I agree. it can be tough to crank out 30 cards of the same thing especially if it's intricate or has a lot of things involved on it but it's tough to get those smaller swaps and then people drop out and you get like 6 cards. At least if the swap has 30 signups, i probably have a good chance of getting about 20+ cards and that's pretty cool to see all that talented work come back to you.

Even though doing 20-25 gets monotonous, I feel that if I'm going to do a nice carve, I want more than a few trades. Otherwise, seems like a lot of work (fun though it is) for little return...

Then, I'll have 10 or more left over to trade later on. I don't like going back to make up second batches of a card. I'd rather do the large batch up front! I'll usually make at least 10 more than the swap total...

I like doing the bigger ones, that means you get more back in the end. I generally do up to 8 extras for trading with friends at events. It's amazing how fast the add up.

I wonder if people are a little "scared off" by the possibility of having to make 30 LTCs?

I might very well be scared off by such a number. However, in my second themed LTC swap I decided to make 50. (For those wondering, it is the "Valentine’s Day Cards" that I've sent off but hasn't yet come back.) I figured that I could easily make 50, but it was my first embossed card. I also added ribbons (my first one with embellishments) which added more complications. I did my first one easily enough, so I left the rest to do the next day.

I started when I got home. I had to finish 18 for the swap and an extra to send with the stamp donation. I finished, but I had to at least emboss the others before I sent off the stamp. I stamped and powdered the next 30 then set them aside to finish later. I had every flat place near my desk covered with powdered cards. It was 2:15 a.m. I'll give myself more time next time, but I'm glad I made that many.

I rested the next day, then heated the embossed cards the following day. I still haven't finished these last 30, but I don't have to yet. I only have to do one for a letterbox I'm planting tomorrow. I'll finish the rest soon.

Try making a large number at once. You'll learn some new things, even if you are learning from your own mistakes.

Generally, when I do embossed cards, I'll do them in batches of about 5-10 cards at a time. I've had mixed results with sprinkling the powder on and setting them aside. Sometimes the powder comes off before the heat sets it, if I leave too much time between adding the powder and heating it.

dp

I've had mixed results with sprinkling the powder on and setting them aside. Sometimes the powder comes off before the heat sets it, if I leave too much time between adding the powder and heating it.

I didn't know that that could happen. If it matters, I used Stampendous embossing powder. The ones I left for over a day seem to have come out just as well as the first ones. I do know that I can't leave the ink long to dry which is why I powdered them (and knocked off the excess) right away. I also found that I have to be very careful when I use the brush to remove stray powder because the powder isn't stuck that well.

I also found that curling ribbon quickly curls under the heat of an embossing gun. (I replaced the ribbon on my prototype.) The one that I got is a dual-temperature heat gun from a hardware store (Harbor Freight). It has a higher temperature (572° F) than the craft heat guns (512° F), but I just hold it a little further away. It certainly does the job.

I have seen but haven't used a craft gun, so I can't compare use directly. It is larger than the craft guns, so I would tire more quickly if I used it for a long time. It also appears to be more heavy-duty, but looks can be deceiving. It's less expensive too, since there are probably more of them made. But I can't use a 40% off coupon to buy it.

I think if you don't move them around, you should be o.k. I just wanted to make you aware in case you have any pets, roommates, rotating fans, etc. that could disturb the cards.

dp

I think if you don't move them around, you should be o.k.

That's what I was worried about. I put them in a place where they wouldn't be disturbed for a few days, but occupying every flat surface there. They certainly survived until I was able to heat them.

BTW, what is considered the "embossing" stage? Is it the whole process of stamp (or ink with pen), powder and heat? This seems to be the case since it basically the same as embossing by deforming the paper.

I have been new to embossing only a short while. I have been applying powder to one card and heating it. Is there some reason to powder all cards then heating all cards?
I use a short step ladder for a drying rack. It is actually an antique library ladder chair.

Try making a large number at once. You'll learn some new things, even if you are learning from your own mistakes.

Actually, I *have* made 50 cards--in one sitting--for a swap before (well, I think I made 36 for the swap and then extras for individual trades). I'm glad I did it, but I also learned that for me, making that many cards turns something fun into drudgery. That's why I now stick to smaller swaps! :^)

Rocklun

what is considered the "embossing" stage?

I'd say adding the powder and heating is the embossing stage. Usually, you would stamp, powder and heat, pretty much at the same time. But you might want to only emboss a small area, so you might make sure the ink was completely dry, then go back and ink the one area, which would make stamping and embossing two distinctly different stages.

dp

If you wanted to get all your embossing done in "one fell swoop" then powdering them all, then heating them would get that done. Ultimately though, go with what works best for you. I tend to assemble my cards in batches of about 5-10 cards at a time, no matter what technique I use.

dp

well after 2 days we've gotten 1 new person to join this tracker. I do hope we get at least in the high teens with this one as it progresses. I don't normally hype swaps and my own cards but i am super excited with how my card is going to turn out. I think you would be disappointed not to get this one. Unless you absolutely hate comics and superheroes, the it might not matter. Funny though how i'm trying to drum up excitement and this isn't even my own swap. Guess i'm just pumped as to how this one will turn out.

Hopefully we will be able to drum up some more people. There is still a long time till this one is due so maybe people are just waiting. Of course if you like comic book you should consider joining my ElfQuest Tracker too. :)

I have been applying powder to one card and heating it. Is there some reason to powder all cards then heating all cards?

The heat gun that I use heats up pretty quickly, but it does take about five seconds. It takes much longer to cool down though. I've touched it while hot (but not the business end). All of it is cool, except for the business end. I'm worried that it will fall and do something bad, so I place it on something stable then stay nearby until it cools enough to touch it.

I'd rather be putting it down as few times as possible. Fewer times means fewer times to be careless.

I just hold the gun and move the cards. Since there is a small wind you can't just do them en-mass, unless the cards are weighted down. If you hit the center of the card then it doesn't blow away. I heat one card while I move the next one into place, then swap where I'm heating. It all goes pretty quickly.

Do you know how long it took me to realize you were talking about my swap? lol. I was just glancing at the thread title and thinking that was the tracker name and...
Thanks for the free ad.

For those concerned about last minute adds, I'm closing a couple months before the mailing deadline so that should set the number of cards you'd need to make a couple months in advance. As for the high numbers, I agree with whoever it was that said they'd rather get more cards back - once I carve a special stamp I want to get some use out of it! That's one but not the only reason I set it so high (with SO many options I wanted to get lots of boxes).

I don't think the signup number is set in stone though so I could always change it - would people be more interested if the number was around 20 max instead of 30? Though my Disney tracker seems to be doing fine with 30 instead of 20 so it might just be a special interest tracker. ;)

I don't necessarily avoid trackers with large maximums, but I do appreciate it when the host closes the tracker close to the deadline (3-4 weeks).

I do usually avoid trackers that have a clause like: "I set the starting limit at X, but I'll raise it if it fills up."

it might just be a special interest tracker.

Maybe letterboxers are more into the villains :)

[._.]

Maybe letterboxers are more into the villains :)

Villans can be more fun! I'm giving some thought to holding a DCU Villians tracker, which would close the same time as the Heroes one.

I'm giving some thought to holding a DCU Villians tracker, which would close the same time as the Heroes one.

I would join that. :-)

but I do appreciate it when the host closes the tracker close to the deadline (3-4 weeks).

Oh really? May I ask why? I figured people would prefer sooner so they'd know earlier how many cards to make. Is it for late sign up decisions?

I promise not to raise the limit. And I won't add anyone after it closes unless it's to replace a late drop (so participant numbers would stay the same).

Oh really? May I ask why? I figured people would prefer sooner so they'd know earlier how many cards to make. Is it for late sign up decisions?

I like for the tracker to be closed earlier than the deadline so that I know how many cards to send. I'd rather not send 30 if there are 8 participants. I don't necessarily care if it's closed very early, but sometimes I go back to join one that was on my radar and it's already been closed (more than a month before the due date). I guess that's one way to avoid the temptation.

[._.]

I'll keep that in mind. I'm not going to change the close on this one since I already Made Promises (so to speak) but I'll keep in mind that people might prefer future ones closer to the final deadline.

I would be interested in villains too!

I do hope we get at least in the high teens with this one as it progresses.

It's into double digits now. ;-)

dp

I'm so easy just a couple people are interested and I'll do it. I'll start it up when I get home tonight. I have till then to deside who I want to claim for my card. So many good villians to chose from.

Well, obviously I'm interested, too. ;) And not that I'm a huge fan of The Riddler or anything. *coughcough*

I'm in as long as the deadline's something doable for me!

I've been thinking about a DC women tracker, too, but I'm holding that one till after this one.

DC Universe Villains Tracker.

http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?gTrackerId=6165

It's due the same day as your Heroes one BirchMoon.

I've been thinking about a DC women tracker, too, but I'm holding that one till after this one.

Good idea, something for us all to do in the fall. BTW, if it's a comic book tracker and it's got a doable timeline for me I'm there. Been collecting comics for more than 25 years now.

There are a ton of characters to choose from.

I wanted to carve Oracle, but that would break the rules. Maybe I can find someone else that's interesting.

[._.]

Oh snap, now I kind of don't like my own rules. Although I still kind of do.

Maybe hold her for when I do the women of DC tracker?