#embossing tool

[crossbackpoke-check]

Dysprosium, Mary Soon Lee

dysprosium, AN 66, is a silvery-white rare earth metal. its name is derived from the greek dysprositos, meaning “hard to get at”, owing to the difficulty in separating and isolating this rare earth element. dysprosium is used to measure neutron flux, to fuel reactors, and to activate phosphors. terfenol-d is a magnetorestrictive alloy, meaning that it changes shape when a magnetic field is applied, and is used to manufacture underwater acoustic systems.

jason “robo” robertson, dallas stars #21 for @simmyfrobby’s nhl periodic table poems <3

[leon-on-the-froggy-chair]

im telling yall i feel like Luis would really like those yeehaw ass fringe jackets

you know the ones

[eppujensen]

Wow! What a seriously impressive faux metal crown made from cardboard (cereal box type stuff), sequins, paint and embossing tools. Tutorial by Heather Tracy at The Graphics Fairy. I have to remember this!

[thebeautifulbook]

THE FAIR GOD; OR, THE LAST OF THE ‘TZINS by Lew Wallace (Boston/New York: Houghton-Mifflin, 1897)

A Tale of the Conquest of Mexico

[ghw-archive]

celine aw20

[craftystampin]

Stamp It Group August 2024 Christmas in Fall Theme Blog Hop

Loveliest Tree Card Welcome to Stamp It Group Fall Theme Day Blog Hop.  We are all using current Stampin’ Up! Products. I’m Linda Cullen from Massachusetts, USA and you are visiting my blog Crafty Stampin’. At the bottom of the blog post, you will find a list of all the participating blog hoppers so you can move along from blog to blog and see all the fantastic projects. Leave a comment on each…

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Some European Renaissance Art Vocabulary

for your next poem/story

Acanthus - A prickly plant with large leaves; used as ornament in ancient Greece and the Renaissance.

Altarpiece - A religious painting composed of one or several compartments or panels; intended to stand on or hang above an altar.

Apocrypha - Literally, things that are “hidden.” The Apocrypha are not universally accepted as official scripture and are excluded from the old and new Testaments.

Blue - The color of the sky. In Christian painting, it symbolizes Heaven. Mary, known as the Queen of Heaven, wears a blue mantle. Blue pigment was derived from either the mineral azurite, a copper carbonate mineral, or ultramarine, made from lapis lazuli. The latter was very costly.

Burin - A pointed tool used to engrave lines into a metal plate that is used for printmaking. Ink applied to the plate will sink into the engraved lines and transfer to the paper.

Cartouche - An ornament in the shape of a scroll with ends folded back.

Coffered - “Divided in squares,” usually refers to a popular Renaissance ceiling treatment that used recessed squares.

Coat of Arms - A heraldic device identifying a person, family, or institution of the nobility.

Confraternity - An assembly of lay persons dedicated to strict religious observances.

Cronice - A horizontal band that crowns the top of a building.

Cuirass - A piece of close-fitting armor for protecting the chest and back.

Damascened - Metalwork ornamented with an inlaid design.

Diptych - A painting, usually an altarpiece, made up of two hinged panels. A triptych has three hinged panels.

Doge - The chief justice in the republics of Venice and Genoa.

Embossed - Metal that is hammered, molded, or carved so as to create a bulge or an image in relief.

Engraving - A process used by printmakers who cut grooves or pits into a wood block or metal plate with a sharp tool called a burin. When the plate is inked, the printer’s ink sinks into the grooves; then the plate is wiped, to remove the ink from the smooth areas. The inked plate is pressed against damp paper by running both between two heavy rollers. The pressure forces the softened paper into the grooves to pull out the ink, which we see as lines.

Entablature - The part of the building that is above the columns, encompassing the architrave, the frieze, and the cornice. This element was first found in Greek architecture.

Foreground - The part of the painted image that appears closest to the viewer, usually the lower area of the painting or other composition. The background, usually the upper area of the painting, appears to be farther back. The middle ground is everything in between.

Gold - A symbol of pure light, the heavenly element in which God lives.

Grotesque - A type of decoration found on Roman wall paintings that we reexcavated in the sixteenth century, especially in Nero’s Golden House. The wall paintings were found in underground caves called “grottoes,” thus, the newly discovered ornamentation was called “grotesque.” These wall decorations featured motifs characterized by imaginative, organic connections between disparate elements, including human figures, animals, insects, and birds, mythological and other fantastic beasts, architectural and plant elements.

Source

[saintvainglorious]

My First Fanbind! A Black Sails Fic Anthology Series

It took me a year (and a lot of anxious research) before I worked up the courage to bookbind fanfiction, and after months of on-again-off-again work, my first fanbind is finally done!

I knew that if I was going to bookbind fic, I had to bind something from the Black Sails fandom, aka the fandom and show that have had the biggest impact on my life. Y'all, I almost went into academia to study slavery in the 17th-18th century Caribbean because of this show - when folks say this show rewires your brain chemistry, they are NOT kidding. THEE show of all time. Happy 10th anniversary to Black Sails! This fandom is small but mighty. May we continue to get our hearts and souls blasted to smithereens by this show for many years to come.

Ao3 abounds with magnificent Black Sails oneshots, so I decided to put together an anthology of my favorite Silverflint fics under 20k, which I split into two volumes. Included are works by @justlikeeddie, @vowel-in-thug, @balloonstand, @annevbonny, @francisthegreat, @nysscientia, and more! Thank you, thank you all, you brilliant wonderful people, for gracing the Internet with such amazing writing. When I read the fics in these anthologies I want to fling myself into the sun.

More on the design and binding process below the cut!

Vol. 1 Page Count: 270 (12 fics) Vol. 2 Page Count: 248 (11 fics) Body Font: Sabon Next LT (10.5 pt) Title Font: Goudy Old Style Other Fonts: IM Fell English, pirates pw

The typeset (which I did in Word) took a while, mainly because I'd never done it before. Manually adjusting the hyphenation line-by-line was especially tedious. After making these books, I abandoned Word in favor of InDesign, in large part because InDesign gives you way finer control over your justification and hyphenation settings.

Regarding my actual design choices, I'm happy with how the ocean motif on the title page turned out (it's not the same pattern as my endpapers, but they're complimentary) and I'm very fond of my divider dingbats, which are little swords! Goudy Old Style was a fun title font to use, since it's the font that Black Sails uses as its logo. The stories in Vol. 1 are divided into parts based on what Silver WAS at that point in the show (cook, quartermaster, or king), and Vol. 2 is split up into comedies, histories (AUs set in the canon universe) and tragedies - befitting Black Sails' Shakespearean ~vibes~.

I stuck to a flatback binding, as I wasn't feeling quite ambitious enough to try rounding and/or backing. I've learned that I ~Anakin Skywalker voice~ hate sanding, enjoy folding/sewing, and don't LIKE edge trimming but enjoy the results enough to make it worth it.

The real adventure was decorating the cover, which remained bare for months. After agonizing over Illustrator and experimenting unsuccessfully with HTV and lokta paper embossing, I ultimately turned to using stencil vinyl to paint on the designs. There was a bit of seepage under some of the stencils, but I was able to scrape off the excess with my Cricut weeding tool without damaging the coated surface of the bookcloth (probably Arrestox Blue Ribbon from Hollander's). Even though it was very time-consuming, I'm so happy with the end result of the stenciled paint job and I intend to stick with stencils for my foreseeable future binds.

Are there things I would change? Sure. It was humid out when I printed, so the pages have got a wave. There’s an extra two pages in Vol 2. that I have no idea how I missed, and I got a line of glue in the middle of one of my Vol. 2 endpapers. I’m pretty sure I didn’t case in quite right, since my endpapers pull away from the case at the spine. I think the inner margins are a bit too big, and despite going line-by-line there’s still some wacky justification spacing in the typeset. But man, am I proud of these books! It is so satisfying to learn a new skill - MANY new skills, if we’re being honest - and to make something both beautiful and practical. If I’m still binding in two years or so, I can see myself redoing the typeset in InDesign, cutting out the existing text block, and reusing the cases. I’m also already planning for Vol. 3, which will be Silverflint Modern AUs.

Thanks for reading!

[itsvelyria]

"alternate universes w the f1 drivers"

Charles Leclerc

A tense atmosphere hangs in the still air of the conference room. The guards of the neutral faction glance at each other, be that in trepidation or anticipation, you couldn't give two hoots. If you had a little more presence of mind, perhaps you would have scoffed at the sight of such timidity. But your attention had been focused on one thing even before you stepped foot into the room - Leclerc, the commander of your universes' nemesis and your self-proclaimed enemy. Even as both your universes teetered on the brink of a cosmic conflict over some glowing orb of unfathomable power, you could see nothing but his equally unwavering stare boring into you. It was a battlefield of carefully chosen words and tempered anger, the kind you were terrible at, and a desperate attempt to find common ground in the midst of interdimensional tension. Memories of recent battles played like vivid flashbacks in your mind – your successful conquering of New York, and then counted with major loss suffered in the faraway battlegrounds of Thailand at his hands. The friction between you two mirrored the larger conflict, a reflection of the cosmic struggles that had engulfed your universes. Each word uttered by your superiors and his felt like a strategic move on a celestial chessboard, with the stakes higher than ever. The table, littered with holographic projections and tactical maps, became a battlefield of its own, an arena for diplomatic warfare. Amid the charged atmosphere, you two stood tall as commanders of your respective armies, your universes hanging in the balance, and the fate of countless lives rested on the outcome of this uneasy negotiation.

Carlos Sainz

You can't stop the sly smile from spreading on your lips when one of your maids discreetly places a charcoal-coloured envelope next to your plate. The conversation about the northern harvest abruptly fades as your eyes lock onto the crimson seal adorned with an embossed helm, an unmistakable insignia of authority. The seemingly simple package, however, emanates opulence, from the shimmering paper to the vibrant pigment of the wax. It speaks of a wealth only a king could possess - the Ruler of the Underworld, your husband. Beside you, your mother's disapproval is palpable, her eyes narrowing at the sight of the letter from your elusive beloved. Despite her repeated skepticism regarding the legitimacy of your marriage, a quiet rebellion has taken root in your heart, growing into a conspicuous flower that refuses to be overlooked. In a huff, your mother excuses herself, unable to endure the presence of the offensive missive on her table. Meanwhile, you handle the delicate task of peeling the seal with utmost care. The pages that spill out consume your entire morning, each carefully chosen word and artfully crafted sentence nurturing the burgeoning emotion within you, a fervent longing for the man. Tracing the signature at the end, the cursive letters spelling Carlos's name evoke the vivid memory of him signing his name on the palm of your hand that teary evening before your departure.

Danny Ricciardo

Your workshop is beyond cluttered. You know this. And on usual days, you don’t mind it in the least bit. But when you can’t find the only wrench that works, it is basically hell for you. You rifle through bags of nails and bolts, wondering if it is possible for a black hole to open at random to steal one’s only good tool. The plastic baggie of sequins that you bought to adorn Danny’s suit as a prank explodes as you toss it to the ground harshly, decorating the air with pink metallic confetti. Your hands pause over the table, eyes pressed closed in the hopes that your temper will settle itself magically. It doesn’t. But the door to your workshop does open, and the cheery voice of your partner asks if there is a party going on. You turn to him with the deadliest expression you can muster, telling him that you aren’t in the mood for jokes. “Will coffee help?” he asks, his unruly curls pushed up by the goggle on his head, holding up a mug. You feel the tension in you jaw loosen and nod, taking the metal cup from him gratefully. The amazing coffee smell wafts into the air as you open the lid and take a sip. He asks what you were looking for, already sweeping up the sequins from the floor as you collapse into your stool to enjoy the caffeine. You tell him in-between mouthfuls of the precious liquid. “I told you to keep your station clean,” he wags a finger at you in mock lecture. “And I told you I’d do it when you clean out your closet,” you shoot back bitingly. He sticks out a tongue at you as he dumps the collected sequins into the trash. Danny holds his hand out for the empty mug like he does on the coffee run he insists on doing for you every day. “Your wrench is right there by the way.” You swivel in the direction the pilot points, spying the goddamn tool right there beside the toolbox. A curse spills from your lips. “Love you too,” your boyfriend presses a kiss to your cheek as he leaves the door, already late for his practice session.

George Russell

The colossal estate towers over you in a show of intimidation, even more so than 17 years ago when you were deposited at the front door and it was introduced as your new home. Perhaps it was the fact that in the room with the round window on the second floor, sat the very man who had shaped you into the officer you were today, someone you would forever be indebted to and the folder in your hands had to power to ruin his life's work. Your feet propels you forward, the duty you were sworn to uphold taking charge over the fog that clouded your perception now. In the ancient study room, you greet your adoptive father whose eerily calm composure hints at his awareness of the purpose of your visit. And so you lay it out. The mosaic of the photographs and documents, the tangled threads of your past and his lay out in the open. Taking out the last photograph, you pause to study the profile of the man who should have been in your place, the cheeky look in his eyes and the impish charm glaring through the still image. You slide the photograph across the desk, utterly still as the man behind it scrutinizes it. The air hangs heavy with the unspoken words, the undeniable connection that lingered between you three, and imaginary weight of your disclosure pressing down on your throat at the very moment. You were well aware of the ruin that could be brought upon you with this discussion and yet you were still here, confessing the sins of his child to him. His response is stoic, the same measured tone that rings through your ears when you screw up. "Do what you must." The words hang over your head as you exit the manor, already on the phone with your superior officer for a warrant request for a George Russell.

Lando Norris

The daily Elemental assembly meeting was something you dreaded with a passion. 6 elements, all with wildly different personalities and priorities engaged in what you can only describe as immortal combat. Today's battle amongst the jewel-toned silks emblazoned with your crests was over the luscious piece of untouched land up north. You slammed your hands on the table as the Head of the Fire elements begins detailing the plan his council had drafted for the beautiful plot of soil. If he wanted to build a fucking heat machine, he could do it over your dead body. The unjustified stare he shoots you should send normal people back-pedalling into their opinions, except you were not "normal people". Unlike all the other heads here, you have had the terrible misfortune of being Lando's classmate all throughout your schooling years. It has been ruthless threats and one-upping each other since your first childhood memory. When he was elected head of his kind, you too were appointed leader of yours. And thus started a new chapter in your rivalry that continued to this present moment. You slam the car door angrily, muttering under your breath at the infuriating man and his stubborn opinions. "I thought we agreed not to bring work outside of the building." Your husband slides into the seat beside you, his scarlet orange suit blinding your vision as you shoot him a dry look. "Let's get lunch before my council meeting with the fire elders." The nonchalant tone rings through your ear drums and you feel it water down the rage that was blazing in you. "You have a community session right?", followed by "Shall we watch that movie you've been talking about tonight?" and the fire washes away completely.

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis doesn’t like this. The lumpy seats provide no support and the intrusion into his life is not something to just get used to. But it means he can continue to chase the dream of playing bass around the world, so he settles into the interview. Surprisingly, the interviewer was interested in more than his gym routine and the rockstar life, posing a question about his time in music school, more specifically the conservatory where he played the violin. And so, he recalls the late-night practice sessions and composing classes where is almost tore out all his hair, all his memories leading to the same person. The interviewer brings the topic to his final year showcase, the culmination of his studies and the last fond memory of sharing the stage with his favourite musician. “I understand you are friends with the pianist of the San Francisco Symphony,” the leading statement loaded with intention even as the interviewer shoots him her most brilliant smile. Lewis laughs. He can’t help it as he thinks of how you were probably watching this and spamming him with messages right now. He agrees with the interviewer, thinking of his confidante all the way in a different state at this moment, staying up late to watch the interview. “Just friends then?” The prompt sends him into a fit of giggles even as he answers. But he thinks of the flowers he sends for every single one of your performances and concerts, receiving a call from you afterwards with a selfie and he knows, that deep down, even as his lips define it as a friendship, his very soul knows it wants more than that with you.

Max Verstappen

You would kill Yuki one day. And if you didn’t, you would turn yourself a ghost and push him into a hole somewhere for ditching you at lunch. He knew damn well how you felt about being alone in a crowded Great Hall and the little spitball was still nowhere to be found. Damned betrayer. Gripping your books tightly, you wondered if it was too late to escape to the library. The sudden pressure around your wrist comes out of nowhere and you jump, instinctively glaring at the offender. Max releases your wrist at the sharp look and suddenly, you miss the warmth of his palm on your skin. You mentally slap yourself as you glance to the side and meet a familiar pair of eyes. Your sister sends a small smile in greeting, her canary yellow-trimmed robes rustling as she does. “I need a favor,” your friend poses the statement at you once the sharp look softens into something you won’t name. “What is it?” you ask, not trusting your voice. “Tutor me in runes tonight,” his reply comes instantly, though it sounds more like a demand. Your sister reacts to this by grabbing her boyfriend’s arm in confusion. “You are having trouble in runes?” Watching the exchange, you feel yourself inching away from the potential couple fight. What stops you, is Max turning to you and repeating the question. You can see your sister roll her eyes out of the corner of your mind and determining it as an okay sign, you agree before your brain can point out everything wrong with this scenario. You collapse onto the empty bench at your house's table, and like the devil he is, Yuki appears. At the sight of his happy beam, you are once again reminded of why you do not lunch alone.

[fictionadventurer]

When Emma stepped through the shining door in her palace's library, there was a blaze of light, a roar of wind, and then she landed on her hands and knees on the wooden floor of a suburban bedroom. She recognized the horse pictures on the wall, the stuffed animals on the bed, the yellow curtains fluttering in the window. She was smaller, thinner, lighter, and felt as though a world's weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

A woman's face appeared in the open doorway; every curl of her short hairstyle was familiar. "There you are, Emma!" she said cheerfully. "I've got your dressed washed for church tomorrow. Now come on downstairs. It's almost time for supper."

Behind Emma, the doorway had become an ordinary closet, cluttered with clothes and toys. The clock read twenty minutes past five. She'd been away only ten minutes.

A moment ago, she'd been the powerful queen of a vast realm whose rule had brought a golden age of prosperity and peace. Now she was twelve years old again, in her familiar old bedroom, safe with a mother that she hadn't seen in thirty years.

Emma wept for joy.

*

Emma's bookshelf contained one new volume--an exquisitely-bound brown leather book, with a tooled and embossed cover, containing a beautifully illustrated account of all the tales of Emma's reign. Her cousin Tessa--as good as a sister--was enchanted by it, and believed Emma without question when she told her that the stories were true.

"Don't you miss it?" Tessa asked, one night a few months after her return.

"Sometimes," Emma said. "But I'm glad to be home."

"You like it here?"

"Why not? We have chocolate here. And giraffes. And shooting stars. Our world is just as amazing as Athelor."

"In Athelor, you were a queen."

"Here, I'm not," Emma said. "Do you know how nice it is to wake up in the morning and do things that don't affect the fate of an entire nation?"

"But isn't it disappointing? In Athelor, you knew you were important."

"Who says I'm not important now?"

*

Emma told her mom about Athelor often. Mom thought Emma was just making up wonderful stories.

That was all right. Because the stories were wonderful.

*

After school, sometimes Mom would take Emma out for pizza. Emma would climb into a carriage that moved with a heart of fire, to a room bathed in enough light to make the night as bright as day, where she ate the cuisine of a far-off realm, and then rode home singing along with minstrels whose voices had been captured long ago and far away.

Emma always marveled that she lived in a world with such magic.

*

Emma grew. And matured. It came with different milestones here, and happened slower, but it had its share of struggles.

On nights when she felt small, helpless and afraid, she remembered that she'd once led a host of warriors--human, animal, and elfin--into battle with a horde of monsters and come out victorious.

She might not be in Athelor, but she was still a queen.

She could fill out a college application.

*

Emma was leaving the campus library with an armload of books when a sparrow spoke to her from a branch above her head. Emma looked up and saw at once it was an Athelorian sparrow.

"Iprit!" Emma cried. The sparrow had been the most devoted of the queen's messengers. "How glad I am to see you!"

"My queen," Iprit said, bowing her head. "I have found you at last."

"Is Athelor in danger?" Emma asked, suddenly fearful.

"She is well and at peace. Berna rules well in your stead."

"As I knew she would," Emma said with a smile. Emma had spent years choosing her successor. Her elfin advisor, though young, was bright and brave and loved Athelor with all her heart.

"But she rules as regent only. She would not take the crown until she knew what had become of you."

"Now you see that I am well," Emma said. "Alive and well and happy."

"Will you not come home to us, my queen?" Iprit asked. "The door stands open to you. Take up the crown and rule your people once more."

For a moment, Emma's heart yearned for it. Athelor called to her, a bright, beautiful dream, a wondrous adventure.

A gust of wind swirled in the branches over her head, sending a crimson shower of leaves down upon her. She gazed out across the campus, at a world she loved. She thought of her mother, Tessa, her classmates, her studies, her friendships, and the future she was building here.

Where was her duty? Here or Athelor?

Another wind came, gentle yet brisk, and Emma knew it for the wind that had taken her to Athelor and brought her home. It lifted her spirits and cleared her mind so she could hear the voice that had never led her wrong in her years as queen.

Emma met Iprit's gaze. "Berna may take up the crown with my blessing. I have done what I must for Athelor. Another world needs me now."

Iprit bowed in a bird-like way, spreading out one wing. "As you wish, my queen. But what shall I tell the scribes? How ends the reign of Queen Emma the Wise?"

"As all good stories should," Emma said. She shifted her voice into the melodic cadence of the best of the palace storytellers. "After many years of good and faithful service, the queen found her way home, where she lived happily all the rest of her days."

[pwlanier]

The Book of Kells. A special facsimile.

Faksimile Verlag, Luzern, 1990. The Book of Kells, the most precious illuminated European manuscript of the early Middle Ages, now reproduced, the first and only complete facsimile, published by Authority of the Board of Trinity College, Dublin. Large folio, Luzern 1990, Number 1,304 of 1,480, fine white tawed leather over wooden boards. Contained in a specially created presentation box, the embossed surface with blind & gilt tooled Celtic decoration and silver and brass mounts. Together with a commentary volume with illustrations, 'The Official Guide to The Book of Kells' by Dr Bernard Meehan, former Keeper of Manuscripts at Trinity College, Dublin. A rare opportunity to acquire a complete facsimile of one of the World's greatest Art Treasures.

Whytes

[lordcaptains]

if the rogue trader asks heinrix to stand with them at their magnae accessio, heinrix's ceremonious bow to the crowd is "this single unassuming gesture from an unassuming servant of the inquisition."

heinrix is probably* the second-most powerful man in the koronus expanse, and he is unassuming.

he's not afraid to invoke it when he deems necessary, but he doesn't flaunt the inquisition's power. if the rogue trader resists taking him back into their retinue, for instance there's "one barely noticeable motion - and a resplendent metal rosette flashes before your eyes." then "a moment passes, and the rosette vanishes in the folds of his cloak."

(and it's the rosette that flashes, the rosette that vanishes - heinrix's actions and agency in the matter are minimized.)

(a tool doesn't assume.)

(and it's such a contrast, with his mentor, too, who wears such resplendent golden power armor, adorned with an enormous symbol of the holy ordos raised behind him like a banner, who gives the rogue trader a ring embossed with his own personal coat of arms as a sign of the inquisition's favor.)

*calligos could (and definitely would) argue this point.

[cosmo--raptor]

Power Ranger Colors and What They Mean (According to the TTRPG)

I got my hands on the core rulebook for the Power Rangers Essence20 TTRPG and I wanted to share the information in both the core rulebook and the A Jump Through Time expansion book pertaining to the Morphin Grid colour spectrums. The Morphin Grid chooses rangers based on their distinctive personality, with the spectrum selected being best suited to them.

All text in quote marks is directly pulled from both the Power Rangers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook and the Power Rangers Roleplaying Game: A Jump Through Time sourcebook.

Red Spectrum: The Leaders

"Born leaders and warriors through and through, candidates chosen to embody the noble spirit and fighting prowess that each Red Ranger uses to stand proud and strong in the front lines of their Ranger teams. They are fearless fighters that show their teammates how to defend the Morphin Grid personally. Ready with their firsts, their blades, and an inspiring show of leadership, Red Rangers are almost always the first into a fight.

Stand Tall and Fierce! Red Rangers personify the kind of proud nobility and martial skill prowess it takes to lead a Power Ranger team. Subtlety and subterfuge are not the kinds of skills that tend to be important to a Red Ranger, as their candidates are chosen for their ability to think on their feet and solve problems directly rather than trying to find ways around them. Red Rangers are, by no means, unintelligent or ignorant. They just tend to excel at taking trouble head on.

Always Ready to Help. The strength and sanctity of the Power Ranger team is, at their core, where a Red Ranger draws its strength. Their fighting styles revolve around teaming up on enemies, dealing decisive blows after a teammate has softened them up, and either serving as the core of a team's Grid Zord Megaform, or alternatively, standing back to back on their own fighting Zord with a Megaform made up of the rest of the team!

A Long and Noble Line. Stretching as far back as to when the Morphin Grid has needed them, Red Rangers have had a place on their most successful champion teams. Across dimensions and across time, those noble warrior leaders have all had the same ideal embossed on their very core: the team comes first, and its enemies cannot be allowed to harm its members. Even if a Red Ranger has had to put themselves directly on the line in the name of their teammates, they would do so gladly for the sake of their friends."

Blue Spectrum: The Thinkers

"Those chosen to embody the energy of the Blue Ranger will be the closest member of the team to the inner workings of the Morphin Grid itself. Candidates for becoming a Blue Ranger are selected for their brains far more than their fighting skills, choosing to use the Morphin Grid's many facets to design all of the tools, technology, and special equipment the team might need. If it runs on the Power within the Grid, the Blue Ranger is likely to be the one to decipher, understand and ultimately help the team wield it against the forces of evil.

Team Technician. Blue Rangers embody the Morphin Grid's ability to design and create constructs and devices using millennia of knowledge from around the universe. They are the most likely member of the team to discover an alien item, piece of technology, or special construct that will help solve the problem or overcome and obstacle. While other teammates might spend their time working on new fighting techniques or Zord maneuvers, a Blue ranger is probably seeking knowledge about the past to better deal with the future.

Brains Over Brawn. Unlike candidates chosen for other colors of Ranger in the Spectrum, people chosen to be Blue Rangers are rarely looked at save for their most basic fighting abilities or combat instincts. Instead, they are chosen for their brilliant minds and the ingenuity they bring to the team. Blue Rangers embody the logical calculation it takes to see a victory and how to achieve it before the first punch is ever laid on a Putty. As a Power Ranger they will have to battle the forces of evil, but they personify the idea of fighting smarter, not harder.

A Stoic Role. For as long as there have been Power Ranger teams, the Blue Ranger has not only been the technician and the inventor for their teammates, but also the stalwart memory of the Morphin Grid itself. The history of all that has gone before flows through the color of the Spectrum and this is personified in not only their abilities and skills, but in the beasts and creatures from which their Zords take shape. They are animals that embody wisdom and mysticism; the triceratops, the unicorn, and sphinx are all infused with the Blue Ranger's energy."

Black Spectrum: The Charmers

"Rangers that are imbues with the Black energy of the Morphin Grid tend to be social charmers, entertainers, and the real life of the party. They are the personification of team unity, and a lot of what they do helps keep the bonds between members strong and tight. Black Rangers are equally adept at fighting back to back with their friends, showing that the team comes first and always ready to stand up for any part of it.

Dance, Song, Jokes. One collective way that Black Rangers tend to reach their teammates with their special brand of reinforcing positivity is through light-hearted behaviors not commonly found in a staunch warrior. Whether that is through telling one liner jokes, harmless limericks or rhymes, singing pleasant tunes, and maybe even just showing with a little personal dance, Black Rangers connect their team members to themselves and each other.

Good Leaders. When a Ranger more dedicated to leadership, like a Red or White Ranger, isn't available for the team, Black Rangers often step up and take the role. Their dedication to team strength and cooperation put them in a great place to make collective plans, and their teammates rarely have reason to question what motivates a Black Ranger. While they tend to be the glue between their team standing at its forefront is just as natural to them.

Stalwart Anchors. A Black Ranger's Zord, whether it hails from the depths as a Dinozord or even a humanoid Shogunzord or Battle Borg, represent being a defensible root or anchor for the team's other Zords. Animal shapes are often tough, armored, quadruped beasts known for their ability to withstand tremendous adversity. Humanoid Zords are thick-limbed and wield heavier weaponry. Vehicular Zords revolve around being a hard punch, and anvil upon which the other rangers in the team can rely."

Yellow Spectrum: The Artists

"Chosen for their understanding of the arts, both creative and martial, candidates to accept the power of the Yellow Ranger should be clever, witty, and full of originality. They are fast thinkers and just as fast on their feet, able to judge where best to apply their skills and get there quickly to do so. The Yellow energy of the Spectrum chooses those with adaptable minds and agile hands to wield its power. Yellow Rangers are not the hammer in the toolbox, they are the paintbrush. Instead of apply a direct single solution that may pass or fail in one fell swoop, a Yellow Ranger is drawn to using many smaller applications of their skills to build up to a more certain solution.

Soul of the Team. Where other Rangers of the Spectrum fill certain roles like inventor, leader or supporting healer, Yellow Rangers are like the water in which their boats sail upon. A Yellow Ranger is a friend, a confidante, and always ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder or back-to-back with one or more of their teammates. Their team can count on them to be there, chipping away at and coming up with solutions for the same problems and obstacles the team might face.

Right Place, Right Time. Speed. Speed is part of what makes a Yellow Ranger able to be in many places at once, and capable of lending their help when it is needed most. Yet this is not the kind of speed that is measured in races and sprints. It is not mere how far they can run, it is the ability to act on the go, and put their skills to good use here, there and anywhere they are needed as they maneuver through a conflict.

Hands On Fighter. Yellow Rangers have the fastest hands and feet on a Power Ranger Team. While other Rangers might hit harder or at a distance, Yellow Rangers are empowered to strike fast and furiously up close. What another warrior might inflict with a single blow that could be turned aside or dodged, these Rangers strike from every different angle. Their foes are worn down in seconds, and they might never have realized where the tidal wave of blows ever even came from."

Pink Spectrum: The Sharpshooters

"Infused with one of the supporting energies in the Spectrum, Pink Rangers are warriors that specialize in backing up their team from the rear ranks. They are archers, snipers, and markspeople of the highest caliber. When a Pink Ranger is on the team, the rest of their allies can always fight confidently knowing that a Grid-enhanced sharpshooter is watching their back.

Can't Catch Me! Pink Rangers are solid martial artists, but first and foremost they are ranged combat experts with numerous abilities and talents that benefit the team most when they are outside of the reach of an enemy. They are nimble, agile, and often chosen for their gymnastic talents. These skills are perfect for dodging out of trouble's way to get a better vantage point to pick off Putties and Tengas that might threaten their friends!

True Heart. It takes a lot of heart and trust in their teammates to stand in the rear or on the flanks, picking off enemies a few at a time instead of wading in and fighting back to back with their friends. They fill their team with hope and good will; sometimes with words, sometimes with actions. When a Power Ranger looks over their shoulder, whether it is at the local juice bar hanging out or in the middle of a field of Eye Guy's floating minions, and sees their Pink Ranger is watching, they can trust they are in good hands.

Best Defence. Pink rangers are light on their feet and lightly armored within their shell, but their energy and their training makes up for it by simply keeping the enemy from getting their hands on them. They duck and dodge most incoming threats, relying on their teammates to lend a hand when things get thick, but always taking down important targets as they dance, flip, and dart around the battlefield."

Green Spectrum: The Survivalists

"Possessing a rare wavelength of energy within the Morphin Grid, Green Rangers are the loners and the outsiders. They join with Ranger teams when they can, but still tend to work on the outside of operations and do so in a way to maintain the sanctity of the team concept. Green Rangers are ready for anything, whether they line up as part of a team or if they stand alone against the forces of evil.

Still Part of the Spectrum. The Green Ranger was once unleashed by General Repulsa as a weapon of her own, but it took her ancient arcane powers to do so. This goes to show that the Green Ranger is not a pawn to be pushed around, but instead a powerful part of the Morphin Grid, same as any other. They just might seem to play on their own better than other members of their team. They are the rogues, the wildcards, and they are good at playing by their own rules.

Fight Hard for Victory. Green Rangers, whether they have a Power Ranger Team to fall back upon or not, have an uphill battle to prove themselves worthy of the gift that has been placed upon them. They are skilled fighters that take on threats that entire teams might try and face, normally long enough to get the rest of the team involved to achieve victory. Their fighting styles might be less conventional than other Rangers, but no one would argue that it doesn't get the job done.

Unique Connection. Being apart from the common Spectrum for as long as it had been, the Green energy wavelength has a different and truly unique way that it interacts with the Morphin Grid. It can seamlessly bond with other rangers to be a part of a team, linking its Grid Zord to one or more other members' to form specialized Megazords in some cases, and staying separately devastating when they do battle on their own. It is as if the Morphin Grid itself understands the wildcard nature of the Green Ranger and has adapted to it accordingly."

Orange Spectrum: The Creatives

"The Orange energy of the Morphin Grid's Ranger Spectrum embraces the power of imagination, inspiration, and artistry. Orange Rangers are filled with personality and creativity, along with the flexibility to improve their team. They tend to be inventors, artists, creators of ideas, and dreamers. Their flexibility lets them fill any need or position on the team, especially if the work allows them to set their creative mind to completing their task in some new and exciting way.

Creativity Rules. The Orange energy of the Grid attaches itself to creative mentalities. It then enhances their ability to think outside the box and gives them the power needed to wield it on behalf of the side of good. They find new ways to accomplish tasks or overcome obstacles, often improvising or taking unorthodox paths.

Team Player. Even though an Orange Ranger excels when working alone due to their powers of creativity, they can also boost the team in many ways. Orange Rangers see the abilities and gifts of their fellow Rangers and, through the power of their part of the Spectrum, find more ways to wield them. When a team is hoping they need a particular proficiency or tool, even if they already have one but need two, an Orange Ranger can figure out a way to make that happen.

One of a Kind. Unlike many other kinds of Ranger, who maintain a physical image like the other team members, those wielding the Orange Spectrum alter their Morphin shell to express their creativity. This sort of individuality is rare for the core elements in the Ranger Spectrum."

Purple Spectrum: The Passionate

"Purple Rangers wield the power of the Grid through their emotions, primarily fueled by memories. All the hardships they endured, the people they loved, and the camaraderie of the friends they made fuel the forge of power inside every Purple Ranger.

Passion Power. Power Rangers know and understand the benefits of giving in to passion and keeping an emotional connection to all that drives them. Rage and anger can be necessary for enemy conflict, happiness can sweep away stressful hindrances, and the love of a best friend can make anyone a wall of defence when they are in harm's way. These feelings add to a Purple Ranger's power.

Make your mark. Each Purple Ranger draws upon their feelings in different and unique ways. One might lean into their rage and fury, showing their ferocity as an aggressive feel to their Morphed form. Another could stand defiantly in the path of harm, revealing how much they care for their fellows. Exactly how their feelings shape them is different for each Ranger, a sign that the Morphin Grid's energies also listen to their heart.

Always Adapting. The nature of most sapient beings is to feel, and just as feelings can change, so can how a Purple Ranger uses them. They might find roots in their anger or a foundation in the sense of calm, but how they apply those tools can change at a moment's notice. Purple Rangers are fluid and malleable, changing how they need to come at the obstacles and enemies in their way based on the situation and their feelings at the time."

Advanced Spectrum (White): The Purehearted

"Like the wavelength of light itself that it represents, the White energy of the Morphin Grid is like the raw energy pouring into the prism to be split into the necessary parts for the team to be at its best. There doesn't always have to be a White Ranger on a Power Ranger team, but it goes without saying that the teams that can draw on the pure and just power of their energy are some of the strongest the Morphin Grid has ever known. They are like a two sided-coin. One one side you have a strong and valiant leader, but on the other you have a noble warrior capable of standing against evil on its own.

Elevated Champion. Not just any candidate can become one with the White energy. They need to hold the concept of the Morphin Grid's power close to their hearts and stand is its very champion. White Rangers are not always the leaders of their teams, but they cannot ignore their will and desire to stand at the forefront and protect their teammates. A White Ranger will fight to the bitter end for their friends.

Valiant Leader. White Rangers frequently fall into the role of leading their Ranger teams, and their skills and abilities only augment this. They fight bravely, they defend fearlessly, and they orchestrate their follow Ranger to work together as a better team. The White energy in the Spectrum comes with a strong need to stand against the enemies of good, and those who wield it are often the legends remembered throughout history.

Ranger and Zord as One. Unlike other wavelengths in the Spectrum, White energy focuses itself thought the Grid using unique and powerful relics, like Tommy's beloved tiger-blade, Saba. This somehow connects the inner essence of the White Rangers to their Morphin Grid constructs tighter than that between a normal Ranger's Morpher and their Zord, Borg etc. This is why it seems that White Rangers bring new and special kinds of Zords to fight alongside those of their teams. Their Zords are just as worthy of leading the charge as they are."

B. Steele, T. Storm, E. Teague, Power Rangers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook (Renegade Game Studios, 2023), 31-60.

B. Steele, J. Kennedy, Power Rangers Roleplaying Game A Jump Through Time (Renegade Game Studios, 2023), 30-36.

[monsterblogging]

Fuck JKR: How To Create A Harry Potter-Esque Aesthetic Without Any Harry Potter In It

So I saw a few posts from people mentioning that a reason people might be into Harry Potter is because of the aesthetic or atmosphere, and ya know what? I can't even argue that, because if there's one thing about HP, it's that it Sure Does Have Aesthetic And Atmosphere.

So! I'm gonna tell you how to STEAL ITS LOOK! Because:

JK Rowling considers ANY support of her work to be support of her politics.

Fan content/fan merch is still free advertisement for Rowling's work. YOU might not choose to give her money, but you can't be sure you won't pull people into the fandom who will.

Everyone should create more things that aren't tied to corporate-owned IP, period.

So. Most things in these films have an aged, antique look. You'll see a lot of brown hues, both on sets and on people's clothes. There's a lot of near-blacks (especially charcoals and walnuts) and lighter grays on the sets, especially from the third film onwards. (Wood is more often than not stained dark, while lighter hues are often provided by bricks or plaster.) The last two films use a lot of stormy blues and grays. Prisoner of Azkaban also emphasizes contrast between tones, which heightens a sense of texture. True black also appears throughout the films, such as on students' uniforms and many Death Eaters' outfits, and on the chairs in Malfoy Manor. White appears occasionally, especially on Hedwig, students' shirts, or during winter scenes, but pure white isn't otherwise really common. Paper or parchment is usually warm beige. There's also a lot of silver, gold, and brass, often appearing on things like dishware, tools, trinkets, Christmas baubles, and so forth. Bronze also comes up occasionally.

Reds, yellows, blues, and greens are pretty common throughout the films, even outside of Hogwarts, though you'll see just about every color somewhere. For example, orange is often found around the Weasleys, and orange, maroon, and purple feature in the divination classroom. Teal features prominently in Grimmauld Place (contrasted with saffron yellows).

Most colors aren't really super bright; a lot of the time they look a little faded, or like they're colored with natural dyes. If you use medieval illustrations to source your colors, or aim for earth tones and jewel tones, you'll be about right for a lot of what you see in the films. Bright colors are pretty rare; some of the brights we do see are in Honeydukes, Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes, and certain magical effects, such as Floo fire.

A lot of light is provided by candles, torches, or fireplaces, which cast a warm yellow/orange light. Moonlight is represented by blue light in the first and second films. Blue light is also used for the Goblet of Fire and the penseive.

Another thing you gotta have in there is clutter. It should look kinda antique and give off a kind of magical or mystical atmosphere. Think books, storage jars, orreries, crystal balls, old lamps, antique clocks, vintage glassware, antique mirrors, old teapots, and little metal trinkets. (If you're trying to decorate a physical room, your stuff doesn't have to actually be antique, of course; antique-styled is fine.)

Texture is also very important, which can be represented with full or top grain leather book covers, stone walls, dents and scratches, cracks, embellishments, and embossing. Additionally, all damage and wear gives a sense of oldness to things. Stains and variegated colors also add interest. (If you're decorating a physical space, you might look into aging/distressing/antiquing techniques.)

If you want a space to look cozy, you don't really want bare or blank walls. Shelves, paintings, tapestries, and wallpaper can all help with that. Again, use brown, rather than black. Warm, yellow lighting will also help. If you lean toward blacks and cool lighting, you're going to have a colder-looking space.

Fashion in the wizarding world is extremely all over the place, ranging from stereotypical fantasy witch and wizard clothing, to pretty normal vintage clothing, to some wacky vintage-inspired looks, to the kind of fashion that would be put under the cozycore umbrella, to ordinary modern clothing. One thing that's absent is subculture fashion as we know it. (Bellatrix Lestrange does look kinda goth, but it's less a subculture thing, and more a "yeah we're putting our bad guys in fancy black stuff" thing.)

If you're trying to lean into the whole quirky/eccentric/old-fashioned kinda thing, you'll want to pass over the more modern and obviously synthetic type stuff. Also, patterns, textured fabrics, knits, mixed colors, lace, and other embellishments can add interest to outfits.

Architecture is also all over the place. Hogwarts is pretty medieval, while places like Diagon Alley give more Victorian vibe. The main thing is looking old fashioned and quaint.

To try and summarize all of that:

Browns. Lots and lots and lots of browns. Blacks and grays, too. Contrast between light and dark browns and blacks/grays.

More beige and gray than pure white; more charcoal gray and dark walnut brown than true black.

Among other colors, mostly earth tones and jewel tones. Very limited brights.

Polished metal and glass also add shininess.

Old-fashioned. Vintage. Antique.

Clutter, texture, patterns, variegation. Minimalist/clean aesthetic avoided.

Aged and distressed.

Lighting often yellow/orange due to coming from fire. Blue/teal light often coming from moonlight and certain magical light sources.

Now, here are some things we actually don't see. I'm not mentioning them to discourage you from using them if they're what you really want, but to inform you about them so you can consider whether they might throw off the vibe for you:

Green/purple/black combos.

Purple/silver/black combos. Pink/purple/teal combos.

Pink/black combos.

Orange/black combos.

Green/orange/purple combos.

Red/black combos.

Basically a lot of combos commonly associated with Halloween, witches, or vampires.

Big raw crystals. We see crystal balls now and then, but that's it.

Other natural items used as decorations - feathers, pinecones, sticks, etc. The one exception I can think of are the shells embedded in the walls of Shell Cottage.

Crushed velvet. Lots of fantasy uses this, HP films don't.

If you need inspiration, go look up medieval and renaissance diagrams and illustrations of stuff like the four elements, the zodiac, the solar system, and all that. Go look up alchemical symbols and emblems. Search up pre-WWII vintage ephemera. Go look up Victorian clipart. Look up stuff like botanical, zoological, and astronomical books and art from the 17th-19th centuries. Look up vintage wallpaper and fabric patterns. Look at vintage-style crafts. Research period architecture and fashion. Research European heraldry.

If you're wondering what exactly you're going to design around without Hogwarts and the Four Houses, here are some suggestions:

The four classical elements (earth, air, fire, and water)

The four seasons

Card suits - Tarot, French, whatever you want

Holidays - Halloween, Christmas, whatever

Fairy tales

Flowers

Mythical creatures

Bugs

Birds

Any other animals you like

Ecosystems

Your own original worldbuilding

So yeah, there ya go. You don't need to keep participating in HP to indulge in the aesthetic.

[NOTICE: Anybody who clowns on this post by making this about them and their childhood, patting themselves on the back about their chosen means of "ethical" participation, praising the fandom, or adding any other form of irrelevant bullshit is getting blocked. Also, I don't want to hear about PJO or Earthsea again for the millionth time, either.]

[craftystampin]

September 2023 Paper Pumpkin Blog Hop

September 2023 Paper Pumpkin Alternatives Welcome to the A Paper Pumpkin Thing “APPT”  Monthly Blog Hop! The PPX Crew has joined up with some additional Stampin’ Up! demonstrators to give you even more amazing alternatives with the Paper Pumpkin Kits. We blog hop on the first Friday of the month with alternate projects from the prior month’s Paper Pumpkin Kit. We are all using the current month’s…

[towns-end-bindery]

The Night Circus

By Erin Morgenstern

🎪

A rebind that I will be gifting to a friend as a Christmas present.

I read this book when I first started college, I think. The thing that stuck with me since reading it has always been the beauty and magic of the circus itself. Normally, I’d get lost or bored of extensive detail or descriptions about the setting, but the Circus of Dreams was an ✨aesthetic✨ that stirred my imagination. I was surprised at how much I loved it.

🎡

Regarding process:

So I recently rewatched the DAS video about paper labels, and creating a “well” for the label to sit in. And I thought to myself, what if I made the entire cover design the “label” and centered it on the cover?

The design was printed on vinyl adhesive paper, and it’s pasted right in the center of a large recess on the cover. Spine and back was hand foiled.

🎠

Well, it’s seems I’m on a roll. There will be many more rebinds to come before the end of the year, if I don’t lose momentum. I’m excited to see my projects take flight, but it’s also honestly quite daunting as well. 😮‍💨

As a side note…

When I first started this hobby, I was ambitious to achieve a level of quality comparable to many IG and tiktok bookbinders I’d been seeing out there. Many of them were binding fanfiction or doing rebinds of popular fiction, fantasies and romance.

And a LOT of them (or at least the popular accounts) were using special cutting machines like cricut, and heat transfer vinyl to create clean, professional looking designs. Shiny and metallic seems to be a highly sought after look, and admittedly it is attention grabbing for many casual viewers who stumble upon these videos. The same can also be said of the more traditional binders who make leather books and use special techniques for embossing and foiling.

While those beautiful machines and materials and tools like htv or leather-working aren’t NECESSARY for the hobby, it’s clear that any simple amateur bookbinders trying to build their accounts and show people their work really won’t be getting as much reach without making books that are as shiny and attention grabbing in the same ways.

And trying to achieve those looks of metallic vinyl, or beautifully embossed leather, felt pretty inaccessible to me. I’m sure many other amateur binders feel same the way.

That’s why I’m glad I can demonstrate how to achieve beautiful, high quality looking books in alternative ways. Feel free to reach out and ask me about my techniques! I’m no expert, but I’d be happy to help you find solutions and new methods.

12/15/2023