New! Guard Cards, Recommended Fun Links, and Asking for Your Guidance

Today’s newsletter is a smattering of updates and requests, asking you for your thoughts, written whilst waiting for my butter to soften. (That wasn’t a euphemism, I’m literally waiting for my butter to soften so I can make lemon-lavender shortbread and chocolate-cherry cookies today. My mood is dire, so I figured baked confections would not only smell amazing but taste wonderful.) Oh! And don’t worry, I do have a completely random newsletter topic slated for next time. With that in mind, let’s get to it, do it!

Guard Cards Now Available

I’m pleased to announce Guard Cards, the latest supplement for Pinching Tarts, are now available on DriveThruRPG.com. The cards can either be printed out and used as half-sheets or folded in half to create cards.

Guard Cards is a digital Pay-What-You-Want download that include customized tracks for each guard’s hearts, expanded traits and equipment, and optional rules for Teatime! that affect the guards.

Recommended Fun Links*

Part-Time Adult Planner - On my list of Things To ResupplyTM was a planner. I prefer to follow the school calendar (July 1st through June 30th) as opposed to January through December. Now, I’ve studied and used and reviewed so many different planners, and I’ve found the best planners have an hourly feature that allows me to schedule my time. The Part-Time Adult Planner is an undated planner published by Brass Monkey, and has just the right amount of sass plus vintage for my preferred tastes.

TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen - To mark the launch of, well, an entire gameline, I decided to grab another piston-filled fountain pen that I feel comfortable travelling with. The TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen is available through several specialty pen and stationery stores including Goulet Pens. I wound up purchasing through Goulet Pens, because they’re offering free ink samples for first-time customers.

Watchwell Games Newsletter - I met KJ Montgomery through PocketQuest, and have been impressed by their interviewing skills and their thoughtfulness. If you’re hoping to support and discover indie game creators, check out their newsletter! KJ not only interviewed me, but also reviewed Pinching Tarts. I’m positive that their dedication and love of gaming will bear fruit, and they’ve got a bright future in the industry.

This is Sand - Do you need a break? Do you need to do something utterly nonsensical and downright useless? This is Sand allows you to “paint” with colored sand using your mouse. That’s it. That’s the point. Just drag, click, and paint.

San Diego Zoo Live Streams - Look, if you’re hoping for something completely distracting and downright adorable, check out a zoo’s live stream. Several zoos have them. The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park’s collection of live streams includes live and pre-recorded cameras for red pandas, tigers, koalas, giraffes, and several other animal ambassadors!

Uh, Things and stuff! Chime in

I was out and about recently and a lovely human being reminded me that if I’m looking for something I should throw it out there and see what comes up. At present, I’m researching a few things and could use your input.

T-Shirt Quilts - I’ve got a stack of T-Shirts from conventions, etc. over the years, and I’d like to upcycle them into a quilt. Have you done this before yourself? Who’d you commission the quilt from?

Digital Painting - I’m interested in painting digitally and not sure how to get started. I’d love to hear your recs for equipment and apps, so I can check out my options against what I already have.

Signing Pens - I need to find a signing pen that won’t smear on glossy paper. I do know about Sharpies, but it’d be helpful to have some other fast-drying recs!

That’s all the time I have today! I hope you have a chance to check out the links I recommended and share your feedback.

* This post includes Amazon and DriveThru affiliate links. Look, I would love to proudly declare late-stage capitalism coupled with the crushing anxiety of AI replacing creators isn’t a thing, but I’m an artist. I can’t be something I’m not, believe me I have tried. And, I wouldn’t want to even if I could. Every little bit helps.