I use 22 gauge hypodermic needles. You can get them at farm supply stores. Clip the needle off at the base with wire cutters and then put it in a pin vise. Use the edge of the needle just as you would an x-acto knife. You can get incredible detail. Look at my profile pic. That stamp measures 2.75" x 2.5". Carved only with the needle, it took a little more than 20 hours to carve. Of course you need SERIOUS magnification to do detail that small, but it's totally possible and honestly pretty easy. I use the following type of magnifier (not the same brand): http://www.doneganoptical.com/products/optivisor

Recently, I was introduced to Doctor Who from a couple friends. I bought Series 1 (2005 series) on iTunes and just finished it a few days ago. It was awesome! Would anyone be interested in doing several mini Doctor Who swaps as I progress thorough the seasons? Participants would make a card based on anything in that Series. They would be limited to 5 or 10 people, and the due date would be about a month from the date the tracker was listed. Also, I may not be going that fast through the seasons, so please be patient if one is not listed in a while. So who's interested?

Thank you so much Gooble Gobble! I did indeed have a very happy birthday!!!!!!

My troop is hosting a "GPS Party" event in May and I am trying to kick off things in a big way. I thought it would be awesome to try out a postal letterbox for the girls to see.

To that end, I am looking for 10 folks who want to celebrate a girl scout. You can see a list of famous ones here: http://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/famous-formers

If you want to participate, please send me your postal address through AQmail.

Thanks!

Dr. Al
Troop 907

Has anyone ever heard of a "tour bus"? A coworker showed me one she participated in but I can't find anything about them (or how to get one going). I am thinking of trying out something like this for my girl scout troop (maybe a Girl Scout Garden "Daisy" Chain with flower stamps or something like that?).

Does anyone know anything about these?

Dr. Al
Troop 907

I don't watch tv, but I was sitting with some boxers before who all like Dr Who, so I bet you'd be safe!

He's going to be on the Today Show again later this morning (Friday 3/1) to give another clue.

Kham

I'm sorry that this thread made some people feel badly. That wasn't my intent. I posted the question because recently, some swap hosts have seemed surprised that I sent them little extras. This made me wonder how many people send quisps or extra cards, so I figured I'd ask the community.

Again, I apologize for any bad feelings I may have caused.

Rocklun

it's a special event box designed to protect and showcase the artwork and event stamps from previous SC gatherings

The icing on the cake! I've been dying to see how you put that all together! And mystery guests, to add to the intrigue!
Krickster

<<And mystery guests, to add to the intrigue!>>

Yes......there's one guest signed up that've very interesting....... <grinning>

GreyCrazy

Doctor Who is the only theme I know of that fills within minutes, no matter how large it is. List it and you will have no problem filling the swap.
On a personal level I don't like to join anything less then 12 people to keep the "cost per card" down.

Hello Scouts. I bet you already know that the Brownie Girl Scouts have a Letterboxing Badge. I have volunteered to help girls earn their badge at our Day Camp in June. Our camp is on a college campus and there are a few stamps close by but I want to plant a scout themed series. I thought it would be nice to have stamps from all over the country from people with different carving abilities. When the camp is over I would like to post the clues for local boxers to find. If you can help me out I would like the stamps by June 1st so that I can make up the boxes, hide them, get the clues together, etc. I will give all carvers credit and I can send the stamp back when camp is over if you would like. If you have any questions please let me know.
Wendy of christmas6

help when I try to go to MY PAGE Marjorie shows up and say there are bugs in the system :(( Other pages work but not the MY PAGE Sdf

I definitely would be interested. I join just about every Doctor Who swap avalible.
If you have Netfilx they have all the resent series on there.
Also, if you want to make the drive... I'm hosting a Doctor Who event down here in Ohio this summer!

=(^._.^)=

Any particular theme or are kid friendly stamps I have laying around ok?

Ok, I don't want to over-commit myself so if anyone else wants to carve something, go ahead. I have six carves to do by end of March. 4 of these have LTCs I also need to make. 2 are just replacements for my own missing boxes, but if I don't plant them by end of March, the series won't get any finders. It gets too hot in summer here. No one boxes in summer! Seems like when a series is missing a box or two, people just don't bother.

If I catch up in the next few weeks and you don't have a carved, I will contact you again, as I would love to help, but just am swamped.

I saw the error when I logged out, but once I logged in, I can see My Page.

It's a bit unclear when it says

1 stoned to death

. Actually the accused was pressed to death when a board was put on him and rocks were added to try to get him to confess. When he refused more rocks were added. Judges kept adding and he kept refusing so.....

Just an update:

Clue # 1:

The box was hidden over 5000 ft above sea level.

Green is my favorite color, but it did not last long. LOL. I am looking forward to seeing what is next. 8^) -D of RDHG

Yeah, do whatever size. I belong to two other art swap sites that swap single cards! Granted, people aren't carving stamps, they are doing other types of artist trading cards. Being a host is very time consuming, so I get the need for smaller. I like to host swaps between 10 to 18 myself.

HINT: if you host small (10 cards or less), people can mail them in a regular envelope for approximately $1.00, sometimes less! I've hosted small swaps, and that's what we did. Just include a folded self-addressed stamped envelope inside the business sized envelope. Separate the cards by folding a half sheet of paper into pockets, staple or tape in between, and that distributes the cards so they keep the envelope flat.

Some might say this will put your cards at risk for damage, but that can be up to the individual, just give fair warning. I've had no problems, but you never know.

hopefully we'll be able to make it, at least for Saturday

Us, too! I think that it would be our first VA event, too.

Bet you don't wait so long to log the next five, though.

DONE! Hehe. Thank you for the encouragement, WiO! H and I had some fun with the pink dragon while R was at a meeting at Chapel Hill yesterday.

There was this one in NH: http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=42340

and this one in TX. http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=6147

If you do a search with "tour bus" as the name of the letterbox, it looks like there were a few others too!

HINT: if you host small (10 cards or less), people can mail them in a regular envelope for approximately $1.00, sometimes less! I've hosted small swaps, and that's what we did.

Yes and no. It depends on how many thick cards there are in the swap.

[._.]

Painting over the surface with clear nail polish might help slow down the wear

there's a series about this in Harold Parker State Forest - a good one too.

~tigs(superstitions cause damage)

So how many BoTWs are on your agenda??

[._.]

I have tried needle carving and I'm apparently doing something very wrong. I can not seem to get a straight line. I'm using it just like an exacto (my preferred carving method) but the curve of the needle seems to make the needle go off in it's own direction. Hints?

Same exact problem - my needle knife sits lonely in my kit because of this. I cannot control the cut for the life of me. Any ideas much appreciated ;)