I finally managed to figure out how to add electronic Gift Cards/Certificates to the site. I had tried several times before and failed, but managed to emerge from the struggle victorious this time. If you want to check out the possibilities, here’s the link: Gift Card.
And, of course, I couldn’t just leave the listing naked, so I carved an icon to use for the link.
So far, I’m using just the print as the icon, because that’s what I originally had in mind, but I’m rethinking it. I might rework the icon, using the printed image along with the actual carving and tools – a square out of the picture above. I think it might be more visually interesting. Any opinions?
In either case, I am very excited to be able to offer gift certificates, at long last. Also, since it’s a new feature on the site, be sure to let me know if you notice any glitches along the way.
A number of people asked about sanding images they had already carved in order to get better ink coverage. There are a couple of approaches that can be taken to improve how the block takes ink if it didn’t get sanded before carving.
The simplest method is to take a solvent based permanent ink like StazOn and cover the surface of the carving material with it and leave it to dry completely.
Sanding a Carved Block
If the simple inking option doesn’t do the trick and there is still an inking problem, try taking a very fine sandpaper (the sheet above is 600 grit) and putting it grit side up on a very flat surface.
Sanding a Carved Image
Then, keeping the block flat against the sanding surface, gently run the face of the carving around the sandpaper a few times. Make sure the surface is flat and check often to make sure it’s coming off evenly. Remember, not much needs to be removed – just the barest bit off the top to remove the extrusion residue. Also, be careful not to press too hard in any single spot, since the block is flexible and it’s possible to end up with uneven bits where fingers pressed the block into the sandpaper.
Some carvers also use the little manicure blocks that have grit on them. And, if the carving is particularly intricate and likely to wear away rapidly, holding a small piece of sandpaper in your fingers and very, very gently touching up the block’s surface can also work. Be particularly careful with this approach, as it’s easy to accidentally take an edge down too far, but if ink isn’t adhering to the block well enough to get a good print, it’s probably worth the risk.
I hope this helps a little – and feel free to ask questions! After all, that will help me know what might be useful to talk about here on this blog.
Also, it’s the anniversary of the day I began running Stampeaz many long years ago. So, I’m celebrating with 10% off Tan-Z Kut today. If you place an order, don’t forget to ask for some of the bits and bobs I mentioned in a previous blog post – I still have some to share, if you want.
I have mentioned this on the general Stampeaz blog, but I thought it would be a good idea to post it here as well. Not only will reach more people, it will help me keep my (early New Year’s) resolution to start posting more regularly on the Stampeaz site to let people know what’s new and maybe I’ll even get around to posting some tutorials and such.
Carving Material Bits and Pieces
I have generated quite a pile of bits and pieces of carving material over the years. Some of them are material trials that didn’t go into production, others are small pieces cut off my more recent, larger carvings, yet others are pieces of material with images already transferred to them that I have decided I’m never going to carve. Those transfers can be removed with a quick acetone wipe or sanding, or you could simply flip the block over and use the other side. I’ve come to the realization that I am generating pieces like this far faster than I can use them and thought it would be fun to send them out to anyone who might want to try out some different carving media. There’s everything from old PZ Kut (yes, really), OZ Kut, Firm Kut, Tan-Z Kut and trials that didn’t make the manufacturing cut (no pun intended). These are mostly smallish pieces that would be great for anyone carving inchies, small bits of text, fleas, hitchhikers, etc.
So, if you’d like to try a few pieces of something different, just let me know when you place your order and I will make it so. Since I’ll be sending goodies your way, anyway, it won’t cost anything for either of us and seems like a win-win. This offer tended to get lost in the general posts on the other blog, so I thought I would post it here where people might see it when they’re shopping. It stands as long as I have any to share.
I already posted this on the general blog (over at stampeaz.blogspot.com), but I thought it might be fun to share it here, too. I thought it would be good to try and train myself to use the Stampeaz site blog more regularly, so I’m going to learn the ropes. (Perhaps a New Year’s Resolution starting a little bit early? We’ll see how that goes.) What better way than to wish everyone the very best of the holiday season — and the coming year! Besides, there are puffins!
Puffins, Printmaking and Pawprints!
The linoleum blocks were carved for Christmas cards by my mother many years ago. So, you see, I come by my printmaking obsession honestly!
And, of course, the pawprint is Baloo’s big foot. He had to keep a paw in the festivities!
With great trepidation and excitement, I am hitting the magic button and hoping everything goes as planned.
Many thanks to everyone for your patience while I built this new site out of the ashes of the old one that crashed so spectacularly at the beginning of the year, with special thanks to those who were actually brave enough to buy something from me without a site to browse!
Puffin in a Cup
(This is a very old carving, but it seemed appropriate, given how many cups of tea and latte I have consumed as I worked on the new site!)
The plans for this new blog include tutorials, tips, tricks, and best practices. I hope they end up being useful. 🙂
