You'd be surprised! I know a few Pathtaggers/Geocachers who love trading their tags in the mail and decorate with DW stamps. One of my buddies has purchased I believe 6 or so handmade ones thus far.

As for being able to let a good carving go; that's another story!

Ha!! There's always the possibility if Wcott goes to Mack masters again in June.

Hi Mainers! I was visiting from NH and took it upon myself to plant a new box-which I haven't done in YEARS. Please check it out when you get the chance!

http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/?boxId=275108

Thx everyone... And congrats also to kudichan as well!!!

Happy boxing,
Wendy

Late to the party but adding our warmest congratulations!!

I have finally posted my first swap. A Gothic Christmas

I'm sorry my instructions are so long. I wanted to be thorough, since the mailing logistics will be a little different from what people are used to.

Are recycled stamps Ok?

thanks dingus, for inspiring me to embrace my idiocy!

http://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/?boxId=275051

Sure, as long as you make a new card.

Is there a letterbox team who organise a cruise or trip each year? Who is it? I can't remember, and wondered where they are going this year.

Mark and Sue Pepe have organized several letterbox trips (Pinecone Adventures): to Dartmoor, to Alaska, to Italy, etc. Their next planned excursion is a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands in 2017. Details have not yet been released.

Probably won't get back that way until spring but so glad to have a new box in our beautiful state. Don't believe I have done that trail yet either. Thanks so much for choosing Maine to plant.

Many Congrats to you and hubby on your anniversary!!

teacup

I shouldn't join because of time constraints, but I want to. I really wish November weren't so busy for me.

I can plan a nice itinerary. :-)

C'mon... you know you want to...

Do it!!!

Lemonade!

I'll know more in a couple of months. They start the homework and testing part of the competition next month.

It was amazing enough she was using a boxcutter, but even more astounding how fast she was working.

Here's another Japanese youtube using a mini-boxcutter knife (recorded in real time) ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P72KksaL3ao

Here's one of Kao Hanco's "astounding fast" youtubes (recorded in digital time lapse?)
Can she really carve that fast with an X-Acto knife in real time ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkoWpHLC8Nc

Here's one of atelierterkepi's youtubes using a Rabby Circle Chisel (narrow U gouge yellow handle) to remove larger interior portions.
All precise outline carving is first accomplished using an X-Acto knife ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aWG-xGXCHc

This custom knife may have once been a chisel. In the hands of a skilled carver this quality steel razor sharp knife may never need resharpening ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01tO7wE02bc

After watching several of these Japanese/Asian youtubes it becomes apparent that a knife (e.g. X-Acto) is the preferred tool of choice for precise rubber stamp carving. Wish i would've learned this long ago saving me much frustration instead of thinking the Speedball #1 V-gouge should be my primary tool of choice.

CONCLUSION: Better to first learn how to carve an erasure stamp with an X-Acto knife as the primary tool of choice and the use of Speedball V/U gouge nibs as secondary tools of choice. I once mistakenly thought that Kirbert's carving knife technique was kind of an anomaly. Now i realize that his rubber stamp carving preference (knife) should be a first-choice common practice for elite rubber stamp carvers as well as beginners.

Same here L, just in waaaay tooooo many swaps til the new year. What sucks even more is that I have the perfect idea :'(

Are you signed up for the 2016 Michigan Fall Gathering PLAYLISTS IN THE PARK?

It's just 6 short days away in West Michigan - Hofman Park Grand Haven!

Springchick and I have been busy planting boxes this past week and can't WAIT to see everyone this Saturday. Come stay awhile and enjoy this beautiful park and all the great stamps from music lovers all over the U.S.

In case you missed the sign up - find details here: http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?eventId=3722

Hope to see you soon!
Doglvrs

Okay, I am obviously doing something wrong here because I've heard of several people who have no problem getting this to work.

I normally use heat transfer as I've never had much success with other methods. But, I have a piece of SLQ, which does not take heat transfer. My image is somewhat detailed so I don't think I could do it justice with a pencil transfer, so I'm trying to do an acetone transfer onto the SLQ.

I've printed my image in BW using a laser printer -- same one that produces nice crisp heat transfers on PZ Kut, OZ, and the pink stuff. I've lightly gone over the piece of SLQ with acetone, laid the image face down and gone over the back of the paper with an acetone cotton ball. I've tried this part numerous ways -- very wet (makes an inky mess), lightly damp -- once over, lightly damp -- several times over, etc. But when I lift the paper up, the image transfer is so faint, I can barely see it, let alone carve from it.

Help... what am I doing wrong?

You likely aren't doing anything wrong, but the toner differences likely are the culprit. An older HP laser printer I use at work has the perfect toner for acetone transfers while my wife's laser printer at home creates exactly what you are describing. The only difference is type of toner. I have not done the research to identify exactly what that difference is, but it may be based on recylced toner versus newer...my work used refillable/recycled while home we don't. Has anyone out there done a toner assessment/comparison?

I use Linkyo toner on SLQ, and got dark transfer.

You could also try printing it into parchment paper or even tracing paper, any slick paper might work better.

You're using 100% acetone, not nail polish remover, right?

I am so attracted to all the gorgeous colors of the Copic markers! They are usually quite expensive, but the price seems to have gone down on Joann.com. The selection isn't huge, but they're $3.14 for the sketch markers. $2.15 for ciao. $3.59 for ink refills. Free shipping on any order today. : )

Yes, 100% acetone. I am using a super basic Brother printer with Brother toner. I bought it specifically for image transfer -- works great for heat transfer, but looks like not so good for acetone transfer. Is Linkyo a brand that you can buy for any printer?

Hmmm, I thought this toner would work okay because it does heat transfer well. Guess not. arrgghhh... this used to be so easy!

I just had the exact same issue this weekend with toner that normally works on OZ. Same technique, same result. We came to the conclusion that it was the SLQ.

Just a quick reminder that I'm teaching a bookbinding class for Manchester Continuing Education on Tuesday, October 11th from 6-9pm! I'm feeling a bit lonely because only one person signed up for my class thus far, and I don't think she's a letterboxer (which is totally fine, but I was hoping a few letterboxers would be interested in joining me for the class). These handmade books are a great way to make journals for yourselves that have the "perfect paper" and are the "perfect size." I went through A LOT of different journals before I learned how to make them myself! I use the processes that I teach in class to make logbooks for letterboxes as well!

Hope you can join me! You do need to pre-register for the class so I can have enough materials for the entire class. You can sign up here:

https://www.manchesteradulted.org/CourseCatalog/ScheduleView.asp?ScheduleId=3098

Bungalow Boxer

Thank you RDHG for a great time & fun location! The weather was perfect!

Though I didn't get to all the trails, I'm hoping to swing by Love Valley again once the leaves begin to change & get the last few I missed.

Now, go home, scrape the muck off your shoes & get a good night's sleep ;)