Catchin' my breath.

Sometimes time slips away, especially when we are so busy jumping from one event to another. I won't lie - these past few weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster. I graduated with a second Master's degree, my daughter got married, then another friend got married, and in the midst of it all, we were suffering with the first nasty cold-sickness since the start of the pandemic. Gosh, there are times when life is just a tumble of so much stuff we cannot even process it all. Much less keeping up with posting on a hobby blog! 

Here are some pics from the whirlwind:

Hosted a bridal shower ...

watched our family expand at the event of the year ...

then was privileged to be a part of this joyous event!

Jedi in attendance!

Unfortunately, in the background of all the social events and hotel rooms, there was local school district drama that Samsonite was right smack in the middle of, since she is the union president. She really needed a mental break, so us girls headed to Wenatchee for some much needed sunshine and boxing to shake off the fatigue. We were thrilled to find ALL the boxes we attempted!

a quick get-away to Wenatchee

The boyz and I were able to sneak away for a bit of boxing in the RV, too - it was a nice break between the shower and the wedding. 

I always think of my mother when I see trillium - 
they were popping out on the trail

Tay and I

A sweet trail pic with Obimaster

On the trail with "Blarg" - he is a great boxer (trained early!!),
has an awesome sense of humor, and I am so thankful he is in my life. 

Amazingly, I have been able to squeak in a bit of carving (call it self-care) and preparing boxes to take on our upcoming road trip, including those graciously gifted by Gypsy Fiddler (and they are great, too!). This one I carved to plant during our visit to the deep South next week:

we will be visiting my beloved former MIL in Lucedale
(stamp size 3" x 2.25")

But these are my favorites; I worked on these far longer than I care to admit! 

Carved for a friend's upcoming event:

(the widest is Ollivander's at about 4" wide,
and the tallest is Quidditch at about 2.75")

I have more carving on the agenda the remainder of this week, for another friend. Next week is the trip to the South where I will visit a dear letterboxing friend Mama Cache. And yes, there will be boxing, planting, and photos - because 'pics or it didn't happen'! 

Workin' the problem.

So, after hundreds and hundreds of stamps carved over the years using the pencil-transfer method, the thought occurred to me that if my transfer method provided a sharper image, my carving could also improve. But what method? Last week I asked the AQ Facebook group members which transfer method was their favorite. I heard a lot of answers, and a good number said pencil-transfer, as expected. It is hands-down the easiest and cheapest way to transfer an image to carving medium, and you don't need any special equipment. I also heard plenty about laser printers, toner, and chemicals. But one method I hadn't tried was the parchment method. After encouragement by Aunt Hillarie, I freed the parchment from the nether-reaches of the pantry and gave it a go.

the first try - success!

1. print image on plain paper

2. cut parchment to fit over image on the paper and tape it down over the printed image

3. reinsert paper + parchment into printer to print the image onto the parchment

4. remove parchment from paper and position (ink side down) onto carving material

5. using a bone folder, rub the image to transfer ink (just like the pencil-transfer)

6. carefully lift off parchment

Once the inkjet printer ink is on the carving material (in this case Firm Kut), it can be easily smeared. So, I gently tapped yellow Stazon (solvent) ink over the image to seal it. It took a short bit to dry, and then it was ready to carve!

through the magnifying lamp

I have carved a few stamps now using this method. I like it quite a lot! Since the inkjet ink does bead up a bit on the parchment, it sometimes does smear a bit when I am burnishing it onto the carving material. It has been suggested to set the printer on 'draft' to result in less ink being printed onto the parchment. In addition, I have found this method does require quite a bit of burnishing with a bone folder, so be sure to carefully check (by carefully lifting a corner of the parchment to peek at the transfer) to see if you are rubbing hard enough to transfer the amount of ink you want on the material. 

I think this transfer method has allowed me to carve more detailed images. It is not only because of a more exact image transfer (as opposed to pencil, which is not always as exact as we would like), but also because I think the yellow provides more contrast, thus more accurate carving.

Another bonus - I have started to cover my pencil transfers with this solvent ink, as well, to prevent smearing (while carving) and to provide that wonderful contrast. It would be great if the ink came in 1" pads, but we can't have it all, now can we?

3" x 1" on Firm Kut

1.25" x 2.5" on Firm Kut

Happy mail.

 

about 2" x 2" on Firm Kut

I have been sending quite a bit of 'happy mail' out lately, an effort I find immensely satisfying. Happy mail is random cards sent snail-mail to elicit a smile and show you care. Who doesn't like getting snail-mail, and likewise, who doesn't need a little pick-me-up these days? 

For happy mail, I like to use the many stamps I have carved over the years. But today this little thought popped in my head - and I just had to carve it. It is the perfect sentiment to send to a boxer, don't you think?

Impromptu.

 The only way to get better is to challenge yourself to harder images.

This was my impromptu challenge for today.

Carved on Firm Kut, 1.5" x 2".

Finishing up the year.

I suppose this will be my last post of the year. This past year has been a doozie for most of us, I am sure. It seems like it has been a long slog through media feeds and navigating toward some sort of 'normalcy.' It was unfortunate to make the difficult decision to forego attending a letterboxing event this year - I have hope that the next year may bring more confidence in gathering. 

I must give a special shout-out to Mudflinginfools (Kathleen) for the Year of Giving project; I am so grateful for the positivity and acceptance of that group of sweet-spirited, generous letterboxers. I had the pleasure to give and receive - often at times when I really needed a lift. It has resulted in many sweet spots of friendship through the months. And, who doesn't need that?

Carving and creating has always been a delightful respite from real-life pressures - I just wish I had more opportunity! You may have seen in my last post that I was fussing about a missing calendar grid - I am wondering now if I just cut it off the original stamp and tossed it - ugh! And, I had carved a few of the months as well, but was lamenting over the thickness of the lines. I have been diligently working on getting finer lines, and practice is affording some progress. During our last excursion (yes, I travel with my carving kit), I carved the rest of the year, so to speak.

all these stamps are less than 2" across
and carved on Tan-Z

Since I use the pencil-transfer method, the thought occurred to me that I was making the lines too thick even before transferring - no wonder the carved results looked thicker! Fine drawn lines equals fine transferred lines equals fine carved lines! 

To go with the months, I had fun playing with other images. 

holly scroll is 2" x 1" and the pumpkin is 1.25",
carved on Tan-Z

But, the real fun part is making them into LTCs. While I was enjoying playing with the stamps and ink, I let myself meander through past postals and LTC rings I have enjoyed, and all the letterboxers I have met and loved. I remembered the first LTC swap (Maiden Voyage) and how many LTCs have been created since. Nothing was better for me than getting a crazy idea for a swap, posting late in the evening to see who might wanna play, and then filling a tracker with with friends, old and new. I will always hold dear those years of frenzied creating and interacting with the AQ postal and LTC community. 

I probably remember it fondly because I felt accepted, respected, and liked - I felt like I belonged. Those feelings seem to be few and far between these days. Now, I generally stay away from the general AQ boards, and the facebook group is good for lurking and liking, but not so much for commenting. Even posting on my own personal facebook page can lead to conflicts and such, which makes me sad. It seems that strangers cannot agree about anything anymore, not even the weather.

some of the calendar LTCs I am playing with;
all one-of-a-kind

But, I digress. I want to end this year on a positive note, so I will quote the indomitable Wil Wheaton:

"... the only thing that ultimately matters in our lives is choosing to be kind. The world is a cruel place full of awful people. Don't be one of them. Be one of the people who lights up a room with their kindness when they walk into it."

Yes. Try to be that person, and I will try to be that person, too. And perhaps we will feel less compelled to push our opinions and judgments on others to make ourselves feel more important ... perhaps we will simply feel better because we feel accepted and respected. That has been my intention as far as I can remember, and it is still my intention for 2022. 

Hold your dear ones close. Hold to your boundaries closer. Watch that identity-building, it's a trap. Stay humble, and be generous with your patience and smiles - for you don't know the battles others are fighting and your smile and generosity could be the best part of their day.

Happy New Year!

Team LAZY BXRZ

Team Lazy Bxrz: Samsonite, Blarg (!!),
Obimaster, and myself

Well, that was too fun to carve!

This is a whole new learning curve from my Staedtler-PZ Kut duo, but I am finally getting into a groove. This 2" x 2" stamp is on Tan Z using the 0.5 mm Pheil u-gouge, the 1 mm Micro Palm Flex Cut, and my X-Acto, for general hacking (not carving detail). I used Jet Black Ranger Archival Ink to stamp. 

This is why I love carving - you can create any image you want!! And, it is uniquely you! Come to think of it, that is why I love letterboxing - every box I find is a unique effort of the planter, and I appreciate every one! 

in process ... I used the pencil-transfer method

I also played around more with the pseudo-pink-stuff I got on Amazon. While I will use what I have for simple stamps, I don't think highly detailed carving, at least the way I carve, would work very well with this material. It is just way-soft. At one point, I had to hold one side of an edge line with my finger while smoothing the other side - talk about awkward! If I hadn't held it, it would have just shmooshed away from the blade instead of being trimmed. Too soft, for sure. But, I did work with it a bit on this stamp, just to practice:

good enough to plant while
on the road trip!

This is obviously not as clean as stamps I have carved previously with Tan Z, Firm Kut, or even PZ Kut. I used the same tools above, although I did start by trying to use my old Staedtler gouges ... I quickly buried the tip into the material! Lol! Well ... *smirk* guess I have been using the woodworking-style of tools too long now to easily go back to holding the tool like a pencil. 

BTW, if anyone would like a 4" x 6" sheet of the pseudo-pink stuff to try, give a shout and I will send one to you. :)

So, I am thrilled with how that first stamp turned out - it will serve as the team stamp primarily for our upcoming road trip (next Summer, but we are heavily into the planning phase), and also for times when the four of us hit the trail ... which probably won't be for a while due to the loooong stretch of rain forecasted. When we were all younger, a bit of rain (or even a downpour) didn't really deter boxing adventures, but now I am older and a bit of a weenie (I don't like getting my logbook wet!). I well remember one such trip to Manchester SP (or was it Millersylvania?) where we ended up being forced under the eaves of the bathrooms as the drenching rain poured down. Seems to me that we had some definite challenges with some of the trails flooding ... *smile* Good times.

Anyway, no downpour lasts forever, and we are all anxious to get back out on the trail. I was excited to put my Emergency LB Kit to use last we went to town to run errands. I was thrilled to snag the local Box of the Month, hosted by SN Bone - yay! 

Who are those masked boxers?

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? 

Lookin' back for inspiration.

So, the problem - as inconsequential as it is - is regaining the ability to carve the lettering I want to carve. The solution is simple: Practice. Ha! No rocket science there! But, I find inspiration always helpful :)

Here's some lettering inspiration from a long time ago:

2.25" across; c. 2010

My favorite lettering to carve is my own handwriting ... why? No idea. But, it is my go-to, rather than a font (probably because it requires no computer!). I have seen some very impressive carvers, especially those knife-carvers, that are so precise with their carving that the stamps look store-bought! Amazing! I'm not like that - I guess I am more of a folk-art type of lettering carver. 

The stamp above was from the last month-long road trip Samsonite (then Padawan) and I took with our homeschoolers. We used it as both an exchange stamp and to log into found letterboxes.

2.25 x 3.5"
An example of font carving; I am always fascinated with word clouds

2 x 3.25"

Not sure if I still have this stamp (of a wonderful park on the Washington side of the Columbia River) - but, I am sure I carved it for an LTC swap of some sort. Carving the letters 'into' the background can be quite challenging.

Above is some of the last carving I did before ducking out of the hobby, captured in my carving log. That cuckoo clock was carved for my dear letterboxing friend, Kuku, for her amazing birthday event. It was so fun, even if my personal life was falling apart at the time. 

But, check out that lettering on those 'thank you' stamps! Those lines are so thin! (Did I really do that??) Both stamps are my own handwriting. More lettering up on the Anakin & Padme stamp, again in my own hand. (And, it doesn't have lettering but I still love that little inchie of Padawan in the lower left corner.)

Above is lettering practice from yesterday, using Tan Z. Despite the challenge of lettering, I am starting to feel pretty comfortable carving with the Pfeil and Flexcut tools. My favorites are evolving to be the Pfeil 1mm v-gouge, the Pfeil 0.5mm u-gouge, and the Flexcut palm tools from the micro set. I just bought another Flexcut palm tool, this time the 5mm u-gouge, to replace my Staedtler large gouge which I have always used for cleanup. The new Flexcut tool is a deeper gouge (than the Staedtler), so it works really nice for smoothing the edges of the stamp, as well. 

This last stamp is one I carved for those first 'inchie' swaps so long ago. This Yoda-ese sums up my thoughts about carving - both back then and now. It continues to prompt me to challenge myself with images I initially think are out of reach. Maybe it will inspire you, too.

A day in snaps.

 

coffee & carving -
practicing lettering on Tan Z with Pfeil tools

on the road -
imagining the ghostly location of a long-ago town that fell in
and faded from memory

and then onto our camping site for the next day or two
on Willapa Bay

the required awesome trail pic

and, the selfie
to prove we were there :)

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...

For Sweet Sarah

A special stamp for a special young lady - I'm so proud of you, Sarah!