Vroman's Pasadena currently has a huge table display of them! Their website has several pages of colouring books with different themes - nature, mandalas, architecture, floral, even skulls: http://www.vromansbookstore.com/search/site/adult%2520coloring%2520books They also have wonderful customer service, btw.

Many of the books are printed one-sided so you can use markers without worrying about colors bleeding through.
I ended up not getting Secret Garden because the crowded, tiny shapes aren't relaxing for me; I like larger areas so I can do shading, texture, etc. but that's just me. There's definitely something for everyone. Have fun!

So been there.....

Glad you understood that. I'm still lost...

Welcome, Welcome!

The tutorials are a great place to start, as stated. I've found that you really have to scour the craft stores....sometimes the rubber blocks are separated from the carving tools...in my local Michaels (Hickory, NC) it's in the woodworking section... lord only knows.....

If we are back in Maine Tuesday afternoon, we might be there.

Ray and Susan
Happydaze

Take one of those pink school erasers and with a pocket knife hack something into the flat surface of one side and you have your first stamp. Then the quality of your stamps and carving ability will only improve from there.

And just a note: To most of us, that roughly hand carved stamp is much more prized than one of those beautifully made store bought stamps....not that there's anything wrong with that. :-)

AB

Cool! They are 12 and easily entertained.

For starter images to carve, search google images to clip art, coloring pages or silhouettes. You can do it!

Openclipart.org also has a lot of good images to carve. Keep carving and you'll get better.

in my local Michaels (Hickory, NC) it's in the woodworking section.

In my local Michaels it's in the not-in-this-store section. In fact, all of the local craft store keep it in the same place. I order from Stampeaz.

That sounds fabulous!

As Wronghat said, there are a LOT more boxes than that around Charleston. You need to go find the ones you can see, then more will pop up. Or go to an event. Like Wolfie, i would strongly suggest the Paris Mountain event. Not only will you find lots of boxes, you will meet an amazing number of GREAT people (i would be one of them, but i'm in New England until Oct 22).

So be patient, keep growing and more will show!!

~tigs

i'm replying to my own message! LOL

ok, so i did an advanced search for you. Up in your neck o' the woods, there's not a lot. It's that weird intersection between 26 and 95, where you'd think there would be people, but there's not. Welcome to the interesting things about letterboxing.

However, there are 90+ boxes around Charleston, so you might have to travel. There are indeed only 10 boxes in Mount Pleasant, but there's 21 boxes NE of the city proper, then more in the city. There are an amazing number of The Boogies boxes in and around Columbia, plus some other people's (Woody Clowns, et al). Around Greenwood, you've got A Southern Gentleman, whose boxes are AMAZING. He held an event in Sumter (yum, pork) which has a lot of boxes still there. You are going to have to think "road trip."

~tigs

You are going to have to think "road trip."

I have decided to try and not look for boxes close to home. I'm saving them for when am taking a new person out to introduce them to letterboxing or for when we have been sick for a while and just need to get out.

The last couple of times we have gone out it has been over an hour away from home. It's like a micro mini vacation. Yesterday we left at 9am and then got home at 1am. Did some day boxing AND some night boxing. Picked up a hitch hiker. It was a great day!!!!

So, we moved. I had over 200 REALLY awesome LTC's in a box.

I think they went missing. :*(

Torn the apartment apart looking for them; but nothing. Bummer day.

Teal mid length sleeve shirt, Jean skirt, typical camouflaged bag with letterboxing patches. I'll be headed to the exhibit hall.... seeing the parade at 3, then hanging out until 6:30, where I will be back at the Marriott - ballroom E. Let's hang out!

Maybe we can help you get some new ones, or replace old ones :)

That made me smile, thank you. :)

I'm doing the same thing for my wallet. Had it last night in the house but now can't find it anywhere. Need to go buy stuff but need my money.

Are we talking about the cards, or the stamps used to create the cards?

All the cards I've received. :-/

I dont like the tiny shapes for colorijg, but what FUN they would be for stamp images to carve!

If they are one sided papers, that is good, because Spectrum Noir markers are alcohol based and blend really well, but they do soak through paper. I would suggest putting a plastic sheet between pages, as you use them. Copics are TOO expensive for this kind of play, IMO. Spectrum Noir work about the same. Also some are recommending the Chameleon markers, which blend 2 colors.

There's art markers and pens, which are much finer detail, for those small detailed books.

Colored pencil with markers, used TOGETHER, can look really cool, if you really want to get into layering your colors and showing some texture. Same with using a water brush and watercolors, and colored pencils to enhance.

I ended up not getting Secret Garden because the crowded, tiny shapes aren't relaxing for me; I like larger areas so I can do shading, texture, etc. but that's just me.

Me too so it's not just you, Summerfun! :-) I highly recommend Angie Grace's books and I've got my eye on Jenean Morrison's Mandala book. Angie Grace's books are all one sided so they work great with markers. I use Bic Mark-its - great affordable option to Copic and other expensive art markers.

The story of my life...

We will be expecting you two! ;)

That sucks. I'm sorry. Do you have boxes left to unpack? Could they be in a bigger box? I hope they turn up.

Wavesandwaterfalls and I would love to have others join us in the classic cars swap. I'm willing to push back the date if anyone would like more time. Any car you want... your first, one you wish you had, part of a car, it's up to you. The endless winding road's the limit. Come join us!

http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?trackerId=8524

All unpacked. I'm fearful they were accidentally tossed. :-/

We're experiencing a serious heat wave in Oregon right now. The last 3 days our outside thermometer has hit 106 degrees (and it's in the shade). I had a full day of boxing planned tomorrow, but now I'm not sure we'll be able to go. This heat is making me very crabby.

Oh no! I sure hope not. Who would do that???? Seriously, I'd cry! Can we send you any extras we have? I'm sure others would be willing to also.

I'm humbled by all the kindness of offers to send me more; but I don't want to inconvenience anyone since it's not y'alls fault.