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Read Thread: How young is too Young

Re: How young is too Young
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #72695 by chadams
Feb 19, 2007 9:21am
Thread (disabled) Board
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
Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73038 by Funhog
Feb 19, 2007 10:20am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote 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)
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73064 by Shadohart
Feb 19, 2007 10:48am
Thread (disabled) Board
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.
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73073 by ArchimedesScrew
Feb 19, 2007 10:49am
Thread (disabled) Board
LOL hmmm ok, so maybe in the postal ring they don't have to be attached! lol
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73064 by Shadohart
Feb 19, 2007 11:40am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote 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...
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73085 by Eidolon
Feb 19, 2007 11:45am
Thread (disabled) Board
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
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73088 by mudflinginfools
Feb 19, 2007 11:47am
Thread (disabled) Board
But then I have to remember to carry around scrap paper. I have enough trouble with getting the essentials. *grin*
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73089 by Eidolon
Feb 19, 2007 11:57am
Thread (disabled) Board
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!
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73089 by Eidolon
Feb 19, 2007 12:21pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote 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
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73101 by Shadohart
Feb 19, 2007 2:31pm
Thread (disabled) Board
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
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73075 by Shadohart
Feb 19, 2007 3:41pm
Thread (disabled) Board
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
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73133 by Coffee Beans
Feb 19, 2007 4:49pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Now those double sided boxes sound like fun!
Re: How young is too Young
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #72695 by chadams
Feb 19, 2007 9:29pm
Thread (disabled) Board
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
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73085 by Eidolon
Feb 19, 2007 9:35pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote 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...


My best buddy and boxing buddy was notorious for a LONG time for carving both sides of every piece of carving material. Yes even PZ Kut. Many of the local boxers took to carrying a piece of felt in their bag just for her stamps! no more inky hands that way.

Maiden
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73142 by pilgrimsinthisland
Feb 19, 2007 10:58pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote 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


You know, carrying a damp washcloth in a ziplock in your pack does not take up much room, and is great for clean up. We always clean the stamps prior to re-packaging and re-hiding... just like you said, "do unto others..."

Inky fingers is fun,
but inky mess is not!

~SHH :-)
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!! -- all six!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73064 by Shadohart
Feb 21, 2007 8:09am
Thread (disabled) Board
I didn't jump in earlier with this, but I once carved all six sides of a Mastercarve block -- once. It was messy, but it was fun.

The entire block was carved for a birthday event. The block was the cake: carved icing all around, and "Happy Birthday" message on the top, name of the birthday girl on the bottom. We stamped all six sides very carefully.

I drilled a small hole in the top for the candle, and made a logbook, etc. for this unusual event stamp.

We uploaded pics on event night:

http://www.atlasquest.com/gallery/viewphoto.html?gPhotoId=7608;gReturnUrl=%2Fgallery%2Fviewalbum.html%3FgAlbumId%3D225

http://www.atlasquest.com/gallery/viewphoto.html?gPhotoId=7606;gReturnUrl=%2Fgallery%2Fviewalbum.html%3FgAlbumId%3D225
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!! -- all six!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73563 by Mama Cache
Feb 21, 2007 8:28am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote The entire block was carved for a birthday event. The block was the cake: carved icing all around, and "Happy Birthday" message on the top, name of the birthday girl on the bottom. We stamped all six sides very carefully.


The sides of that were carved?!? I had no idea when I stamped it at a different BD party. Now I want to see it again so I can look. LOL
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!! -- all six!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73568 by Eidolon
Feb 21, 2007 8:34am
Thread (disabled) Board
Cory--- I thought with all the pink ink on your hands you knew ;-) Otherwise I would have told you!!
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!! -- all six!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73572 by drgdlg
Feb 21, 2007 9:19am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote I thought with all the pink ink on your hands you knew ;-)


Nope, the evil doublesided stamp was enough to get me all ink-ified. Had I inked on the sides too, I would have come out MUCH worse I am sure.
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!! -- all six!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73584 by Eidolon
Feb 21, 2007 9:38am
Thread (disabled) Board
I don't know if you all saw the little box that houses the stamp. I used the stamp to define the box shape, stamped it, cut and glued it, and the little box looked like the stamp itself.

Big M would be happy to show it to you again. Have another party, and she'll visit you with the whole box.

I know she didn't have time to light the candle in it, but that's half the fun.

Mama Cache
Re: How young is too Young
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #72930 by Shadohart
Feb 25, 2007 7:26pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote I don't even have them wear gloves like I thought I would.


Ooh gloves! Great idea! Thank you!

Lady Lilac
Re: How young is too Young
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #72698 by The Little Foxes
Feb 25, 2007 7:29pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote Don't worry chadams, you are old enough....


HAHA!! I love it!!

Lady Lilac
Re: How young is too Young
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #72946 by shiloh
Feb 25, 2007 7:46pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote 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.


Good idea! Thank you!

Lady Lilac
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73064 by Shadohart
Feb 25, 2007 7:50pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Haha!! You are so funny!! Haha! I think thats an awesome idea!

Lady Lilac
Re: Carve on BOTH sides!!!!!!!!!
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #73085 by Eidolon
Feb 25, 2007 7:53pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote 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.


Then you can put a piece of paper or a paper towel on the other side to keep the ink off your hands. I think its a great idea!

Lady Lilac
Re: How young is too Young
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #72710 by The Royal Fish
Feb 25, 2007 8:14pm
Thread (disabled) Board
My 9 year old carves unsupervised, but she's required to sit STILL at the kitchen table. You'd be amazed how 'unfair' that requirement is to her.

She carves negatives, of course, but hasn't had an injury yet. YET. The day will come, I'm sure. Except for the fact that she's doing negatives, I'm impressed with her detail.

Ten in April, she reminds me!

Ish
Re: How young is too Young
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #74619 by Lady Lilac
Feb 26, 2007 4:31am
Thread (disabled) Board
My 9yo son made his own carving "glove" out of an old tube sock -- cut off the end to stick his fingers through, and a slot for the thumb. This was when he and his brother were worried about hurting themselves --as it was their own idea, they didn't mind wearing it. ;o) They discarded it after a while when they started to be comfortable that they wouldn't cut themselves.

-- Queen B