The 100 Day Project - 100 Days of Carving Patterns

I just passed the 4 week mark in my current 100 Day Project! That's 30+ days of creating (almost) everyday.

WHAT IS THE 100 DAY PROJECT
It was started by Michael Beirut - a graphic designer & educator - and has been resurrected by artists/creators Elle Luna and Lindsay Jean Thomson, and is a free global movement that anyone can participate in! Essentially, you pick a thing to do every day for 100 days, and then you do it and document it online to share with the global community of fellow 100-dayers.

MY PROJECT
I am carving one stamp every day for the 100 days. I decided that I wanted a tighter parameter than my last 100 Days of Stamp Carving, so I am specifically carving patterns.

I am using tools that I already had on hand, and my only purchase will be additional carving rubber. Documentation is half the fun, and I am using these little notebooks and Instagram.

WHY STAMP CARVING?
This is a skill that I love to practice, and I have already seen first hand how daily practice contributes to my improvement. I am good at this, but I want to be great at it.

WHAT'S NEXT?
I find that I am much more forgiving of myself this time around if I feel like I need to miss a day. So far I have missed two days, carving two stamps the next day to make up for it. And I definitely don't feel bad about it. Partly because this is meant to be a fun project, and I am the only person demanding anything of myself. And partly because now that I have had success & failure at my 100 Day Projects in the past, I know that missing one day isn't going to derail me or invalidate this specific work for me.

I still have 70-ish days to complete, and I am looking forward to seeing how I improve, not only in my skill but in my creativity as well.

Have you ever started/completed/attempted a 100 Day Project? What did you do? Did you love it or hate it?

xo

FURTHER READING
The 100 Day Project
Louis Chew (The Writing Cooperative) - You Have Permission to Suck
Not Ladylike - 100 Days of Stamp Carving (Summary)
Not Ladylike - #100daysofstampcarving
Not Ladylike - #100dayproject

Valentine's Mail + Art

HELLO LAST MINUTE VALENTINE CARDS!

I set reminders for myself in my calendars and day timers and all those places, and I still leave it until the last possible second. But that's cool. Cause that's my jam and I know it.

Also, I might have a few crafts supplies at home or whatever.

Check it out!

SUPPLIES USED
- Hand carved stamps
- Archival stamping ink, black
- Assorted washi tape (hearts! crowns! llamas!)
- Neon Sharpies
- Old paper bags...

So! I didn't have enough envelopes to go with the cards, but that has never stopped me. What I do have is a collection of every single paper bag I have ever received from Treasured Memories and a sewing machine/

Enter handmade envelopes!

Cut paper bag. Stitch 3 out of 4 edges. Insert card. Tape the last edge. Easy peasy.

Lucas came to watch me finish up and got really excited when he saw my stamps! He asked if I was carving again, and I said no. And he told me: "Y'know, stamp carving isn't just for 100 day project. You should carve more stamps."

Damn straight Buddy. Why are you so smart?

xo

FURTHER READING
All of the stamps I used are from my 100 Days of Stamp Carving Project, and those posts can be found here.
I don't do a lot of Valentine's "Crafts", but here's a fun mini! Valentine Mini Book
My post from Valentine's Day 2011 was a real blast from the past...life is so hard and wonderful.

Tell A Story: Carve a Stamp, Change Your Life

Editor's Note: I wrote this post last week, on Day 8 of #the100dayproject. I am now at Day 14 and still going strong. I have so many feels about this project, a simple daily practice that [still] is changing my damn life.

I made it! I made it 7 days! One week into this 14+ week project and I am already exceeding my expectations!

I have historically sucked at maintaining long-term projects. Why? Well, I used to say that "life got busy and I forgot". Which is still the truth for past-tense Lisa. But there is more to it than that. Why did I forget? Why did I make the choices that lead to a busy life getting in the way of things I wanted to do to make my busy life better?

I am currently in awe of and super proud of present-tense Lisa and all that I have been able to accomplish lately. I can't (and won't) put my finger on one thing that I am doing differently now that has enabled this change, but I can identify a few things that I have changed in my life that when combined all together in a warm ball of ACTION are making a huge difference!

Why am I telling you this in a terribly secretive and short-on-details way? Because I have seen first hand this past year that each of us is on a different path to achieve our best lives. The combo of things that work for me probably won't work for you. There may be similar elements - getting outside, cultivating daily practices, being 36, cutting carbs, etc. whatever - but they will be combined in different ways, and you will come to them at different times. So my advice to me, cannot be the same as my advice to you.

The only advice I can give you is to keep doing the things that make you feel like you are moving. And get rid of the things - people, activities, food, habits, etc. - that feel like a drag, that feel painful, or uncomfortable, or useless. It will be hard. I know. I've done it! I left a fucking marriage because of it. But it will be worth it. It is worth it.

And if you're not sure what step is "right" for you, just take a step. Any old step will do. Make sure you are safe. Nervous is good (nervous means do it). Take that step and see what happens. I've done that too! Lots of times. You find your way. And if you don't, at least you'll have some adventures on the way.

xo

Note: I have been writing a lot about "life changing moments" lately. The last time I remember doing that  I was in a really dark, low place. This time it feels so different! So don't worry about me! I'm in such a great place right now. I am moving forward and things are grand.

p.s. Sorry to those of you who were looking for more info on actual stamp carving and stumbled into this rat's nest of feelings! I've got a post planned for that too...coming soon!

Stamp Carving

Now THIS is a hobby I can throw my whole body into! Specifically my back. And by "throw my back into" I mean this hobby really hurts my back.

Like, seriously. All that hunching over and concentration on fine motor skills is tough.

But very rewarding.

I have started following a bunch of carvers and lino cutters, and block printers on IG and the gorgeousness blows my ever loving mind. This is something I want to practice.

Here is what "Lisa Getting Back Into Carving" looks like...

This next one I am creating for AN ACTUAL COMPANY! Wheeeee!

And cause I'm a dork...

A foul mouthed dork...

xo

One Year Later...a vlog

I thought I had at least done one vlog this year, but it is looking more and more like I haven't! What the deuce?! I mean, maybe I have, but I am too lazy to go back through all my terribly categorized archives and do some real digging. Yep.

And I'm sure you really missed me blabbing on and on about my clothes or my misting techniques.

Yep.

So, do I sure have a treat for you! This is me blabbing on and on about carving stamps. Ooh la la, right? This one's for you Ginger!

I was ultimately inspired to try my own hand at carving stamps - many moons ago - by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer & Alisa Burke. These two ladies can do amazing things with carved images! Wow!

And then there is me....



And here is the layout I made later using the stamp. I totally had "Instagram hashtag" in mind when I made this guy. And while this layout has no Instagram photos on it - details - this is a hashtag I use quite often. And I think it describes these photos quite well.

And that is that.

updated! I made a second layout later that day...it's just as awesome, but it shows the stamp turned on its side and cut out. Dude!

Same idea with the stamp on this layout. One Instagram photo, and a much used hashtag! What would Instagram be, if it weren't full of food pics?!

later loves

p.s. I checked again, and I did do a couple of videos back in January. So there!

First Day Tears

Dude did not appreciate "Back to School" this year. Or last year, or the year before, now that I think about it. So I was ready for the stomping feat, and the "I'm tired" excuses. And the anxiety.

And the lack of a good picture! Such is life over here, my friends.

But Dude's day just got better and better, and by the time I picked him up at Grandma's he was smiling and excited to be going back! I heard about maps, and computers on Fridays!

Crisitunity indeed.

For the scrapbookers: The stencil in the background is one I made, sprayed with some Mister Huey this time around. The matching stamp, and chevron stamp, I also made for myself. I'm just a regular handy-lady. The yellow ink is American Crafts pigment ink, which I am now in love with.  Paper is My Mind's Eye. So are those stickers. Letters are Prima (my current favourites). Wooden stars are Studio Calico. I can't wait for their new shapes...Enjoy!

later loves

Stamp Makin

I think it was Ginger that commented on a stamp I made, writing that she would just love to learn how to make one of those for herself!

Well, here is a "Even a Monkey Could Do It" DIY post in the traditional style of Lisa. Welcome all you TM Lurkers! Boy, are you in for a treat! HA!

So to recap, sort of, the TM post that lead to this post. I showed everybody there the simple (read: "Lisa-Monkey") way to make your own stencil. But I thought it would be fun to take that a step further and make a stamp that could be used in conjunction with your stencil!

You will need:

- The stencil you made. Check out this post for some tips on that.

- A skinny Sharpie (mine was too fat...story of my life ;-)

- "Make Your Own Stamp" rubber & stamp carving knife. I bought a basic starter Speedball kit from Michaels.

Step One: Trace your stencil on to the rubber piece. And this is where my "testing things out first" comes in handy for you. Don't forget that when you eventually use this stamp, it will be backwards from how you are drawing it! So flip your stencil over and trace the wrong side! I did it wrong...yeah...

Step Two: Mark the areas that you are going to carve, just so you don't forget and get confused and carve the wrong area! Remember that you want the reverse of the stencil. So you want to carve the part on your stamp where the ink will show on the stencil.

It will make sense in a minute, I promise!

Step Three: Carve it out! This part takes a little bit of practice to get straight lines and everything. But I promise it is worth it. Go slow. Take your time. Follow the lines!

Once have carved out the innards, you can cut out the entire shape from your big block. I use craft scissors for this, then trim the edges with my carving tool.

And now you can stamp stamp stamp away! And turn this...

Into this!

Oh man...I am not going to get tired of this little set any time soon!

And here is that finished layout (again).

If any of you take any of these tips to heart I would LOVE to see the fruits of your labour! Link me up!!

Well...that was fun. Now I am off to bed!

later loves

(p.s. it's 10pm where I am. Y'know...in the past)