So I have done a few postals and LTC's, and I know some people turn them into 'traditional' boxes to find when done.

but what about turning them into 'table tops' at events'? Has anyone taken their folios, made a new listing for 'table tops' and then place all the folios in a box and place them on a table at an event for people to get the stamp and log in since the log and everything is already made.

Im just thinking out loud.

Yes, I've brought a stack of PLBs to meet and greet type gatherings; not really to a traditional event. No reason why you couldn't!

I would love to do a postal with you! I have a handful of postals I have on Atlasquest, please join! Or let me know if you've started one, I'll join! Let me know!

I have brought my postals to events and just let anyone stamp into them. I leave them listed as postals though.

Lynn

I just noticed that in an event, there is actually a place where you can register postals...lol.

Hope all is well with you. You should come to the 'all things county fair' event in sept. Looks like a lot of fun.

This ring is available:

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?trackerId=11774

Hello all! I wanted to share a discovery I made recently while workshopping solutions for micro postals that didn’t involve shaving the backs down.

I bought a stamp block kit a while back to try out with a few having a removable top layer. Amazon Keadic Stamp Carving Blocks (specifically the Double-Sided Removable Carving Blocks, though I cannot seem to find them separately.)

I couldn’t quite get the hang of carving in my usual style (or the recommended technique in the instructions) with it, but found that I can peel off the entire layer and then carve on it! It is roughly 1/16” thick when peeled off. The blocks are double sided, so you can get two of these thin layers and then also carve the center layer block.

The thin layers carved great, but was quite flimsy and hard to stamp without the image coming out patchy. I tried gluing it to a clear stamp block but unfortunately still had patchy results.

However, when I added a thin bit of foam backing (making the stamp around 1/8” to 3/16” thick) it started stamping cleanly and consistently!

I am curious if anyone else has tried this method? The material listing is linked above in case you’d like to try and experiment with it as well! I’d love to hear what you have learned if you do. Also if you happen to find this style of carving block alone (the link is to a bundle with normal blocks too), please post a link!

I would be concerned about the thickness of 3/16". The entire postal has to be under 1/4" in order to be mailed 'first class' in a standard envelope. After you put this in a holder of some sort to keep it from shifting, and then inside a folder and envelope, seems like it might go over the thickness level or form a problem lump. I wonder if the backing could be an even thinner foam, or maybe something like the thin wrap that comes around shipped items to prevent scratching, or even a flexible canvas??

Yeah, I’m a little worried about it being too thick, but plan to build an envelope for it to test out soon.

The flexible canvas is an interesting idea, that or even maybe a thin sheet of hard but flexible plastic? The main issue was that the stamp alone was too floppy and needed stability. I was hoping that using a clear mounting block would be a good solution, but apparently not. Foam is what I had on hand, but I’ll look around my craft supplies for some other potential backing materials!

Try using a prescription bottle lid. Cut the edge off. Then use an Elmer's glue stick, to glue it to the lid on the smooth side. It will be thin and if it comes off when washing the stamp, just re-glue.

I might try that with smaller ones (these are roughly 2” x 2” and are too big for that) but I worry about sharp edges on the plastic.

A few more experiment updates for y’all:

• I tried a third stamp with the acrylic block, and it came out fine, not blotchy at all! Not sure why the first two weren’t cooperating.

• I also took some photos to better show measurements. The one with foam is measured at its absolute widest point. The comparison standard carving block is Speedball Pink Stuff.

It's not just the thickness, it's the rigidity. The prescription caps on my bottles are too stiff as are pieces cut from credit cards. MicroPLBs go around sorting equipment that is like wrapping it around a can of soda at warp speed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4nj7IH_fik

When a PLB returns home from a ring, if the planter wishes, they can start a new Tracker and offer it to others who were not in the ring. The same box with existing AQ# is attached to the new Tracker. The box itself is not relisted, just added to the new Tracker. The Tracker is designated as a Singleton Tracker. The Postal is the Box, the Tracker has the Singleton attribute.

For more information check out the Wiki Help pages on AQ home page.
https://www.atlasquest.com/about/wiki/browse.php?catId=4#q405

Hi, everyone!

Just listed this years AQ Santa. Please join us for holiday fun!

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?trackerId=11786

(Crossposted)

It's time once again for our annual Secret Stamp Santa exchange, and this year just happens to be #13! All the relevant information is on the tracker, and questions (Relating to the tracker, wassa!) are always welcome!

TG

Somehow, I don't think that disclaimer will be sufficient. =)

-- Ryan

According to your tracker, are hotdogs considered sandwiches?

DANG IT!

TG

As long as the hotdog in a split roll or between two pieces of bread, hotdogs do meet the criteria for 'sandwiches'.

Im curious, has anyone ever sent a Hitchhiker and/or Flea in a postal to be let loose in the wild in another state?

Im guessing there is some rule about this but I couldn't find it.

I know it has been done occasionally. I even remember at least one HH that ONLY moved from one postal to another, back when bubble mailers were common and an extra ounce wasn't noticed.

thanks RI. I was thinking of sticking a flea in one, but wasnt sure about the rules. As long as its under the price of one stamp.

I've gotten several this way, but most of the time it's from people who have interacted with me enough on Atlasquest to know I won't mind getting a HH. A lot of the time it's a HH that has stuck around one area too long and they want to try to get it to a new area. Rarely have I gotten a HH along with something else in the mail that felt like the HH appeared out of the blue. I did get one of those postal only hitchhikers once back in the day when postals were mostly sent in bubble mailers. I think most people would be upset with the extra weight nowadays.

Thanks, I decided not to send one. I know some letterboxers might not go out anymore looking for letterboxes for many different reasons, and I dont want anyone to feel pressure like they have to find a box to stick it in.

I guess Ill keep to the quisps...🤭

Paper Trail had this one traveling around for quite a while. He was super super thin and super cute! I loved finding him in a micropostal. If I could make a stamp as skinny as Paper Trail, I would try this too!
https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?boxId=323932

I have also sent hitchhikers along in larger postals (not micros) like in Irish Ref's puzzle ring that I've been in the past few years. I wouldn't mind getting a surprise HH to let loose!

now Im second guessing myself. Maybe ill try one but making sure its super thin.

I think it’s always best to ask the receiving person if they would like a HH or not. Some people might not want to deal with one at the moment for a variety of reasons.

I thought about that too, but like a regular HH, if you dont want to bother with it, you just leave it in the box (envelope).

If I do decide to mail it, I would also add extra stamps in the HH pouch just in case it goes over an ounce for some people.

My hope would be that it would be planted somewhere, but it would fine if no one wanted to do that and it just gets returned back to me. I just thought it would be a great way to plant HH's in other states.

I would of course let people know from the beginning in my tracker that I was doing it so there are no surprises.

If you want to send me some. I always take my HHs when I go on vacation. I remembered the one that I left in Alaska last year, a few months later it was found and came back to New England

I sent one in a puzzle ring to a boxer who I know goes out and hunts regular traditional boxes---- I knew she would get a kick out of it and the HH had been lingering around my area for a while.... I think HHs are a fun "bonus" but I know some other's don't like them