We have the date on the calendar, and can't wait! Chattanooga is such a great city! And we'll get to box, too!!!

P. Banks

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the loose rock vertical climb up the Uwharries -- yep, kids had confirmation that Mom lost her mind that day

In twenty years I fully expect the Wolf cubs to be heavily subsidizing some therapist's vacation home. ;-)

Of course, my kids will be too...

Knit Wit

Funny, I've been told it is a cult! ;)

TG

But Ryan hasn't asked us all to drink anything green yet, has he???

MC

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But Ryan hasn't asked us all to drink anything green yet, has he???

No, but alot of us are wearing silly hats!

I love it! It ranks right up there with Spring Fever!

Symptoms:
1)An urgent need to get outdoors and/or stalk the mail carrier
2)A cold sweat and shaking hands when exposure to camouflaged plastic isn't recent enough
3) Extreme irritablilty when denied access to the internet
4)Salvating over the new line of backpacks in the local sporting goods store
5)Distracted driving when passing parks, cemeteries or any plot of land with more than six trees

Things that soothe Symptoms (since there is no cure!):
1)The smell of rubber
2)Ink stains on skin
3)Purchasing a stack of 6x9 inch mailers
4)The sight of little colored ribbons and stars
5)Getting to ask "Which way is North?"

Gotta go. Must...print...clues....
Stacy

<qoute>QuoteBut Ryan hasn't asked us all to drink anything green yet, has he???

No, but alot of us are wearing silly hats!

Wearing silly hats, is a sure sign that you are hopelessly addicted!

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alot of us are wearing silly hats!

Yes, and the act of aquiring those hats causes great excitement among the masses.

Knit Wit

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You cannot make the posted coordinates for parking because you can find that on a map don’t need a GPS’r but the posted coordinates should be on the trail like at the first clue

Max Cacher

That last paragraph (as quoted above) is Max Cacher's interpretation and not outlined in the official guidelines.

I see that the new guidelines still leave room for interpretation by approvers. Fortunately in my location our approver is more lenient and has allowed my letterbox coordinates to take people to a parking area or trailhead (which is right next to the parking area). In my case I suppose I could argue that the parking area/trailhead is the first part of the clue/directions.

Still, I'm really happy to see a clearer set of guidelines for letterboxes. Some approvers were interpreting the old guidelines to mean that the coordinates had to be at the location of the box.

Lone R

The hats are a sure sign of being addicted. It's the accumulation of candles on the cake that proves it to be hopeless.

FG

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Does the size of the stamp in the traditional box really matter?

If you're concerned for the finder, just include the size of the stamp in your clue information. That way the finder can bring along a larger piece of paper, if their logbook is too small.

Lone R

Oh, and another great wacky little tool would be to go to www.roadsideamerica.com and put in a town you know you will be going to. I shows some of the "Unknown Attractions".

We should be in Philip S.D. (not that far from Rapid) this June, and will email you when, incase it's about the same time. We have about 10 boxes we want to plant in that state.

The Traveling Dudeks

Personally I like it when stamps are as big as they NEED to be in order to retain their detail. I have found 4 X 6 inch stamps that were not very detailed at all and could have probably been carved much smaller. I have a couple of boxes planted where the stamp could be smaller, so I'm guilty too. Smaller stamps are normally harder to carve of course.

Another thing to keep in mind is the amount of surface area that will be solid. I don't know about others...but no matter how much I "huff" on the ink sometimes I just can't get a big stamp with a lot of solid area to imprint well. Some of the ink always dries up a little. Smaller stamps are easier to ink and get a good impression from.

Just a question. I was wondering if someone has a paypal account or such. That we could give some $$$ and just get 1 walmart gift card? That way she will not have 5-10 cards to have to keep up with?

I know this can be tricky... Internet, trust, etc But maybe someone has a better idea?

Lisa

OMGosh ya'll! I know nobody would "get" this like ya'll!
DH just bought a laser printer for work (works out of the home). So I just used it to transfer some images! IM IN HEAVAN!

I'm so much fun just transferring...not sure if I'll get to carving! ROFL!

Loving the rainy day today!
Lisa

PS on the dog saga. I'm thinking she will NOT be at the meeting (greenwood). I swear I"m not going to get this dog until April! :o( I still have a "home visit" and they wanted to come on the 10th... I'll be out of town on the 17th too....so who knows!

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That way the finder can bring along a larger piece of paper

You could also provide paper/cards that the stamp image would fit on in the container just in case. My favorite example of this is the Biltmore-America's Castle box in Asheville, NC. The clues are listed on LbNA, if you want to check them out.

Knit wit

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DH just bought a laser printer for work (works out of the home). So I just used it to transfer some images!

I'm suffering some serious printer envy here. All I've got is an inkjet so I get to play pencil transfer all the time.

Knit Wit

Maybe it's just a regional difference, but for the Rocky Mountain area a 3x3 stamp really isn't all that large. Put me down for "it's your box, do whatever your little heart desires."

I will say that for my super small urban boxes I usually mention in the clues that the logbook is small for folks with larger personal stamps so they know beforehand. (I know, that's not what you asked....)

pre

BTW... I have a paypal account and don't mind heading out to Walmart to grab a big gift card.

Music Woman

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Have you tried seasoning the stamp? Clean it good, even if you have to sand it again, then color the surface area with a Sharpie or some other permanent ink.

I was/am very hesitant to do this since I have read about the sharpie ink coming off in subsequent stamping images and I am using some very light colors on this stamp (ie yellow). But maybe this will be the only solution...

Rhea

I have had to do it a few times when the pink stuff wouldn't take ink. It always seemed to be in a large area too. I have never had any trouble with it ciming off if I let it dry for several hours before I stamp it. I have planted them like that and have always heard positive responses from the plant. I will have to try stamping them when I do maintenance. I have tried turning the stamp over on the table and stamping the stamp with the pad, instead of stamping the pad with the stamp. I seems to allow you to squeeze a little extra ink onto the stamp. Sorry if this doesn't work for you. I hope you figure it out. OH, one thing I have noticed lately, Pink is coming out with a lot of flaws in the surfaces. They have divits and dents that you have to carve around. Maybe you have one of those present. I have heard someone say that you can fill it with wood filler or bondo and then sand it smooth, but I wouldn't trust that for more than a couple of images. You may end up having to recarve.

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I'm suffering some serious printer envy here. All I've got is an inkjet so I get to play pencil transfer all the time

Okay. I must be missing something here. I have a laser and still do the pencil thingy. Am I doing something wrong?? or is there an easier way to do things? What's the difference besides maybe the quality of the print?

Karen (who feels quite lost)

I'd be willing to pitch in money or help buy some supplies, whatever she needs. If someone is gathering the money to get one card, please post so I can do that also. Can you please email me the post office box so I can send something else also? Thanks.


Karen

YankeeChiK has an inkjet, and she does the transparency transfer and loves it. You might try it and see if you like it too.

Jenni P McD

With some laser toner it is possible to do an iron-on transfer to the carving medium. I'm not sure of the specifics but I think I've seen the way to do this discussed on the Stamp Carving board.

Anyhoo, that's what I meant. If it works, it's much quicker than pencil transfer.

It's also possible to transfer the laser image with acetone but that's a bit too risky for my taste and not to be done indoors. :-)

Knit wit

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In twenty years I fully expect the Wolf cubs to be heavily subsidizing some therapist's vacation home. ;-)

LOL!
Well, since there are days that they are about driving me to a therapist, I'd say it's only fair that I get to do that same to them. ;) Hmmm...I can't seem to find that in any of the parenting handbooks, though...

Hmm, I need to hang out on the Stamp Carving board more often. I'm going to ask her how she does that.

I don't know, exactly, because I have an old dinosaur of a laser jet, and I do the iron method, but she really likes the transparency transfer. Just ask, I'm sure she'd love to share.

JPMcD

You can also get the posts at the hardware store....unfortunately I can't remember what they are called but they are usually in those little drawers that most stores have with the screws and bolts and such.
Sharon

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When CDQ and I were there, it wasn't the roots causing problems. It was the teenagers who were off hiding in the woods smoking illegal substances.

Two different Latta Plantation trails:
The hilly, windy, root trail is the Prairie Trail (I think that's the name) out to Hedwig-- no teenagers there.
The "popular" trails (flat and fairly clear) are the one out to Noah's arc and the trails with Errol and Pigwidgeon (which has been carved and will be replaced in the next couple of weeks).