If it is in a park with an entrance fee, I leave the amount of the fee.

I make a pretty border with Congrats First to Find on the first page of the logbook, so they have the first page.

Sometimes I leave an LTC, sometimes the FF takes it...sometimes it sits there until someone who is interested takes it....

I found some great magnets of quotations/ sports/ flowers on clearance (25 cents each) at a craft store and have used them as first finders.

For kid-themed boxes, I've seen (and used) a sheet of stickers. It helps get the kids interested...

And I agree with the crisp $100 bill. Or a blank check, with your autograph on it. That'd be nice...

cell phone shrinky dink charm of the stamp

Huh? And how do you make a shrinky Dink of a stamped image?

The thrill of finding the box should be enough.

Huh? And how do you make a shrinky Dink of a stamped image?

Instead of drawing on the plastic film, you stamp your image, then shrink it. Love shrinky-dinks!

I prefer crisp $100 bills : )

turkey feathers must be a snob. I'll take the crumbled ones! :D

how do you make a shrinky Dink of a stamped image?

Instead of drawing on the plastic film, you stamp your image, then shrink it!

After i have stamped my image, with black Staz-on ink, on the shrinky dink film i color it with markers, then shrink it. If you are going to use with some sort of attachment remember to punch a hole before you shrink it. *hmm how do i know that tid bit of advice* ;)

deniserows
a dink

In addition to a First Finder certificate, I have, on occasion, also included a $5 McDonalds gift card. (Maybe Starbucks would be nice too, but with the $1 menu, $5 would go farther at McDonald's.). I like the idea of including the cost of park entry -- haven't planted in any fee area(s) yet. What a great question, sharing inspiration!

I already have the box stamp image, so don't care for another one as a FF - unless it is an LTC. I usually leave a 'Congratulations First Finder' card - small so you can put it in your log book next to the box image - made of the same card stock/paper as the log book in a font that compliments the box subject. I've also left appropriate gift cards and letterboxing bracelets. I've not yet hidden a box in a fee area, but I like the park admission fee idea.

I agree 100%! But surprises are nice, too. It's like unexpected gravy or chocolate syrup (although not at the same time).

Huh? And how do you make a shrinky Dink of a stamped image?

the "Frosted Ruff 'n Ready" Shrinky Dinks work the best with stamped images. Some inks will "bleed" and have a smeary look around your image. Colorbox and Brilliance have both worked great with the frosted Shrinky Dinks. And yes, make sure you make your hole BEFORE you bake it! :)

All great ideas!! Thanks, everyone!

If I had Oprah money...I'd leave car keys.

YOU GET A CAR! YOU GET A CAR!! lol

unexpected gravy or chocolate syrup (although not at the same time).

Chocolate gravy . . . on fresh-from-the-oven biscuits . . . mmm!

I prefer crisp $100 bills : )

I eagerly await your next plant, sir.

looks like everyone explained the shrinky dink question. dont forget the chain, ribbon or ring so they can attach it to what ever they want! fun!

I try to leave a Hitchhiker if there is room in the box. THe HH usually has some relationship to the stamp... its like getting a twofer!! I also have been making the first page a fancy first finder page!

I've done a related HH twice now for the FF. I know I personally love to find HH's, so that'd be the best FF gift to me-- well, aside from the $100 bills...

AFAIK, nobody has yet mentioned the idea of dedicating a special page of the log book for the FF. Flowery border, glitter, you name it.

Yes, they did:

http://www.atlasquest.com/boards/message.html?gMsgId=704476;gThreadId=101858

My bad! Missed that message somehow.

Gypsyladybug has left $5 gift certificates for a restaurant in the letterbox planted in it's honor. She has left them a few times, so they are more 'next finder' prizes rather than first finder ones.

I think I have the first finder, unless you got one as the tester. And it was much appreciated. When we told the inlaws where we ate, they said they used to go to the one here when they were kids. Had it not been for letterboxing, we never would have gone in there and had dinner.

t not been for letterboxing, we never would have gone in there and had dinner

Same here. I got one of the "next finder" prizes. And I too very much appreciated it. Many we tell about this place think we are pulling their leg.

What are some examples of nice gifts to leave a first-finder?

I leave either a hitchhiker or an LTC. But another two boxers (who don't box together) in the area leaves special First-Finder certificates.

Maybe a keychain of something that relates to your box. Like i you planted one in a certain state and it is meant for tourists you could leave a Keychain with the state like Nebraska, New York etc...

I'd be careful. Geocachers may think its a cache if they find by accident. Hmmm, do I take this keychain or this neat stamp?!

Geocachers may think its a cache if they find by accident. Hmmm, do I take this keychain or this neat stamp?!

That's why you write on the stamp, "Do not take. Leave in box." And clearly label the box.

You should also check on geocaching.com for any geocaches in the area and plant within their shadows. (Accounts are free.) On geocaching.com the caches must be at least 1/10th of a mile away from another, so between 100 and 400 feet from a cache is a safe zone. Watch for puzzles, multicaches and premium member caches in the area because you won't see where those are.

I know that people should read enough that a similar hobby should be safe, but better safe than sorry.

an LTC of the carve, inchies, cell phone shrinky dink charm of the stamp, small toys, pathtags,...lots of things are great!

ok, I just have to ask,,,what is an inchie?

ok, I just have to ask,,,what is an inchie?

Shrinkage