I'm a newbie to letterboxing and although I have 10 boxes planted, they are not hand-carved but do apply to the theme of the letterbox. I want to start to carve stamps as I've seen some awesome images and would love to be able to do this. Anyone in the area (I'm from Lambton Shores) that is willing to put up with a newbie, meet-and-greets, or any events coming up soon?

http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?gEventId=1449
Box ON 2010: Black-and-Orangeville is the next Ontario event if you can make it.

Herbivore

There are several tutorials on how to carve. http://www.atlasquest.com/tutorials/carving/ That shows how to carve with a gouge. There are a few on how to do razor carvings too. Here is also the link directory to other tutorials. http://www.atlasquest.com/toolbox/linkdir/directory.html?gDirId=2

Hey there and welcome to our little corner of the letterboxing world :)

I saw with interest your Kettle Point - area boxes... I spent a ton of summers at Camp Ipperwash in the 70's, and have good friends who still summer in the area :)

You may want to try Water Lily ( I think she's a little further up towards Lions Head), Pam of the Big Blue Team (St Thomas) and Fiddleheads or Lone R from Guelph to list just a few of the wonderful carvers in the province!

If you're not a member of the Yahoo group Letterboxing Ontario, You're very welcome to join us!

Finally, our annual Ontario letterboxing gathering is in Orangeville on 30 Oct. Check the events listings for details.

Please feel free to email me (or any of the the other boxers in the province :)) with any questions, or simply throw them out here.

Jiggs

Thanks for your messages. I've been in contact with a couple of you from Ontario already. I appreciate your help, and I'm looking forward to creating some stamps. I'm enjoying getting out there and finding places to plant boxes as well. I am unfortunately unable to attend the Orangeville event but will try and do my best to get to the next one. Thanks again everyone for your assistance.

Any time you are in my area let me know. I'd love to hang out. I'm in desperate need of a letterboxing fix. My hiking partner is now a long-haul truck driver.

I'm still new to LB'ing. However, I have started carving small stamps. They are very basic and I have been inproving. At the event in October, I'll probably be asking a million and one questions about carving.

I have noticed the LB's on the Lambton Shore and will be going up that way to find them. If I do, we could do a little mini-meet at a coffee shop if you would like.

I'm also new and I was wondering where everyone bought carving materials from. I've been to all the big art supply stores in Toronto and also to a Michaels and I couldn't find Speedy Carve or Master carve anywhere. Midoco has the Speedball beginner kit, but I don't want to buy the whole kit again just to get the carving block. Does everyone just buy online?

Michaels has it. Go to the aisle with the calligraphy pens.... it is at the end. (It's not with the stamping stuff!!). I have also found it in the Art Store in Waterloo and at Wyndham Art Supplies in Guelph. If you have a fine art store near you, check there!!

That would cool to have a mini-meet with you. Depending on what day you venture up here, I may even be able to join you letterboxing if you want some company on the trails. I don't really like walking the woods alone but I do it quite often.

Have you been to all those chi-chi little art stores near the AGO? They stock stuff for OCAD students and I bet one of them would have some. Also, there's a subway box close by...

Also - I'll bring samples of 3-4 different carving blocks to the event in Orangeville in October, as well as my gouges. You can check out stuff that's only available through Stampeaz.

I started with the starter kit from Stampeaz (online). I recently used a couple of 40% off coupons at Michaels and picked up a nice carving kit and sheets of the pink rubber. That's all I've found locally and the price is right when you have coupons.

See ya
Pam

At the event in October, I'll probably be asking a million and one questions about carving.

That is what is so great about events . . . the chance to see what everyone is doing and ask a million questions of the more experienced boxers.

See ya
Pam

I recently used a couple of 40% off coupons at Michaels

FYI, you can get the coupons online. This week it's 50% off:

http://mic.michaels.com/20100905SLCANCLLP.aspx

hmm. I'll have to try again I guess. When I was there I asked someone about it and she didn't have any idea what I was talking about.

OCAD's a good idea! hadn't thought about that. I think the box is still in the middle of a construction zone though.

she didn't have any idea what I was talking about.

You will find that happens a lot especially in big craft stores.

See ya
Pam

I get my carving materials from Stampeaz. I've got access to an American mailing address, so I get it sent there and save a ton on S&H.

Is there a particular one that you like or are you still testing things out? I could hook you up with some pink stuff, white stuff, or orange stuff if you want to give them a try. I've also got some hideous grey stuff that I'd love to get rid of...

I may take you up on this. I've used up all the Speedy Carve that came in the beginner's kit and I'm getting kind of desperate!