Chat Log from Libby's Chat Class, How to Carve

Libby's Typed How To:: http://www.angelfire.com/tx/Mansion/howtocarve.html

Main Website: http://www.angelfire.com/tx/Mansion/

<LiBsTeR> I MADE A PAGE FOR YOU ALL TO REFERENCE TO
<LiBsTeR> http://www.angelfire.com/tx/Mansion/howtocarve.html
<LiBsTeR> CARVING IS REALLY FUN, AND IS AS COMPLEX OR SIMPLE AS YOU WANT IT TO BE
<LiBsTeR> IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AS WE GO ALONG, JUMP IN AND ASK, OK?
<LiBsTeR> YOU NEED SOME BASIC SUPPLIES-
<Frances> How often have you tried to carve your fingers, Lib. Seriously.
<LiBsTeR> LEAD PENCIL, TRACING PAPER
<LiBsTeR> HONESTLY, I HAVE NEVER HURT MYSELF (YET)
<Frances> Good!
<LiBsTeR> THEN I PRINT OUT AND CARVE FROM THAT-
<LiBsTeR> OK- BACK TO OUR DESIGN- DRAW IT ON TRACING PAPER,
<LiBsTeR> THEN LAY IT LEAD SIDE DOWN ON YOUR ERASER
<LiBsTeR> RUB IT WITH THE SIDE OF YOUR THUMB, A SPOON, WHATEVER-
<LiBsTeR> THAT WILL TRANSFER IT ONTO THE CARVING MATERIAL
<LiBsTeR> IF YOU HAVE WORDS, WHEN YOU LIFT THE PAPER,
<LiBsTeR> YOU WILL SEE THEY ARE REVERSED JUST PERFECTLY FOR YOU!
<LiBsTeR> THAT IS WHAT IS SOOO COOL ABOUT THIS METHOD
<LiBsTeR> :-)
<LiBsTeR> NO WORRIES ABOUT REVERSING LETTERS!
<LiBsTeR> OH!
<Donna> oh I wondered about words
<LiBsTeR> YOU CAN ALSO SHADE IN WHAT AREAS YOU WANT TO NOT CARVE AWAY BEFORE TRANSFERING
<LiBsTeR> SOMETIMES I CAN'T DECIDE UNTIL AFTER I HAVE IT TRANSFERRED
<LiBsTeR> THAT IS OK- YOU CAN DRAW RIGHT ON THE ERASER MATERIAL
<LiBsTeR> THEN YOU BEGIN TO CARVE
<Donna> ok
<LiBsTeR> IF YOU ARE USING THE GOUGES, USE THE #1, AND START WITH THE HARDEST AREA FIRST
<LiBsTeR> THAT WAY IF YOU MESS UP, YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME INVESTED IN THAT CARVING
<LiBsTeR> ASK HOW I KNOW TO DO THAT! :-)
<Donna> what do you mean by hardest area
<LiBsTeR> OK- LIKE THE EYES, OR THE SMALLEST PART-
<Donna> ok
<LiBsTeR> WHAT EVER LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE HARD TO DO- THE MOUTH, 
<LiBsTeR> OR WITH A FLOWER, THE VERY INSIDE AREA, WHERE THE PISTILS ARE
<Donna> I see
<Frances> so you carve out what is NOT drawn or traced onto the material?
<LiBsTeR> YOU WANT TO ALWAYS CARVE AWAY THE INSIDE OF YOUR DESIGN FIRST
<LiBsTeR> RIGHT FRAN
<LiBsTeR> YOU CARVE AWAY EVERYTHING BUT THE LEAD LINES OR SHADING YOU HAVE ON THE ERASER
<LiBsTeR> OH GOSH!
<LiBsTeR> ANOTHER HINT-
<Frances> are those carving tools really sharp?
<LiBsTeR> AFTER YOU HAVE THE DESIGN TRANSFERRED, BEFORE YOU START TO CARVE-
<LiBsTeR> SORTA FRAN
<LiBsTeR> YOU CAN TAKE A LIGHT COLORED INK PAD, AND TAP IT ALL OVER THE DESIGN
<LiBsTeR> IT HAS TO BE LIGHT COLORED, SO YOU CAN SEE THE LEAD THROUGH IT
<LiBsTeR> THEN TAKE PAPER, AND WIPE IT OFF-
<LiBsTeR> THIS WILL MAKE IT WAY EASIER TO SEE WHERE YOU HAVE CARVED
<Cari> What would you recommend for a first-time carving design?
<LiBsTeR> GLAD YOU ASKED THAT CARI!
<Frances> to send it to Libster!
<LiBsTeR> I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE A SMALL (LOL FrAN) SQUARE OF MATERIAL
<Donna> ok Fran LOL
<LiBsTeR> AND JUST CARVE LINES ACROSS IT IN ONE DIRECTION
<LiBsTeR> PLAY WITH IT, SEE HOW BIG THE LINE GETS IF YOU PUSH THIS HARD,
<LiBsTeR> SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU BARELY PUSH-
<LiBsTeR> THEN YOU CAN USE THAT SCRAP FOR A NEAT BACKGROUND STAMP
<LiBsTeR> OR TO ADD TEXTURE
<Frances> that's a good tip
<LiBsTeR> THAT WILL GET YOU USED TO THE TOOL, AND THE WAY IT REACTS WITH YOUR CARVING MATERIAL
<Donna> yep interesting
<LiBsTeR> THE NEXT THING THAT IS GOOD IS SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE A SMILEY FACE,
<LiBsTeR> OR A PANSY,
<LiBsTeR> OR A VASE, OR ANYTHING YOU LIKE THAT HAS SIMPLE LINES
<Donna> oh I love pansies
<Frances> is any one thing easier to carve on that another?
<LiBsTeR> YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING YOU LIKE, SO YOU CAN USE IT
<LiBsTeR> FOR CARVING, THE ONLY THING I USE IS PZKUT
<Frances> what is that?
<LiBsTeR> IT IS RELIABLE, AND DOES NOT CRUMBLE, AND HAS A GOOD TEXTURE
<Frances> rubber?
<LiBsTeR> THERE IS A LINK ON THAT PAGE THAT TAKES YOU WHERE TO GET IT
<LiBsTeR> IT IS SORTA LIKE RUBBER
<Frances> K!
<LiBsTeR> IT IS SOFT BLOCK CARVING MATERIAL
<Donna> what kind of erasers
<LiBsTeR> i REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS MADE OF
<LiBsTeR> YOU CAN ALSO USE ERASERS FROM THE DOLLAR STORE,
<Donna> ok
<WendySM> I got some an inexpensive eraser at Michaels to practice with and it was a little crumbly, but a good starting point
<LiBsTeR> JUST MAKE SURE THEY ARE FIRM, NOT THE YELLOWISH ONES THAT CRUMBLE
<Frances> those would be good to practice on.
<Donna> thats what I thought
<LiBsTeR> YOU CAN SOMETIMES GET THE PINK SPEEDBALL STUFF AT MICHAELS- IT IS GOOD TO USE, I THINK
<Donna> And I will probably need lots of practice
<LiBsTeR> MICHEALS HAD A BEGINNER KIT, TOO WITH ONE PIECE OF PINK STUFF, AND THE GOUGES AND HANDLE
<WendySM> Don't remember what mine was (carved the name off haha) but it was good to start with
<LiBsTeR> AND A LITTLE BOOK THAT IS NOT A LOT OF HELP
<LiBsTeR> lol
<LiBsTeR> YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU LOOK AT THAT WEB PAGE I GAVE YOU, AND CHECK
<LiBsTeR> OUT THE DIAGRAM OF THE ANGLE OF CARVING
<Frances> what's the largest thing you've ever carved?
<LiBsTeR> THAT IS IMPORTANT, SO THAT YOU HAVE STURDY 'WALLS' OF CARVING
<WendySM> (I'll put the webpage she sent on the website tomorrow)
<LiBsTeR> THAT DON'T BREAK ON YOU.
<LiBsTeR> http://www.angelfire.com/tx/Mansion/howtocarve.html
<LiBsTeR> LARGEST THING?
<Donna> Thanks Wendy
<LiBsTeR> MAYBE THE RUIN I JUST GOT THROUGH CARVING-
<Frances> ruin???
<LiBsTeR> I HAVE A DESIGN PLANNED THAT WILL TAKE 2 BLOCKS OF THE CARVING MATERIAL
<LiBsTeR> I WILL HAVE TO DIVIDE IT IN HALF
<Frances> You ruined it????? hehehe
<LiBsTeR> THEN LINE THEM UP TO STAMP IT
<LiBsTeR> A RUIN OF A COLISEUM
<bkjdesign> cool, I will have to check out the beginner kit
<Frances> TWO BLOCKS!!!!
<LiBsTeR> OH HECK, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!
<LiBsTeR> DEBBY!!!!
<LiBsTeR> HI!
<Debby> my apologies libby for being late
<WendySM> Libby also does custom "commissioned" work... and I figured out what I want you to carve to me :)
<LiBsTeR> THAT IS OK
<LiBsTeR> I HAVE BEEN DOING PEOPLE'S WEB SITE NAMES, AND PORTRAITS 
<Debby> How much are they Libby?
<Frances> think I will have a carving done of my grand daughter to give to my friend who is also the grandmother to the same child.
<LiBsTeR> ONE LADY WANTS A CARVING OF HER DOG FOR FATHERS DAY
<Debby> wow
<LiBsTeR> THEY START AT $10 FOR A WORD, AND THE PORTRAITS START AT $25 
<Debby> k thanks...sounds good...
<Frances> what size are they Lib?
<LiBsTeR> MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN ABOUT THOSE PRICES
<LiBsTeR> THE PORTRAITS ARE USUALLY ABOUT 2 INCHES OR SO TALL
<LiBsTeR> WORDS ARE ACCORDING TO HOW BIG THE PERSON WANTS THEM
<Debby> good question frances, i special ordered one onetime you need a magnifying glass to read it...lol
<LiBsTeR> IF ANY OF YOU GOT 'THE GLEANER' ZINE, THEN YOU SAW MY CARVING OF THE WORDS FOR HER
<Debby> well this granny does anyway!
<Debby> don't get it darn...
<bkjdesign> well, just to save myself from having to start working on getting stuff for another project, maybe I'll just have you make me one! LOL
<LiBsTeR> THE GLEANER IS ABOUT HALF INCH TALL
<LiBsTeR> JUST EMAIL ME WITH WHAT YOU WANT DONE-
<LiBsTeR> LIBBYMatADELPHIA.NET
<Debby> sure will
<LiBsTeR> I ALSO CARVED 'BELLE PAPIER' FOR THAT ZINE
<LiBsTeR> AND 'COLLAGE JOY' FOR HER ZINE
<Debby> wow you are one busy lady
<LiBsTeR> I TRY
<LiBsTeR> :-)
<WendySM> She's a sweetie, too :)
<LiBsTeR> THANKS WENDY
<Debby> amazing lady
<LiBsTeR> I ALSO DO CARVINGS OF FAVORITE MOVIE STARS
<LiBsTeR> AND CARTOON CHARACTERS
<WendySM> Ohhhhhhhhh a Mel Gibson! :)
<LiBsTeR> I HAVE KERMIT GOING OUT THE DOOR HERE SOON
<Debby> vbg!
<LiBsTeR> KIDS LIKE TO HAVE A NAME STAMP-
<LiBsTeR> THIS GUY HAS A NEPHEW THEY CALL KERMIT, SO HE HAD ME CARVE THE NAME, AND THE CHARACTER
<Donna> I hope you have some examples on your site, I'm getting excited
<Debby> oh my grand-daughter who stamp would love that...great idea for Christmas, etc
<LiBsTeR> OF COURSE, I DRAW THE CHARACTERS, I DO NOT INFRINGE ON COPYRIGHT
<LiBsTeR> SO THEY ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE REAL THING, BUT REAL CLOSE
<Frances> I understand that!!!
<WendySM> on the link from the main page of the stampers mall (under her chat) is a link to her website with a few examples
<LiBsTeR> WITH A NAME STAMP, THEY CAN STAMP THEIR TENNIS SHOES, BACK PACKS, ANYTHING
<Debby> so libby if i signed my signature, in my handwriting you could carve it into a stamp?
<LiBsTeR> YES I CAN DEBBY
<Debby> great!
<LiBsTeR> I HAVE A FEW PICS UP OF MY CARVINGS ON MY SITE-
<LiBsTeR> I WILL BE PUTTING MY NEWEST ONE UP SOMETIME IN THE MORNING
<Debby> check them out ladies they are great
<LiBsTeR> I CAN TELL THE IMPROVEMENT IF I LOOK AT THE FIRST ONES! LOL