My friend called me to tell me her husband bought her a 2 karat diamond ring. I told her I got a carving tool with 5 attachments, a block of master carve and a roll of camo duct tape. Merry Christmas to me! She was not impressed.

ahh, what does she know? I mean, really, until she can learn to carve with that diamond ring of hers...what good is it? ;)

Three sheets of PZ Kut and three sheets of foam backing, plus a set of Staedler carving tools (I use the Speedball ones right now and I've been wanting to try the Staedlers)! Oh and an ink pad and a re-inker for one I already have! So psyched!!! :)

Plus I also got many things that involve images of OWLS. I love owls!!! :)

-gollygee

I got:
a premium membership (got it a little early but it is so great)
an Ott-lite magnifier (which I plan to make use of this weekend)
a compass
3 sizes of blank index cards (500 each) now I can make logbooks for a while

And this weekend free to box or carve or make logbooks all I want (he got the entire holiday weekend to go to his hunting club - so we both feel like we got the best end of the deal ;)) )

I got a GPS for Christmas. Now I need to figure out how to use it. I don't plan to become a geocacher, but a GPS may keep me from getting hopelessly lost while looking for those Safari Man boxes.

So, what did you receive?

A Staedler #1, two blocks of PZKut (which I have to share), three ink pads, a tool similar to a pin vice to test, a pair of StabilIcers and some other outdoor equipment. Almost all of my gifts were related to either letterboxing or other outdoor activities. It was a good day.

So, what did you receive?

A folding shovel, 2 pair of long johns, new snow shoes, logbook making supplies including a "drill" for paper, and non-letterboxing stuff. I am ready to go boxing in the snow now! BUT... I did not get a pair of snow shoes for my DH and he is too heavy to wear my old ones. Uh oh... guess my daughter (who has snow shoes) will HAVE to go with me to keep me safe! "Keeping Mom safe in the woods" is a common statement from my family because I will go wandering in the woods alone. Don't know why they worry. I am very good with a compass, have never gotten lost or hurt, only time I have met bears is in preserves (animal preserves, not the jam n jelly kind!) ... guess they are just worry warts. But, hey! If it motivates them to keep me company, who am I to argue?!!!

GypsyLadyBug gave me a plastic case to hold 'field equipment', and some Field Equipment! A compass (now, gotta learn how to use it), pens, new stamp pads, a pencil case for markers, small clipboard, spare baggies, a small case to take on short trips, and The Letterboxer's Companion. Big Sis is good at finding great Christmas presents!

GypsyLadyBug gave me a...compass (now, gotta learn how to use it)

You probably already know this, but AQ has a great tutorial on compass use at:

http://www.atlasquest.com/tutorials/compass/

We never realized just how much we didn't know about how a compass can be used until we started reading over this tutorial.

Key Note Sneakers

Quote

including a "drill" for paper

OH YES!- Do tell more!!! I need a drill for stacks of paper! My hands get sore from too many hole punches when making log books. Where can you get one and how well does it work?

The Merry Pranksters

OH YES!- Do tell more!!! I need a drill for stacks of paper! My hands get sore from too many hole punches when making log books. Where can you get one and how well does it work?

Merry Pranksters -- It is the coolest thing. It is a Fiskars hand crank. But, SO much easier than the hole punch I was using. And easier than the hammer and awl I sometimes used which annoyed the heck out of my daughter who lives in my basement! Hmmm I wonder if that is why she bought it for me! Selfish girl! :D

It has 4 bits. They are shorter than the bits for my regular drill, but very sharp on the end. VERY easily goes on into the wood under the paper as I am drilling. But, the sharpness could be just because they are new and my bits in the garage are not new, except when I break them (a lot). But, I would not notice how sharp they are because I am putting them in a power tool! So cool. I made many many many more logbooks in a short time with my new paper drill, than with my previous method. I am not so great at logbooks creativity. Functional, not as creative as so many others. BUT... this is just cool. I may have to trade or give away basic logbooks that others can "embellish" (that magic word at which I am not good at doing the actual action implied) to their hearts content.

She told me she got it at Michael's for like $15. She said "boy, who knew Mom would be so excited about a $15 gift. She is like the kid for whom you buy a toy who is more excited by the box!" *sigh* She only LIKES letterboxing. Does not understand the addiction at all...

But, if you don't have Michaels, surely anyplace that carries Fiskars products, including online. I don't know if I would just use regular bits later, but that is a question for later. Right now, I am just enjoying this silly little toy!

+Peace! ~BSuzy

It is a Fiskars hand crank

I have been looking for an inexpensive paper drill, but so far no luck. However, I suspect that my wife already has this Fiskars tool. Does it actually have bits that are intended for paper? I have been drilling with my power drill, probably destroying my bits, and occasionally punching until I can't take it any more. I might try this tool if it really works better than my other two current options.

Does it actually have bits that are intended for paper?

I do not know if the bits are INTENDED for paper. They are shorter than the bits for my regular drill, so I know they would not work there. They are point-ier. They came with the Fiskars. So, I am presuming they are intended for paper since it is a "paper drill."

The only problem I have had is keeping the paper still. The clamp I have in the garage is way to big. And, without padding, would bend the paper. So, I use clips and just hold it with something. I will be playing with to find a way to clamp it without messing up the paper. Well... the only other "problem" is the drill bit goes right into the soft 2x4 under the paper. Because it really is quite sharp. I then have to back it out. But, that is not a PROBLEM, just would be easier if I did not have to.

I was actually disappointed when I didn't get a single letterboxing related gift. I even printed out the 40% off coupon to Hobby Lobby AND ACMoore, along with a picture of the pink stuff. I got none.

But, BUT! While I was cleaning out my closet I found a ziploc baggie with some scraps and one bigger piece of Orange Stuff! it's the perfect size for a PT I have planned!! WOO HOO! I BELIEVE IN SANTA CLAUS!!

~resQlou

WOOHOO resQlou, I believe in Santa too! And, that is too cool. So, what will the PT be? I need a PT, but just cannot decide and don't want 100!

I am working on a series of 5 or 6 PT's called Word Play. They are based on nicknames that I have had over the years. I carved Word Play #2 last week but I am not really happy about it and I want to re-do it. I was waiting to do so, hoping that I would get some pink stuff. So, now I have the Orange stuff and I can re-carve #2!

I find that PTs can get very overwhelming. Some letterboxers have so many that I think it's crazy! I am retiring my first one at the end of January. Now that I will have a half dozen of them myself I will probably rotate which one(s) come to an event or gathering with me.

~resQlou

I got a GPS for Christmas. Now I need to figure out how to use it. I don't plan to become a geocacher, but a GPS may keep me from getting hopelessly lost while looking for those Safari Man boxes.

Did it come with mapping software (e.g. Mapsource)? It's a great tool especially when you're planning a trip or vacation and want to maximize your time and decrease the chance that you'll get lost while driving around an unfamiliar place. I waymark the locations that the letterbox clues start at, then download the waypoints to my GPS unit.

When I'm in the new town I turn on the GPS unit and see what's nearby. I also waymark the hotel and if friends are in the town I'm visiting I'll waymark their home. Makes it easier and quicker to get around.

I especially like it in the unfamiliar forests. It's so easy to get turned around. Be sure to mark the location of your car before venturing in.

I especially like it in the unfamiliar forests. It's so easy to get turned around. Be sure to mark the location of your car before venturing in.

Does the one you use work in the car and walking around in a forest? I have begun looking at GPS systems and was wondering if one system can do both? If so what kind is it.

Does the one you use work in the car and walking around in a forest? I have begun looking at GPS systems and was wondering if one system can do both? If so what kind is it.

My current GPS is a Garmin 60Cx. It's designed for outdoor use and automobile use. You can buy topo maps as well as street maps for the 60Cx (and other Garmin units designed for the outdoors as well as the car).

I bought the auto navigation kit which includes a bean bag car mount that rests on the dash. Once I get to my destination I unplug the GPS unit and remove it from the mount and I'm ready to go hiking by switching from "follow road" to "off road" mode.

My husband has a Tom Tom. It's really great for driving, better than the Garmin 60Cx because it has a bigger screen, the graphics are geared to automobile driving, it has a voice feature rather than a simple audio and visual cue. However you can't use it for hiking.

Does the one you use work in the car and walking around in a forest? I have begun looking at GPS systems and was wondering if one system can do both? If so what kind is it.

I've been using a GPS for navigating the water for years and I like the Garmin for ease of use. I got a Garmin Nuvi and it can be 'programmed' for a walking/biking or driving mode with a few simple adjustments on the unit (Set-up, mode, walking/driving/bike, enter! ). Waypionts can be easily programmed and used. As well as other neat stuff...

(WARNING: do not use the 'Nuvi' nor any other driving 'directional' unit when on the water... it will give you a direct 'route' to the location, be it rocks, sand bars or worse!! and I may be the one who asks "how did you get *here?!?*")

Chunna

It's not the Fiskars drill, but if you're looking for something even easier than a hand-crank -- they have mini-sized dremel tools at WalMart (or the equivalent non-scumbaggybusinesspractices stores) for around the same price or slightly higher (like, under $20) that I use for *everything*. The small bits are perfect for drilling through stacks of paper, and since you have a hand free to stabilize the paper stack, all you really need are some bulldog clips and the dremel. (Versus clamps and padding, I mean.)

Plus, it can be used for all kinds of crazy things in addition to bookbinding. Like removing the paint off altoids tins. Don't ask me how I know this.

:)

The only downside that I can think of is that it *does* make noise. Like, "dentist's drill" type noise. But considering how much faster it goes, the noise is over within seconds. :)

I got wonderful letterboxing gifts too..

1. A GPS navigator for my car WITH all boxes I didn't have marked as found on AQ already preprogrammed!

2. A beautiful purple toolkit holder stocked with carving tools and PZ Kut.

3. A trip to Disneyland with a two day return trip so I could box all the way home.

Maiden

My lovely husband got me the book "Rubber Stamp Carving". Does anyone know if the author is someone who's got a trail name I'd recognize? I love the book!

CLoveR

by Luann Udell?

I got that from my boyfriend for christmas! no idea, good question though!

MayaRama

yes, that's the one. I probably should have included that =)

it sounds like we've got a couple of good men!!

CLoveR

You could ask her. She's got a blog at:
http://luannudell.wordpress.com/
and the blog says you can email her at:
LuannUdellatGmailDOTcom

you're smarter than the average clover!!!

Thanks,
CLoveR