Kit. 

Wait ... what??

Just imagine - I am out and about, running errands, and suddenly, out of nowhere, I get the distinct feeling there is a letterbox lurking close. And I just can't shake the feeling - it clings and whispers, begging me to jump online to check if my present location may, indeed, have a box hidden ...

But, wait - I DON'T HAVE MY BOXING BAG.

*big frowny face*

Has that scenario happened to you? Enter the Emergency LB Kit!

Here's my initial attempt:

I have a bunch of these a-bit oversized altoid-type containers - cuz you just never know when you are gonna need one - and a couple of siggys that I had carved trying out different types of carving material. Next was a small logbook out of my letterboxing-first-aid stash, and a small ink pad, of which I have many, and voila! I guess the hardest part was finding a shorty pen to add. The whole affair slips into my everyday bag and now I am ready, baby! I really do hate being unprepared.

Can't wait to give it a try :)

Speaking of carving material, another letterboxer had recently mentioned some pink-type carving material that they especially liked, so I snagged some to try. 

My thoughts: I liked it alright, although it was a bit soft for the Pfeil and FlexCut tools, I thought. I had to be mindful not to press too hard, as it would dig in too deep. I did appreciate that it cut easily with an X-Acto, which I use for shaping the stamp itself, not carving the detail. I would suggest giving this material a try if your preferred tool is Staedtler or Speedball gouges. And it takes ink pretty well. Above I used Distress Ink, Marvy, and VersaFine (black). I do wish this material was a smidge firmer, but that's just me. 

And, if you must know, my grown son likes to come with us boxing sometimes, and this is his new sig-stamp. *chuckle*

So, what do you think - do you think you would use or need an Emergency LB Kit? Or do you just keep your boxing bag in the car, at the ready? 

Here's an idea (or two).

When we travel, I typically like to take a 'travel carving kit' just in case the planting or carving mood strikes (which it often does). However, this last time I had neglected to grab the current sheet of Tan Z I had been hacking away at, and only had a new sheet in my pack. Unfortunately, it had not been prepped - lightly sanded to remove the sheen on the carving side - prior to packing. I quickly realized I couldn't carve anything on an unprepped sheet. Bummer. So, how many of us carry around ultra-fine sand paper in our luggage?

Thankfully we were traveling with the MacGyver. What's the MacGyver, you ask? 

the MacGyver is kept in a bucket
like this one

When we began to outfit our new travel trailer last summer, I suggested that we keep a kit onboard with random odds and ends beyond a standard RV tool kit - really anything that might pertain to an urgent RV fix. My travel companion is very handy with repairs using anything we may have on hand, so it became the 'MacGyver' kit, named after the shlocky television show (c. 1985-1992). We stocked a big-box hardware store bucket with duct tape (of course!) and Gorilla clear tape, various types of screws and fasteners, velcro, zip ties, putty and adhesives, rubber bands and bungies, sharpies, shims ... you get the idea. We have added so many random items to the bucket, we are really unsure what it contains anymore!  Amazingly, it has been put to frequent use in our travels and is the the first place we go when we need something - even when we are at home! I guess it is the ultimate junk drawer ... uh, bucket! 

So, when I needed sandpaper, we hauled out the MacGyver and sure enough, there was some in there! Yay us! It wasn't as ultra fine as I needed, but it worked in a pinch - I think it was 300 (grit) or so. It left some larger gouges in the surface, but not deep enough that a good dunk in pigment ink wouldn't resolve. With a light touch, I was able to sand enough material to be able to carve what I wanted.

1 x 1.5", on Tan Z

That experience led me to a not-previously considered solution to this material-sanding conundrum. It became apparent that using a palm sander would be most efficient to prepare/sand the surface of my carving material stash when I received it, rather than when I needed to use it. I had been using sanding blocks, but that was clunky, time consuming, and left an inconsistent surface.

I found this one for under $35 at my local Ace Hardware (the cheapest they had). Hardware stores sell pre-packaged quarter sheets of sandpaper to fit this type of sander, but not as fine as I wanted (at least at my Ace). I just grabbed a package of 600 grit sandpaper sheets to cut to size. And, it worked great! Never again will I be scrounging around for sandpaper in a carving pinch because all new carving material will be prepped as soon as it hits my craft desk!

the rolling-hotel :)

A bit of a refresher.

 For those of us who have been out of the letterboxing loop for a bit, here is a bit of a refresher. These were carved quite a number of years ago. Still good reminders.

no social trails off the marked trails, please

chemicals can make stamps sticky-icky :(

we don't have many stone walls around these parts,
but always a good idea to plant carefully and wisely to protect the area,
especially culturally historic places

first-aid for 'boxers and 'boxes is a great idea!

gosh, this is a tough one, and includes geocaches, as well - 
never hurts to check available box-listings prior to planting

and, this last one is inspiration for myself
to finish that stamp still sitting on my craft desk...

Lost and Found

When I started carving, I didn't even think about saving my images for history sake. But it wasn't too long into the journey that I started a logbook to record all my carving success. They were always a source of inspiration and fun to look through every once in a while - to remember where I had been and what I had done.

As you know, I have been working at getting myself reestablished for carving and creating. In the effort, I realized I had misplaced those carving logs. To think I had lost them, (or worse, gotten rid of them), made my heart hurt. I looked for a couple of days only to come up empty-handed and frustrated.

But, this morning, my beloved found them stashed in his office for 'safe keeping.' I am sure I put them there, but just didn't remember. I am so grateful to have them back at my fingertips. Looking through page after page of images gives me hope - if I did it once, I can do it again! I must admit, I am a bit rusty. 

Maybe you would like to see some of the pages from the first log...

That super yard sale stamp is about 5" across - as you can imagine, the more I carved, the smaller the stamps and details would become. And yes, this was back when finding fantastic carving material and tools was not an issue. We didn't know how good we had it!

I wonder about those Nat'l Day of Planting stamps - as I remember, they were for the country-wide event, and it says 'first annual,' but I am not sure if it is what evolved into what is called PAL today. The stamps are cool - I wonder if they are still in my pile-o-stamps - I guess I will know when I take the time to go through them all! 

So, I leave you with a slice of pleasure. Back in the day, after the family was well asleep, I spent many a night carving with with only my thoughts and music as company. Last night I had the opportunity to find that space again. It made me realize how much I have changed, and how much of me has remained the same. 

Much to ponder. Meditate on it, I will.

Matchbooks

Well, they used to be called matchbooks.  Do you remember those?  My grandmother used to decorate them for the holidays with pretty foil wrapping paper and display them in a cut crystal dish on the coffee table.  Of course, that was during the days when everyone smoked, so it was practical as well as beautifully festive.

Since my early days of acting as festival coordinator for our congregation I have decorated match boxes.  For our biblical festivals it seems like we are always lighting candles for some reason, and I took the opportunity to spruce up the plain, generic match boxes (instead of books) to correspond with the festival.

Here's my latest for Hanukkah, which is coming up quicker than I would like to admit.  I used hand-carved stamps on these, but there are many store-bought stamps you could use, as well.

Simply craft paper cut to size, decorate with stamps then glue them to the box. (I used Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive - one of my favorites.)  I chose to add a little festive sparkle with small Swarowski Elements crystals.

Now we are ready to light that menorah!

Sprucin' Up

I certainly like to use clipboards - they are my best friend when in the middle of a project with lots of details. I almost can't think through the details of a larger project without one in my hands!  In my current project of de-cluttering my home, I have corralled a few of my beloved clipboards.  I have to admit, they were lookin' a little worse for wear.

After being inspired at a quaint antique store I had the pleasure of visiting this last weekend, I decided they needed a little sprucin' up...a much needed a face lift.  

This first one was definitely the workhorse of my clipboard entourage - it's an old fashioned, heavy one which has a real feel of authority to it.  *smile*  I decided it needed some antique-looking decoration.  I used  Collage Pauge and some fun scrapbooking paper - see what you think...

it's like a giant LTC!

This clipboard rode around in my shul bag for assorted smaller projects and the much needed word-searches.  It already had a Star Wars theme; I had stamped a bunch of my SW stamps onto the bare wood.  But, this - yeah, I like this much better.  I found this paper at Ben Franklin, and it had to come home with me.

(it looks the same on the back)

But, this last one is the fun one.  Inspired by a recent acquisition of a special coffee LTC (thanks MiSs cHiEvOuS!), I chose some of my favorite rubber stamp art out of my massive collection to grace this clipboard.  I look forward to sharing this one with others in the future.  I'm sure they will be in awe.

I used spray sealer prior to adding the
Collage Pauge so the ink didn't run.

I think these are artistic enough to just hang on the wall - I love them!

Tassels anyone?

Anyone else read Martha Stewart's crafty blog?  Sometimes it really gets the creative juices flowing.  And, who doesn't love the photos?

I just couldn't resist this little tassel project - can't remember the last time I made a tassel.  We used to make pom-poms for our shoes and roller skates when I was a kid...too much fun!

Here's the link.  Isn't there something I can do with a couple of these?