This is a wonderful idea (birthday party to introduce the idea to the
children)! We homeschool as well! We used foam craft sheets and the
children used one of their many stencils and traced on the shape/item they
wanted for their stamps. Then I cut them out and Dad glued them onto some
scrap wood we have. We found our first box on Mother's Day and we had a
wonderful time finding it (we are new to this group as well). There are no
Letterboxes in our small town, so we plan to at least plant a couple here
locally. I will be helping a couple of others in our homeschooling group
get started as well - and there is a lady in the group who has been
Letterboxing for several years, so we ask most of our questions of her at
the moment.
The person who did the one we found at our local nature center has made the
most beautiful notebook cover for the box - I simply cannot even begin to
think how they made it - much more talented than we are, LOL!
Melisa H.
Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of
what we do not see.
One person once asked George Washington if he thought God was on his
side. His reply is reported to have been: "It is not that God should be
on our side, but that we be on His.
"On the third day everybody will know you can't keep a good man down."
At 06:18 PM 5/24/2005 +0000, you wrote:
>Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 24 May 2005 14:06:05 -0000
> From: "Christine Montano"
>Subject: idea for making own stamps/handmade journals/birthday party
>
>Hi, I am brand new to this Yahoo Group. I wanted to send this to the
>letterboxing site but don't see a contact mail address to do that so
>I will post this here and maybe someone can benefit from this
>information.
>
>I did one letterbox hike last summer with my children and another
>family. I hope to do more family letterboxing hikes and I may even
>place some letterboxes. I am so happy that so many letterboxes are in
>my area.
>
>I am also considering starting a letterboxing club for homeschooled
>children, I homeschool my kids. This would be a way to get out in
>nature and of course, have fun. It is nice with homeschooling, to
>have the freedom in our schedule to hike 7 days per week, and during
>regular "school days" such as great spring days and crisp autumn
>days.
>
>Making own stamps:
>Thanks for the instructions on the site about making our own stamps.
>I want to share an idea I came up with which is an adaptation of your
>foot pad idea. I hope you share this idea on your website if you feel
>it is worthwhile. You have my permission to share this idea and to
>use any of my writing in order to put the information online.
>
>After reading your directions, I intended to use the foot pads but
>only could find one package/style that was not medicated! The non-
>medicated pads were $3 for one pack (Dr. Sholl brand) and they were
>weird oval shapes. I felt this was too expensive and didn't allow
>enough options for designs.(There were about a dozen different shapes
>in the medicated version.)
>
>I had an idea to use regular craft foam sheets aka "foamies" instead.
>These foam sheets may be purchased at any craft store or on the
>internet. They are sold individually, with one 8.5"x11" sheet ranging
>from 40 cents to 80 cents. They are also sold in packets, such as 40
>sheets for under $4. These are more versatile than the foot pads as
>they allow the person to cut out any shape they want and make the
>stamp any size they want. I tested the foam sheets and they work fine
>as stamps, both the very, very thin ones, and of course the sheets
>that are thicker at 1/4 inch thick, work as well. These foam sheets
>don't require peeling as some of the foot pads do, you just cut, glue
>it on, and you are done.
>
>Here is an example of a foam sheet packet of 40, selling for $3.71:
>http://www.createforless.com/products/productDetail.asp?
>ProductID=86682&GCID=C10601x061
>
>Here is an example of one single foam sheet:
>http://www.createforless.com/products/productDetail.asp?
>ProductID=86680&GCID=C10601x061
>
>Buckets and sheets of die cut shapes are also sold, such as basic
>geometric shapes and even fancy holiday themed shapes. Some of these
>even have peel-off backings with adhesive already on them, while
>others require glue. These precut designs could be used with very
>young children who are too young to use scissors and create their own
>shapes. Buckets are inexpensive also at about $8 full retail or as
>low as $5 on sale.
>
>Here is an example of a bucket of foam shapes.
>http://www.joann.com/catalog.jhtml;$sessionid$DG4WPAQAAHOQ0P4SY5LRIHR5
>0LD3UEPO?CATID=101939&PRODID=96052
>
>The sheets tend to have the intricate holiday designs or a theme
>(i.e. sea creatures). Here is an example of a 50 piece packet that
>sells for just $2:
>http://www.createforless.com/products/productDetail.asp?
>ProductID=49663
>
>I am using recycled wood scraps as the base, which I had purchased
>(in the past and already had on hand), for a very low price at a
>craft store, labeled as factory seconds pine wood scraps. The jar
>lids I had were not flat because they had a vacuum seal style, which
>is so common now, and it caused problems with uneven stamping when I
>did a trial run. If jar lids are used perhaps you can suggest to make
>sure the surface is entirely flat.
>
>Making your own blank journal book:
>I also found a great site with instructions to make your own hardback
>journal book, a small sized book. I adapted these directions by
>omitting the spine and by using two signatures only as I felt these
>young children didn't need a very thick journal, theirs is 44 pages.
>If you follow these directions, the book would be 144 pages. Many
>different recycled materials (paper, cardboard, wallpaper sample
>books, old wrapping paper, etc.) may be used to make these journal
>books.
>http://personal.mem.bellsouth.net/d/r/drv1913/0204.html
>
>Children's Birthday Party-Letterboxing:
>Today I am hosting a letterboxing children's birthday party for my
>son who is turning five years old. The 16 children, aged 2-8, will be
>designing their own stamp at the clearing at the trailhead. I am
>giving a small, inexpensive compass as a "gift" and will teach them
>how to use it. They will each get their own journal book which as I
>said before, I made by hand using some recycled materials. I will
>teach them the "no trace" ethics protocol. They will hike and find
>the letterboxes as a group (hiking with parents as well). We will
>conclude by having cupcakes, picnic style, at the preserve's field.
>Wish me luck!
>
>Christine Montano
>USA
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]