Samples of all three Chibi Bottle Magnets are in, and looking good!

I just put in the order for a full set. (...Don't even ask how miserable the tariffs are. The company is compensating as well as they can.)

New mini-prints for this year are also in. Hard to get a photo that does justice to the weird colors in the first one -- they're all nice and vivid in person:

90% of you have filled these out already! Well done.

Wallpapers and the big thank-you post can go out once I get a few more of them. (I won't hold out for 100%, because there's usually 1-2 backers who just...vanish into the wind.)

Remember, shipping addresses won't be locked until the Volume 8 paperbacks are actually ready to ship. If you might be moving in the next few months, fill out the survey now! You'll have plenty of time to update the address.

In between, I'll start fulfilling the Early Bird sketch prompts. Next update will probably have a status report on those, and I'll be able to finalize the Volume 8 ebook after they're all done.

One more note: Leif & Thorn hit its 10th anniversary this past Saturday! That's been a long-time goal of mine -- and it's a personal webcomics record. Hat tip to all the readers who've helped me keep it going.

- Erin Ptah

We're funded! Here's what happens now:

Making new add-ons: I already had samples of the Thorn and Leif magnets, so I've ordered a Kale sample to go with them. Once I have good-looking versions of all three, I'll put in a bulk order for the set.

The mini-print poll is now closed. Magical Team took an early lead, but in the end, Golden Ribbon Chains is the winner! Keep an eye out for the order update about that too.



Collecting the funds: Happens over the 2 weeks after the campaign ends (until October 14).

Keep an eye on your email for a notification about your pledge. If the payment bounced, BackerKit will send you instructions on how to fix it.

Early Bird sketch rewards: If you scored one of these, you'll get the "what am I drawing for you?" question as part of your backer survey.

Backer surveys: Will go out some time after October 14.

Since every Printopia campaign ended at the same time, I suspect BK staff will be working overtime to help all of us creators with survey design and support questions. So don't be surprised if this part takes a little longer than usual. But we'll get there.

The surveys are where you fill in your shipping address (if you got a book), pick your add-on options (if you got add-ons with options), and get one more chance to scoop up any extra rewards you missed.

Printopia cross-collab rewards: For everyone who got books from this project and Guardian Angel Academy, your bonus mini-prints are being ordered along with the regular Volume 8 ones.

For the Crowd Quest digital zines...I'm not actually sure when those are being delivered. But we did unlock them! Look out for a BK update on that at some point.

Leif & Thorn 10th Anniversary: This is coming up fast -- it happens on October 25!

I've been taking submissions for a Guest Art Showcase to celebrate the occasion. The form is open until October 18...so if you're thinking about sending something in, don't wait too much longer.

- Erin

Just blew past the second stretch goal, so the Kale magnet is now unlocked!

If you got the "Magnets - Pick 1" add-on, your post-campaign survey will ask if you want Leif, Thorn, or Kale.

If you want all 3, pick the new "Magnets - Set of 3" add-on to get them at a discount!

(As of now, 6 backers have picked the "Set of 2" add-on. I'll be curious to see how many of you switch over, now that the Set of 3 is available.)

If we had more time left in the campaign, I'd insert more magnet-related stretch goals. Maybe next year. Commenting prompt: If you could get magnets for any of the other bottled chibi characters, who would you pick first?

Success! Volume 8 just out-earned the Volume 7 campaign, and the Bonus Magnets stretch goal is unlocked!

Check out the campaign Add-Ons page to add some to your pledge. You can get either one for $10, or save on both for $15.

Next goal: a matching Kale magnet at $4,200. We're over 90% of the way there already, and everyone who grabs the first two magnets gets us that much closer.

You can also get add-ons in the post-campaign survey. So if you don't have time to grab the magnets you want before the Tuesday deadline, don't worry -- you'll still have a chance.

Home stretch now. Let's do this =D

- Erin Ptah

With literally $4 left to hit the Volume 8 funding goal...yeah, I think it's safe to start talking about stretch goals.

The first one, Bottled Chibi Merch, is at $3,686 -- that is, "beating the number from the Volume 7 campaign."

I'm unlocking both Leif and Thorn at the same time, because they deserve to stay together. (If you're hoping for a Kale, don't worry, unlocking him is the next stretch goal. Gotta hit this one first.)

Had a good feeling about this campaign, so I already got proof copies of the first two! They're printed on clear acrylic, which means they look like this:




Like the Tiernan and Patrick pins, these would be add-ons, that any backer can add to your pledge. Probably $10 each, with a hefty discount if you get the pair.

The big question now is: magnets or pins?

These are magnets in the photos. (I tried to get some photos of them on my fridge. Sadly, the lighting in my kitchen was...uninspiring.)

Pins would be the same clear acrylic charm, printed in the same way. They would just have a pin clasp on the back instead of a magnet.



So I made a poll about it.

Since there's only a week left in the campaign, the poll closes on Friday night. Get your votes in now!

- Erin Ptah