http://www.atlasquest.com/boards/message.html?gMsgId=73670;gAuthorId=6088

Read the post above, and if you're interested -- first ten of you -- sign up on the tracker, and we'll give this a trial run.

1. Create a letterbox called "LTC: YourTrailName" and log it on AQ in the "other" category. (See mine)
2. Sign up on the tracker. Do not add a postal letterbox. Leave that blank.
3. Create ten Letterbox Trading Cards (on 4 x 6 index cards) that in some way are representative of yourself. You should include either your signature stamp or another stamp that is "you." (I don't know why this couldn't be sketched, stamped, or some combination of media.) Artist Trading Cards use a variety of media, right?
4. Mail all ten to me with a SASE envelope that would hold another ten.

Let me know if I'm missing anything. I'll select a launch date soon.

Mama Cache

For anyone needing a hand getting the creative juices flowing this site has many samples of ATC's

http://www.cedarseed.com/air/atc.html

Red Soup

Ok, so like I said, the puzzle tracker is up and I have an estimate of cost per person with 12 people needed... for the puzzle pieces it will cost $2 per person, no bad I think! So maybe $4 including postage for me to send you all the pieces in the beginning. Just to give those interested a heads up.

I will put something up on the postal board too, but probably not until tomorrow since I will be leaving shortly and I want everyone here to have first dibs on the spots.

Rhea

Awesome examples Red Soup! definitely helps get the creative juices flowing *nodding* =o)

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Design supplied puzzle pieces based on your signature stamp, end with a completed puzzle

I do not consider myself an artist by any stretch of the imagination. I have been know to have moments of creativity though. This sounds like so much fun, but I'm having difficulty getting my head around what these puzzle pieces are supposed to look like when we're finished. Are we starting with white pieces or do they have a picture that we have to cover before we start? Besides our sig.stamp, can we use any medium we want to decorate, or is it all supposed to be done by stamping? My mind is whirling with questions, but I'll just start with these for now. Of course, all this might be a moot point based on the answer to my next questions.

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Starts: March 16, 2007

Are you expecting the puzzle pieces to be decorated and sent back to you by March 16th? If not, when were you thinking?

I don't want to lose a spot, but I also don't want to screw things up by dropping out. Can I sign up with the promise of making my final decision by the end of this week?

Thanks,
:)FreezyCat of Bikercats

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Are we starting with white pieces or do they have a picture that we have to cover before we start? Besides our sig.stamp, can we use any medium we want to decorate, or is it all supposed to be done by stamping?

Yes, I have found blank puzzle pieces for us to decorate! =o) You can use anything you want as long as you include your sig stamp in there somewhere (and you have to maintain the integrity of the piece so that it will fit back in the puzzle).

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Are you expecting the puzzle pieces to be decorated and sent back to you by March 16th? If not, when were you thinking?

Ack! No definitely not decorated ans sent back by then, I am not sadistic! =o) I was thinking I would have all the puzzle pieces out by then for everyone to start working on... maybe I should have picked a later "done by deadline" but that I what I was thinking as that would be the "start"

I indicated to one person that since there would be a cost involved that anyone who signed up but wanted to drop out later because of cost could most certainly do so, but I think I found a reasonable price pretty early, so maybe that is a moot point. But I am certainly ok with you signing up now and deciding later =o) As long as it is not a last minute change =o)

Rhea

Thanks! I've signed up. If I'm going to drop, it will be soon so that someone else can have the space.l
:)FC

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say like home base, where we would send all of cards to how every many are in the ring. The home base person, once they have everyone's cards, makes up envelope or what ever and takes it to the post office to see how much it would cost to mail. Contact each person in the ring and then we would send "home base" the money or stamps for the postage and maybe throw in a little extra to help out with mailing materials. Maybe I'm way off base, pardon the pun

LOL you are not off base. That would work very well. It's how exchanges are handled in my sister's group. Thanks!

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If anyone is interested in this, I would be willing to host the puzzle version... unless of course dragonflies or mudflingingfools are interested (I do not want to step on any toes).

My toes are well protected! *grin* Please... everyone, anyone, feel free to host whatever you choose. I just wanted to get the discussion going. I'd be happy to see where you all take the ideas. Everybody is so creative!

Whhhhheeeeee
Tee - along for the ride!

Rather than using Atlas Quest as a clearing house for Artiststs' Trading Cards, why not use an ATC site?

http://vb.nervousness.org/

Meet new people, have discussions specifically about this topic. Why re-invent the wheel?

Lisa

You go Momma Cache! Yes, it seems you have hit on exactly what I was thinking.

I only have one correction. ATCs are traditionally 2.5 x 3.5. The same as baseball cards, so you can store them 9 to a page in the baseball card sheets. Even the puzzle pieces that are exchanged are smaller than this standard. The measurements help to keep costs down for materials and postage.

That said, if you all wanted to increase the size for LTCs, we can, but I recommend that we set a standard size.

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Rather than using Atlas Quest as a clearing house for Artiststs' Trading Cards, why not use an ATC site?

My original intent was to involve letterboxers, who I know are carving stamps specifically. Stamps that I won't be able to collect from boxes or gathers planted/held in different states. That's the only reason I wanted to set up and exchange with people here.

This will be fun! Can you give us a few weeks to work on it? LOL

Love this idea!!!

D5 Mama

i would like to try one. i have lots of stuff to embellish with.
deniserows
and is one of those scrapbookers who
hasn't touched her scrapbooks since she discovered LBing.

oops a little late on this one. i see you have 10 already. good luck

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oops a little late on this one. i see you have 10 already. good luck

The puzzle version still has a few openings, we would love to have you joint us =o)
Rhea

I started a new project last night.

There is a poem that I wanted to do as a calligraphy for my brother.

The problem is, his eyes are bad. His distance vision is good with glasses. But he has problems with things up close
If I framed the poem, he would have to get right up to the glass to read it.

I decided to bind it in a book form

And of course, I'm carving stamps for the illustrations

S~N~K

~It's Lewis Carroll's "A Sea Dirge", a very funny poem, if you happen to come across it

That's such a neat idea! Do you plan on planting the stamps after creating the book?

Desi

I might plant them

Or they would be fun as a personal traveler too.

Read the poem, and guess what I carved
;-D

For the ATC's, I think it would be great to stay with the 2.5 x 3.5 size, so they will fit in with anyone who already collects ATC's and they will fit in the baseball card sleeves for easy storage, viewing and protecting.

Another idea is that ATC's made with one's personal stamp might be great to put in boxes for first finders... I know I'd be excited to find those.

Tx dragonfly

That is a great idea to have an ATC in a box for first finders. It could be based on the theme of the box and have the person's personal stamp on the back with their information.

Magical Music Man

I am attempting to decoupage a table using modge podge and tissue paper. I just did a second coat (not sure why) and realize I liked it better with just the first coat on it. I liked the way you could see the ripped lines of the tissue pieces. Is there anyway to scrape it off and try again? Or am I going to wreck the table? It was painted white when I started it.

Thanks for any advice!

Vicki

maybe if you lightly sanded (extra fine grit) the table top it might remove the last coat you applied.

just wondering if anyone had tried this, and with any success?

I can experiment, but I'm one of those 'no sense in reinventing the wheel' kind of folks

JPMcD

Never tried it, but I just got my first box of pastels to play with (for the Letterbox Trading Cards), so if you do try, please post your findings.

I did try watercolour crayons on a stamp, and I thought the effect was cool.

Mariette
(you folks are turning me from a clue-solving woods-hiker into an artist-wannabe!)

How much postage do you think we should put on the SASE envelope for the LTCs?
Would two or three stamps do?

Mariette

I usually wait until I get to the post office. I weigh what I'm mailing (minus the SASE) and put that much on the envelope inside.

MC

Don't forget that pastels smear. Spraying them with hairspray of clear coat LIGHTLY does stop this. If you use too much spray it will darken the colors.

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Read the poem, and guess what I carved

Can I have three guesses?

OK, guess one - The sea (waves and what not)?

guess two - A person green with sea-sickness sitting in a boat at sea?

and guess three - nursery maides leading children with wooden spades?

I give up!

Does anyone else make stamp pads? I thought of it in my sleep, so I got up and tried it. I think it works, but I don't know how long it will last. This is what I did..
I took a small jar lid, cut 4 pieces of felt to fit, stapled them together (I didn't want to take time to sew them together.) Then I got them wet to make them absorb the color, and sqeezed out the water. I put 1/4 tsp. red dye on the pad and worked it in with a toothbrush, added another 1/4 tsp. dye, worked it in. I folded a paper towel several times and soaked up the excess dye. Then I used a small handmade stamp on it and Eureka!, it worked like a charm. I have no idea how long it will last without "reloading" it. Does anyone know? Take A Hike Lid Lid