Bookmarks carved using tongue depressors is another way to fulfill the Old Carver’s Law: “Leave no wood un-carved.”  Since the tongue depressors are made from an unknown wood that in some cases has twisted grain and is prone to break caution is used while carving. The thin depressor is clamped to a paint paddle to support while carving.  When finished the carved depressor is glued to another depressor for added strength to withstand breakage.  The bookmarks pictured are using a tree theme while any other theme including lettering can be carved using a depressor.  Where there is piercing, or an opening in the carved design, the background in the back up depressor after the gluing can be textured with a series of indentations using an awl or ice pick as was the case with these tree bookmarks. Read the rest of this entry »