Don't worry chadams, you are old enough....





LOL!!! Sorry, couldn't resist that one!!!

My son carves stamps with some supervision. He's 7, but has motor skill delays (both large and fine motor skills). He's used both the "regular" speedball gouges that we all know and love, and (at Webfoot's excellent suggestion) has used the "other ones", that you pull instead of push. He mostly needs to be reminded "how" to carve (push, pull, etc. and which direction, turn the carving material, not the knife, yadda yadda yadda) , and to keep his fingers out of the way of the gouges! Maybe I can incorporate stamp carving as part of his OT!! Yep, billing the insurance company for PZ Kut - that's a dream come true!!!!!

After the first stamp or two, I stopped hanging over him, but I do have to be in the same room when he carves. So far he has done only a few negative images, but he's so thrilled with them! I also let both kids draw pictures that I then carve.

My 4 yo has "carved" on carving material scraps, and I held my breath the whole time. But she was fine, and can probably do as good a job as the 7 yo ...... almost ;-))

Check in with Wolf Mama if she doesn't see this message - all her kids carve and the oldest is quite a whiz at it (as are the other two, of course - I'm just thinking of one particular stamp the oldest cub did which is a favorite of mine ;-)).

Mama Fox

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At what age do people start letting their Kids carve stamps, obviously under heavy supervision? Just wondering what the average was?

chadams

Hi Chaddams

My two kids started carving letterbox stamps at age 40. (actually did)

I think you will find it really depends on the abilities (mine had the abilities earlier at age 35 or so but weren't letterboxing).
There are some foam stamps that can be made with scissors for those that want to start pretty early. The regular carving ala PZKut or some other regular carving medium with Speedball tools might take a bit longer. I would not let young carvers try with exacto knives.
The "heavy supervision" statement is key. But starting with larger type stamps with simple 'negative' carves, showing how to hold a tool so you don't bleed all over the material could be handled early with some coordinated kids.

I teach shotgun shooting to novice/inexperienced very young folks and the earliest I like to have them start is 11 or 12. This has to do with hand eye coordination, muscle growth, and the willingness to listen to and follow instructions. The wanting and willingness to learn is most important so they will sit through my lengthy safety class prior to and during their instruction at a range. Even then it takes them quite a while to not have me directly behind them in the shooting stations.

I have also tried to help those younger brothers and sisters that want to join their siblings, but even though the desire is there, I have found it is best to wait until they grow a bit.
Sometimes the wait makes their experience sweeter.

Don

My son is 7. He has neither the patience or coordination. He does draw okay though. If he just absolutely HAS to have something, he comes up with the design and I do the carving. (So far) I just can't bear to have to take him to the ER with a carving injury.

"My two kids started carving letterbox stamps at age 40. (actually did)
I think you will find it really depends on the abilities (mine had the abilities earlier at age 35 or so but weren't letterboxing)."


This is just too funny. 40? What were you thinking letting your son start carving at this early an age? My, Oh my!

I have a 10 yr old DS who carves with ease. However, he likes to use the Speedball white stuff, because he has cut himself trying to use the pink stuff and the PZ Kut. He doesn't seem to care about the crumbly-ness of the white stuff and it carves easier.

I gave my God-daughter her first lesson at 6. :) She loves to come and spend 'art days' with me and is really quite amazing with respect to color selections and stamp design. Coordination is still developing, but as long as I remind her to keep her fingers out of the path of the carving tools, she does quite well - and it is so much fun to see the pride in something she has made herself, from start to finish.

Webfoot

My youngest started carving and planting his own boxes at age 7. Now my 3 sons are ages 8,9,11. The 11 year old is very artistic and if I did not note in the clue that the carvings were done by a child you would not know (he's been carving for 2 years now).

I recommend letting them draw something on paper cut to about the size you want the stamp. Then darken the image for them. You may want to simplify the design a bit and darken in areas that are not going to be carved.

Then rub the image on the carving material that is a scrap or already cut to size. They will carve a giant image in the middle of a block if you let them.

I recommend Mastercarve for them since it is very soft and they can even carve both sides and the edges since it is thick. I cut up the pieces to make it go farther. I know that some people will not want to spend on Mastercarve for a kid but soft material that "cuts like butter" and is thick enough for little fingers to grip really works nice.

Don't let them use exacto knives but do give them sharp gouges and teach them to push lightly and away from them and not in the path toward a finger. They tend to dig in deep so point out that it should not cover the top of the "V" in the blade. Forcing dull blades through hard material causes more accidents.

Go ahead and let them try -- you may be amazed what they can to -- and, hey, it's another way to build their enthusiasm for letterboxing! :)

One of mine carved as young as 6. His first stamp was done under supervision. His third I let him do alone. While gliding along with the Speedball #1, he told me he thought it was easy. I wouldn't put the sharper tools in his hands for carving yet, but he did surprisingly well with the Speedball tool.

Mama Cache

My 5 year old, Mixed up Chameleon, has carved a bit. We started with drawing something simple (like a starfish) right on the PZ, then carving with him holding the lino cutter and me holding on over his hand, guiding. Once he understood the mechanics, though, I don't really have to do that anymore. I transfer, hand him the stamp and lino cutter and let him go. Most the images he carves are of the coloring book variety. They have heavy black lines, so he knows exactly what he's getting rid of.

And, yes, I give MUC the credit for the plants....

http://www.atlasquest.com/people/logbook.html?gMemberId=6401

JPMcd

Both of my kids (ages 4 and 7) enjoy taking a go at carving. They have just finished stamps for a kids-only PLB ring. My four year old has an actual box out there,

http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/showboxinfo.html?gBoxId=24715

but I made sure to note it as a box of child's carvings lest anyone be disappointed. I have had nothing but positive feedback. He loves it whenever I tell him "someone else found your box!!"

My daughter is planning her own series. I have kind of been hands off ... let her explore her creative side! I will help with the logistics if we get that far, but she is planning the stamps, names, etc.

I agree with the person who said that it builds their enthusiasm for letterboxing! :-) Happy carving!

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This is just too funny. 40? What were you thinking letting your son start carving at this early an age? My, Oh my!

Early bloomers?

Don

My 9 yo only recently showed any interest in carving and that's after over two years of boxing. He's carved some cooties and plans to recarve his sig stamp.

Knit Wit

Every one has given wonderful feedback! I aprreciate all the great advice! I do not have any kids of my own but my girlfriend does and they are definitly too young at 3 1/2 and 2 1/2 but I was curious how long to wait before letting them have a go. They have already wanted to try! We usually just let them color with their crayons when they ask! Thanks again!

chadams

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They have already wanted to try! We usually just let them color with their crayons when they ask! Thanks again!

My 4 yo has to "help" with everything I do......... whether i need help or not. So to combat extreme frustration (on my part!), I give her "stuff" to stamp with: stamps (commercial are fine), markers, index cards, etc. Index cards are part of LB'ing to her, so she feels "official" when she's using them ;-)) And I let her use my Marvy's, but she's actually very careful, and always put the cap back on. Sometimes I stamp images from stamps I've carved, or from PLB's and let her color them. And she loves to stamp our sig stamps on cards too. That's what's so cool about stamps - they never get "used up" ;-))

So let the kids use "official supplies" and they will be happy!!! And they can even have their own set of official supplies (get 'em a new set of crayola pipsqueeks!) and feel like part of the project ;-))

Mama Fox

When my God-daughter was 3 1/2 - 4 years old, she liked to draw simple designs and have me carve them for her so she could stamp with them. That way she had her ownd designs as well as mine to play with. :)

Webfoot

I was nervous about it at first, but my seven year old (recent birthday) and 11 year old are carving and doing quite well. I don't even have them wear gloves like I thought I would.

Tee

There is a website out there that shows how to use a pencil with the eraser removed and the metal band crimped to a *V* and used on gum erasers. I've not tried it but it sounds like a good way to get the young 'uns started.

Shiloh

I have taught stamp carving at summer camp and in Parks and Rec programs to both kids and adults. I have seen quite passable stamps made by kids as young as six and by the age of nine most can do an amazingly good job. I always teach my classes using Speedball lino tools (and Xacto blades if it's adults only) and Mastercarve. A quarter of a 4X4X1/2" block is a good size to start with and costs less than seventy-five cents. I have them draw an apple large enough to almost fill the 2X2" square of carving medium on a piece of unlined paper, then have them trace it. This way they know how to later use clipart or other printed material. The apple shape demonstrates reverse curves and inside angles. They then transfer their image on to their piece of Mastercarve and do the actual carving.

I've never had anyone draw blood while I was teaching. This is one reason I use Mastercarve. It offers so much less resistance than the harder materials that I find it somewhat safer. The thickness of the material makes it easy for kids' hands to manipulate. Plus, many times folks are so excited at how well their stamp turned out that they go right ahead and make another on the reverse side of the block. I love that enthusiasm I see when they make those first stamp impressions! Funhog

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Plus, many times folks are so excited at how well their stamp turned out that they go right ahead and make another on the reverse side of the block.

*blink* *blink blink* *sound of crickets chirping*

Oh ----- my ----- Gosh! It never occurred to me to use the other side. I feel... foolish, excited, liberated. A double stamp in one for a letterbox. I see a whole series of double sided stamp combos to do. I can call them.... Double your pleasure, Double your fun - do both sides instead of just one. (hmmm does that make it to the dirty list?)... Bagel and lochs... sandwich and a Coke... Goldilocks and a Bear... pizza and more pizza LOL...Odd couples through history... tortoise and a hare... other stuff that comes in pairs.

Oh that would be a fun postal don't you think?? I don't know how to run a postal ring but I would if I knew. Wow.

Tee (who is pretty excited about this if you can't tell)

Just wait til you stamp those double-sided masterpieces. You get the added bonus of having the stamp image on your hand for the day.

LOL hmmm ok, so maybe in the postal ring they don't have to be attached! lol

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A double stamp in one for a letterbox. I see a whole series of double sided stamp combos to do. I can call them.... Double your pleasure, Double your fun - do both sides instead of just one.

NONONO!!! Those things are evil!!! It is impossible to stamp a doublesided stamp without making a complete mess of yourself since you have to press down on the freshly wet side. I have enough trouble keeping ink off my hands as it is...

try slipping a scrap piece of paper between the freshly stamped stamp and your hand.... Then the image is stamped again... but not on you : )
MFF

But then I have to remember to carry around scrap paper. I have enough trouble with getting the essentials. *grin*

know that feeling... thus the translation of our trailname is so true! First time boxing and we got stuck in a downpour... ill prepared... so we ended up running through and flingin some mud!

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But then I have to remember to carry around scrap paper. I have enough trouble with getting the essentials. *grin*

Then you need to make yourself, or buy yourself, a custom carrier to keep everything in one spot...grab and go. *wink*

Tee

So I'm going to post a shameless plug for some personal boxes now. :P

Go check out Atom118 and my recently planted series "Hunt for the Hidden Hollow" for our take on what to do with double-sided stamps:
http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=30017

As for the inking mess, we hoped/assumed people would use the paper towel that the stamps are wrapped in to prevent majorly inky fingers! :)

Coffee Beans

tee hee, yes, I made the 'mistake' of carving a stamp on both sides and quickly learned the downside of having ink on my hand, which inadvertantly, but unavoidably happens once you ink and stamp the first side and go to do the second side. Now at home that was poretty easy to deal with, but out in the bushes, I decided I wouldn't want to do that to anyone. "do unto others".
what fun!
Pilgrims in This Land

Now those double sided boxes sound like fun!

Tooth Fairy carved her first stamp at 6 or so. Rico carved his first stamp at about the same age. He's now 7 and can handle my speedball tools on his own. Tooth Fairy at 9 also carves with my speedballs on her own.

Maiden