Hmmm.... I've got a HH called Peaceful Planet that has never been logged...
Could this be a match?
lorax

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This afternoon I hit Dollar Tree for some important backpacking supplies and cruised the back to school aisle. They are carrying a three pack of white vinyl erasers, each one about 1 1/2"X 3". These are quite a bit larger than the standard Staedler art erasers and have a very similar texture.

I stopped by Dollar Tree today and bought a package of these. I have to say, they are bee-yooo-tiful! I've been fooled by appearances before, though, which is why I bought only one package. I'll report again after I've carved a stamp with one.

For anyone interested in precise dimensions, they are actually 1-7/16"W x 2-15/16"L x 7/16" thick. A quite usable size, I think. Bright, pasty white, with a hint of translucence.

My local Dollar Tree -- on N Monroe in Tallahassee, just down the road from the Brand New Key letterbox -- has a zillion of these things. Seriously, they must have a hundred packs or more. After noting there were plenty on the rack, I walked around the store and found another rack full!

If they turn out to be as carvable as they look, I'll probably buy a bunch, possibly even clean out the store. I've carved more than 100 stamps already, don't see slowing down any time soon, the rubber presumably has a looong shelf life (it had better!), might as well stock up for the long haul.

In other news: While I was there I looked around for the excellent set of razor knives I purchased there a couple of years ago and remain my favorite carving tools. No dice, they apparently no longer carry them. But that's all right, I found an awesome set at Big Lots -- but I'll write about that in a separate message on the Tools of the Trade board.

yes , please let us know what you think after you have carved with / on one. I bought a package like yours but have not tried them yet.

cannonball

OOO! Is there still room in this one? my six year old LOVEs dirty jobs!!!

I do a lot of "proof" prints, because it helps me visualize what I'm doing.

I don't really think of myself as a carver who is particularly interested in "detail" for detail's sake.

I just want the final image to look like what I've envisioned.

For what it's worth, I think of myself as a printmaker, rather than a carver.

(This is a great question!)

Lisa

My husband wants us to seperate

This is something I do not want. And I feel absolutely heart sick

S~N~K
"Dawn"

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the really big mistakes is the one I saw.

I've used one of those in the past but only in a pinch. The one I got was somewhat crystalline in texture and difficult to carve. However, Der Mad Stamper has told me that there are some of those with the consistency of a Pink Pearl eraser and they are just fine for carving. It's hard to know which one you have if it's in a sealed package. BTW you can cut any carving material with a sharp kitchen knife to any size you want.

Visited a Big Lots store today and spent much more than I intended!

First off, in the tools section I found a "51 PC HOBBY KNIFE SET" by Pro-Source. This package contains 7, count 'em, 7 handles, of 6 different types and sizes. All are cheap, 6 of the 7 have plastic collets rather than the aluminum used in X-Acto, but I've been using a razor knife with a plastic collet for a couple of years now and actually prefer them for stamp carving. For one thing, they are lighter. For another, they seem to have a better feel, almost like the plastic collet provides just a tiny smidgeon of cushion to the blade. Finally, cheap handles like these have big, toothy knurling, while the high-quality X-Actos have a very fine knurling -- and I like the coarse knurling better!

There are also 42 blades. Note that 5 of the blades are not actually blades but are actually pointy things, like for poking holes. Also note that 3 more of the blades are a type I've never seen before, having round shanks. These would be neat except that the edges are beveled on only one side rather than symmetrically, which may render them unusable for carving -- we'll see. If they work at all, or if I can fix them by sharpening them on both sides, they'll be the smallest blades I've seen this side of a carving needle.

6 of the blades are double-ended, which I think counts as 2 each.

The best news: 2 of the blades are possibly the best blades I've ever seen for fine detail work, very slender and very pointy. Another 10 (including both ends of 2 double-ended) are perfectly good for carving, same basic configuration as an X-Acto #11. They actually are marked #11; every blade is marked wih a number, so I guess they're using some standard numbering scheme. The two blades I like so much are #3; if anyone can find a source of #3 blades cheap, we should all stock up on a bunch of them.

One of the handles has the tightening knob on the back end of the handle. As a result of the collet running the full length of the handle, you can fully bury some of the blades, notably the double-ended ones. You can sink so much of the blade into the handle that only the very point sticks out, so you can grip it closer to the point than before. I haven't tried it yet, but I suspect this will allow really fine detail work with several more of the blades.

Noth through yet. The package also includes a sharpening stone. And, of all things, a tube of super glue -- I have no idea why someone thought that belonged in a razor knife set, but there it is. Finally, the whole thing comes in a pretty nice plastic case with built-in magnetic strips to hold all the blades in place.

This all for $7.99.

But that's not all I found at Big Lots. I also found some ink, in the form of something I'd call a dauber. It's the size and shape of one of those bottles of automotive touch-up paint, about 3" long and 3/4" diameter. It has a screw-on top, which you remove to expose a little felt applicator about 1/2" in diameter. From the packaging: "Delta Creative PureColor Luxury Pigment Ink - Easy, no-mess applicator for stamping, stenciling and direct to paper. Acid Free. Non-toxic. Cost was $1 each. This store had six colors to choose from: black, blue, metallic silver, metallic blue, metallic red, and yellow. I got one of each. They were oversupplied with the metallic red, there were lots of those, quite a few of the metallic blue, only a few of the others.

I have tried the black, seems to work OK. The ink looks great, the applicator perhaps not so great. Of course, I've never understood what anyone sees in markers, I can't get anything of the sort to work nearly as well as a proper pad.

The nice thing is, they're small enough, cheap enough, and the screw cap is secure enough to leave them in letterboxes if there's a need to. Offhand, I'm thinking I should have picked up a couple more of the metallic silver, I've already got one box out there with that color ink in it and it's easy to imagine other uses for that color.

Yeah, it's known for clothing at clearance prices. But it also carries kitchen stuff at clearance prices, including pots and pans -- and food storage containers. I found that it had two different brands of interest.

The first was called Metro. It's a straight-up knockoff of Lock&Lock except everything is tinier -- the latches are tinier, the little rubber seal is tinier, etc. Seemed to seal great, though. One set was a 6-piece set which means three containers with lids, one inside the other. The largest was barely big enough for a letterbox IMHO, and the smallest was really tiny! But I prefer larger containers than most, perhaps others will appreciate boxes this small.

The other brand was called ClickClack. I saw at least three types of seal, all of which looked very secure to me. One was a cylindrical jar with a cap that jams in the top and will not come loose unless you squeeze a pair of release buttons. Another was sorta like a Lock&Lock top except only two latches rather than four, but the container and lid were rigid acrylic rather than the flexible plastic used in Lock&Locks, so the two latches held it securely shut and sealed. The third also looked sorta like a Lock&Lock top except the latches were made of stainless steel! I would have been confident to use any of these containers for a letterbox.

Prices were not especially cheap, I think. You might be able to catch them on clearance or something, I guess. I just thought I'd mention the place as another possible source for containers that others may not have considered.

The cutting set you found sounds great ! Also what part of the store did you find the daubers in? Seems someone else mentioned these not too long agao, I went to big lots here in Maryland within the last couple of weekes and did not see any but mostly looked for them in the acrts/ scrapbooking stuff. Was it over with the school supplies and the like ? I will have to look again.

Cannonball

I thought I'd mention that Dollar Tree has ink pads for $1 each. They only come in black or red. I haven't tried one, but obviously I wouldn't expect top quality. They probably are foam. They are also actually a bit larger than one might like.

Special prayers for you tonight, Dawn. I'm so sorry.
May God hold you close to His heart,
Tyra

http://www.env.duke.edu/forest/recreation/geocaching.html

They have signed up on the geocaching.com site as user "dukeforest", where their profile states this policy as well. Additionally, they are posting logs in each of the caches in the forest and noting that they should be removed.

I haven't found any letterboxes out there, and am not aware of any being there for that matter, but just in case i'm missing something, especially a mystery box, or if someone was planning to plant one there, i thought i'd let everyone know.

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the really big mistakes is the one I saw.

I've used one of those in the past but only in a pinch. The one I got was somewhat crystalline in texture and difficult to carve.

I dunno if we're still on the same discussion, but the 3-pack of erasers at Dollar Tree do not say anything about "big mistakes" on them. It says "3 Pack - Erasers - Extra Soft & Clean - Home - Office - School". And that's all it says on the package. The packaging is kinda interesting in that each eraser is individually wrapped.

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However, Der Mad Stamper has told me that there are some of those with the consistency of a Pink Pearl eraser and they are just fine for carving.

Der Mad Stamper has forgotten more about rubber stamp carving than I will ever know, but I don't consider a Pink Pearl acceptable for carving. I have a whole pile of them, I'm giving them away in geocaches. They're too small and too grainy to mess with when PZ Kut is available.

The really big mistakes eraser I was reffering to was a huge eraser. Looks like a regular pink eraser with the tapered ends but is like 5-6 inches long and 3 wide. about 1 thick...thats a guess. It says for really big mistakes on it.
I also purched a set of the white erasers like you mentioned which are 3 inches by 1 1/2 or so. I thought these would be good to try for carving on.
I am not sure what the other was about... possibly thought I was talking about something else. :o)

cannonball

yes ... speacial prayers and hugs for you. Trust in God, He knows what is best. He is holding you near his heart for you are His child. :o)

cannonball

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I think of myself as a printmaker, rather than a carver.

And I do not think of you as a carver, but a master carver.

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I just want the final image to look like what I've envisioned.

Of course, Lisascenic would have the ability to "envision" her product...really quite Jedi-like.

I am most pleased you live in the north of California, so I can see your magnificent art first hand.

Your Admiring Humble Servant,
OBJuan

Thank you everybody

I still can't believe this is happening to me

S~N~K

I couldn't believe it was happening to me either, and I was the one who made the decision to leave. it's hard, but hold on tight...it does get better eventually.

night writer, whose mailbox is always open if you need it.

*hugs* and more *BIG HUGS*
please feel free to write me anytime...

I am soooo sorry!
everything happens for a reason...
maybe your time with him is nearing an end because you are needed elsewhere...
maybe there is a life out there that you are meant to touch...
that you can't if you stay in your present scheme!

head up! :)

dixie

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If you have any spots left, and most people are newbies, please add my name to the list. I don't watn to be the only newbie.
Dawn

How can I deny someone who's up for the challenge? You are on the tracker!

~SHH :-)

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As a newbie also, I would love to challenge myself with this.

Belmer, you are now on the tracker! Watch your AQ mail for information coming soon.

~SHH :-)

I think of myself as a printmaker, rather than a carver.

And I do not think of you as a carver, but a master carver.

I couldn't agree more, OBJuan!!

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AAaahhh, this is a little nerve-racking when I don't know what I'm up against. If you're in this ring, please be gentle! :)

No worries - sometimes the simple designs are the best!

It's going to be wonderful... I'm looking forward to seeing it!

~SHH :-)

I probably fall between the 5 and 20 but closer to 5 :)

wow...

I just went and looked at my scrap paper pile from the last three carvings...
exactly 7 times each *chuckle*
how odd.

dixie

I'm definitely in for the 6th. The Days Inn on Kingsway? I'm not very familiear with the area... how far are you willing to travel?

IT truly deoends on the carve- what the image is - if it a larger stamp witha bunch of teeny details then I am in the A+++ catagory totally -

My last carve was the chunky spirit chef Gusteau from Ratatouille- he was fun to carve but the buttons on the chef's jacket were a killer to get just right - my dh thinks I am way to particular and that it was great PRE detail work but I know what I want - and I jsut keep hackin till I get it, hack and print , hack and print - I am always amazed that it looks exactly how I picture it by the end - it is truly ( for a non-crafty/artsy gal) a miracle that they turn out at all!!! But then they do and I am sooo pleased.

Amazing what happens when you simply follow direction!!! Thanks to all who give great tips!


happy hunting, enjoy the journey,
teekasue

Hang in there - storms make rainbows right -oh who am I kidding THIS SUCKS -When you feel like not swimming just keep paddling there are beautiful shores ahead - we might swallow an ocean of water before we get there but HE always helps us bob up for air before we drown!


Our plans and the Lord's plans sometimes don't jive ! But HIS plan is perfect. Keep your head up - YOU ARE ENOUGH !! Don't forget who you are - HE is always there to listen.

love & prayers from CA
teekasue

I thought about White Rock, and there are letterboxes there. Lovely spot with great places along the beach. But it's a long weekend here, and parking and seating will most probably be impossible.

Do you have an idea on what letterboxes you intend to hunt for? That may help choosing a meeting place.