Ah, the formalities.

When boxing, always bow towards the Springfield, OR McDonalds before setting off. When you progress to each succeeding clue, shout the mystic words "Hybernian Pobble-Bead!"

At the site of the box, Before picking up the box, and at each stage, thereafter, including opening, stamping, and closing, hop on one foot while chanting "Hey, batter, batter, swing! Murky Falanchoe!"

During the time the box is open, you must also swat at invisible boxing spirits (and mosquitos, if any), plus, you must wear the special hat. It is a large toque with the words "Don't mind me, I'm letterboxing; do not look at the small plastic container, no, I'm not hiding anything, please don't dig up the box, later." printed on it. This should make you invisible.

After the box is closed, point repeatedly at the spot at which you will hide it, saying, "Don't look there," at the top of your lungs. This is to keep the muggles away (sympathetic magic...or perhaps pathetic).

Place the box, then travel to your conveyance (bus, car, whatever). To distract muggles from the box, shout out, "Hey! I'm doing something illicit!"

These are the official rules.

I've got to say I love this idea. It would work well for our family as well!!

"When boxing, always bow towards the Springfield, OR McDonalds before setting off. When you progress to each succeeding clue, shout the mystic words "Hybernian Pobble-Bead!"", etc.

Oh, so THAT'S what I'm forgetting! Thanks for the helpful hints!

BTW I just planted my first box this AM...definitely did the swatting thing. Forgot the bug spray.

Kelly

I could do this with the "toes" in my huntin dog paw print...very cool! Thanks for sharing!

I have to say I think this is a brilliant idea! I may have to piggyback off you if I can think of something similar... we are very newbies, just one find so far but anxious to get back out there... I just bought carving tools yesterday. My eldest (12 yo) and I started, but now my other 3 children (8, 6, 4) want to join the fun, so I will have to think hard about a family stamp that can be individualized like yours!

Thanks!
Missy (of the KC Ladybugs)

I will have to think hard about a family stamp that can be individualized like yours!

How many people are in your family? Just carve a stamp that has that many ladybugs that you can fill in in the same manner. No long and hard thinking necessary! :o)

Actually, a cool idea. Like, a flock of birds, where you include a bird per kid....or a jar of jellybeans, where each kid is a jellybean....very creative. That way, you get a mix of one stamp for space purposes, and many stamps for individual counting....and, once they decide they want their own account, they can put their old name under aliases, and still count their finds (Like, "the blue jellybean from The Bean Jar").

That was always the conundrum; indiviual credit for later, vs. space in logbook. Not that I, as a planter, mind people taking up pages with their kids. But for those who worry...

Of course, there's also the other alternative; giving them stamps small enough that they all fit onto a single page (microstamps). Like, one has a tiny bunny, another a ladybug....something simple and small, like that, doesn't take up so much space, and you should be able to fit two or more on one page, in a regular logbook. I have a turtle stamp (for a later microbox) that's about 1 inch by 1/4 inch. Put enough of those together, you should be able to keep 'em to one page, if that worries you.

I will have to think hard about a family stamp that can be individualized like yours!

When I read your post about the ladybug, what came into my mind was... A ladybug with blank wings. Then you can dot the wings with a marker for each person in attendance. so If you all go there are lots of dots. If just you go just one dot total on the wings

~Aurora

Awesome idea! I'll have to think on that one.

We have a family stamp and all the kids have their own. Usually fits on one page. Then we sign our trail names next to each stamp.