I definitely agree that any moisture will clump up embossing powder...and re-using it over & over also introduces dirt, dust, hairs, lint, etc. which is a pain to pick out! I have powders that are 10 yrs. old that work just fine, so I'm not really sure it's an "age" thing....but YES-no moisture! Fortunately, I live in a very dry climate so maybe that's why mine are ok...?

I came out way ahead in the exchange, that's for sure.

I have some powders, same brand different colors. Some work great others not at all. Test different binder inks, papers and heat time/distance.

If all else fails, find a way to use it to create interesting background papers. I know YOU will/can find a way to make it work ❣️

Welllllll ... I will say it hasn't been pitched ... yet. 🙃😊

maybe a "quiet" shaker box kind of shifting sand ltc use..............

oh.........I can see a tracker comin to a website soon

There are Lego that have been waiting patiently in line for their turn at the kitchen table. We shall see ...

Do any of y’all ever get just a wild hair from something you saw out in the world that was weird or silly or unique and think to yourself “I really have to make a card of that” with no idea what you’re going to do with it or have a trade for it? I found a picture on my phone that I took when I went to Oklahoma and I thought it would make a fun card! I suppose I could sock it away for a later trade, but I was wondering if any of y’all do the same thing???

My "wild hair" ideas usually start with "I need to carve a stamp of that."

It feels like all my best local stores keep going up in smoke, so I'm finally forced to look online. I definitely think it would help add some dimension to my cards and definitely reduce some of the anxiety I have about having too plain a background sometimes. I'm a very big fan of the 12 x 12 inch sheets with repeating patterns so I can slice those down and not need to worry about losing part of a design or putting the prettiest parts only on one card. This especially helps when I need to make more than 5 cards for a tracker since most of my supplies were bought from a defunct craft reuse center or get pulled out of my origami stash, both of which have been dwindling for related and unrelated reasons.

I'm going to be asking around for recommendations for scrapbooking shops locally (should be able to have more success with that than some of my other hobbies in this area lol), but figured I'd ask the LTC pros since most people near me don't completely understand what it is I get up to. Thanks in advance!

So sad that all the scrapbook stores and even craft stores are falling by the wayside. This is worth attending (and stocking up), if it comes to your area -

I go here paper

A Cherry on top is a family owned business I would like to recommend. They carry a great variety of products

I also like to use distress inks and: or distress oxide inks and make my own backgrounds. There are tons of tutorials on You Tube : )

Shelly

That’s actually the majority of what I have! I bought the inks originally to layer patterns on top of alcohol ink drawings like an artist I follow and then found letterboxing as I was recovering from the flu and never actually used them for the intended purpose haha. I keep forgetting I have access to a Cricut machine through my library too. Might not be a bad idea scale down some stencils. Thanks for the idea!

I have seen it at Dollar Tree

We had a paper-craft store in my small town with an amazing amount of patterned and textured paper, along with every color of cardstock you could imagine. Sadly, she closed up shop, and now the nearest in-person options are 45 minutes away - Michaels and Hobby Lobby. I really like seeing it in person and being able to buy just a few sheets at a time, so that's my first choice over online shopping.

I’m much the same way. I like being able to physically hold what I’m going to buy before I get it. The big box shops can be alright sometimes but their selection has been really bad in my area lately and I’m not particularly motivated to drive close to an hour for a shot at having the same thing happen haha. I miss my local shops a lot.

Yes, they are great and less than a mile from me. So I can do pickup and save on shipping 👍🏻

years back I decided that I would start with a blank white canvas for my LTCs. That every facet of the LTC would be my design. Those cards are in my opinion, my best cards.

I started making and trading LTCs in 2009, and those old, completely handmade cards, are memorable because they are completely handmade.

When an LTC Tracker is completed, do we retire the stamp used for that tracker? I know that if, by chance, that stamp is used again, it'll have a different AQ #. I'm just trying to find easier ways to get to my current open trackers (besides using the stop sign and other obvious ways) because I still feel like I'm scrolling and scrolling. Lol

When I join a tracker I mark it as Thingamajiggy so I know I have to do it. When I send it I mark it as Waiting so I know what is out there. When I log it I mark it as Completed. That way I always know the stage I'm in in that tracker. Just make sure you have your Tracker Quick Links widget on your home page. I never retire my LTC stamps. And many have gone on to be traditionals.

Thank you. I appreciate your advice ☆

You can also rename "your Tags" I have:

Carved
In Process
Waiting to Mail
LTC Hose Received
Sent
Completed
Postal Making Ground
Blackholed (i.e. it's lost, a postal ring that has stopped moving, or LTCs I should have gotten back and never have)

When a swap is finished and I've received the cards, claimed finds on them, and made my comments, I would retire the tracker if I were hosting.
I retire the card I made only when I've traded away the last of the extra ones. Someone who might receive one of my older cards as a pass-along-card can still claim a find and comment.
I don't retire the stamp because there's no listing for the stamp itself. Besides, it might be used again.

Unfortunately, I only get 4 options unless I become a premium member 😮‍💨, but the 4 we have are pretty much just like your 1st 4. Lol

I saw this awesome advice recently in a different thread. Now my tracker categories are Carved, Waiting, Need to carve, Ready to mail, Sent, Completed, Postal going around, and Blackholed. Yay!

i wanted to know what techniques are out there that you can get a carve way down to less than an ounce but have a smooth finish?
I use my straight edge knife but it still doesn't get smooth. What is out there that I haven't found out about? Thanks in advance for any suggestions and help.

I use a box cutter razor or a scaplel. I just keep cutting until it is as thin as I can safely get it

Perhaps ask this question on the Postal board.