Amazed

Having good friends is a blessing. 

Thank you for such an amazing gesture

 and display of love to all of those involved.  

Here is the beautiful carving competed by a good friend.  It is amazing!  What a wonderful gift.  Since I carve I know how much time and creative pressure goes into something like this.  Very honored to receive it.

Here is the standard block print.  Look at the details she added.

Water colors added

The piece put together with resin and glitter.

Miss C - Beautiful Carving. Thank You!
 

Pental Hi-Polymer Eraser

Amazingly this is the first time that I have handled this material.  After being asked about how it carved and what I knew about it (sadly I did not know anything) I went hunting for a package.  I happened to see that it was on sale in the "school supplies" at Wal-Mart - off I went.

I only purchased one package at that time.

The material is very flexible and yet sturdy.  It was thicker than I am use to using.

I carved a simple S with the material.  Truth be told I thought I would have nothing good to say about this medium.

I got caught in a one lane, lead car directed construction site.  I had a very long wait and decided to take a good look at this material.  In the car I have a sharpie and an old rusted exacto knife. Which was very dull.

So I drew a "S" backwards and cut away at the block.  Surprisingly it cut and cut cleanly.  I used the rusty exacto knife and carved up a simple s.  The s took well,  It did not crumble, and wear easily.  I stamped it with marker and ink when I got home.

The ink stamped very well.  Very easy to ink and stamp. Stamped it 100 times without the image changing,

I had a friend pick up a couple more so I could try transfer methods.

Acetone, wintergreen, or xylene transfers did not work.  I was only able to get a pencil transfer to work.

There is definately a use for this very inexspensive.  (the ones I picked up were .49 for 3)


The size is small, but for:

• background designs
• some LTCs 
• Stamps without fine details
• temporary plants
• new carvers to learn on
• kid carving
• Carving on the road.  

I did not use gouges with this material just a dull exacto. 

I do not recommended with markers.  In my opinion the image/stamp would wear away quickly as it will peel.  It is an eraser and I used it to erase the pencil transfer.  There was eraser debris.  So it will wear away.  Limited or short term use. 

Review of different carving blocks

I am in the process of reviewing carving blocks side by side.

Currently I have:  (I am only comparing blocks that can be purchased)

sweetloveqiner
OZ
NZ
Firm Cut

ordered:
 multicolored carving block
candy colored carving block
Large layed carving block.

I am looking for a few more possibilities  at this time.  I will review each one separately. 

Art Frame give away

Keep your eyes open.  As soon as I get the Art Frame completed I will be giving it away.  To receive it you need to send your name via comment to this blog.  I won't do emails or texts as it is easier for draw from names here.

I will run this for a week.

Sharpening a knife with Slipstrop

When carving on either rubber or wood it is vital to use sharp tools.   When I am beginning any carving project I start with sharpening the tools I will be using.

This is a slipstrop.  You can purchase it from many hobby or craft stores.

Rub the yellow compound on the leather

Take your knife edge and place it on the yellow compound on the flat leather .  Pull the knife edge off.

You can see that the knife is pulled out of the shaft.  I find it easier to sharpen this blade when it is expanded  (This is a 16 gauge Hypodermic needle removed from its casing and placed in a pin vice.) 

Keep your angle of your blade correct.  When you pull the knife blade it will leave a gray mark.

You can move to eye level to make sure your angle is correct.

You will want to do this at least 20 times.

When you are done check your blade.  Be careful it is sharp.

I make sure the blade is where I want it and lower it back into the shaft.  Time to carve.

Sweetloveqiner

So my packages of this material showed up yesterday.

This is how it was shipped.  3 slabs per box.  

To give you an idea of how thick this stuff is.  3 slabs and an outer bubble wrap layer

Height

Width

Opened package.  No need to prep it!  Bonus!

Iron transfer.  Crisp.  Bonus acetone is the same way.

Cutting a transferred image away from the block.

Ready 

Image placed and tool ready!

Started off with a knife and then switched to gouge to get feel of both

Every cut was precise. No tugging, pulling, fighting the material.  Smooth!

Framing LTCs- 3rd frame

Putting art cards together to display has been more challenging than I anticipated.  I find myself rearranging cards and and trading them out.  There are so many beautiful cards.

Due to the challenge this is.... I have decided to join a few trades and start fresh.  This decision is a huge burden off my shoulders.

I am also going to put together a frame of some of my LTCs to give away.  As soon as this is completed I will let my readers know how to be in the running to have a frame of  S and D art.

Here is the final frame that I plan to do at this time.