Baker, my gut feeling is that you have a box (or boxes) that muggles are
finding. Those seem to always be the ones without stamps of course.

RIFamily

-----Original Message-----
From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Baker
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 7:49 AM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] Non Stamping Letterboxers


Have any of you noticed in your log books an increase in the frequency
of boxers who don't use stamps and just sign in? I have. The problem is
they seem to be the ones who don't seal up the box and rehide it very
well. I was wondering what you people have seen in your places.

Thanks

Baker

http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/




--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 269.9.14/883 - Release Date: 7/1/2007
12:19 PM


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It may also be geocachers - if they find a box, they will sign in to
acknowledge the box. You might check the geocaching website to see if there
is a cache near your box.




On 7/3/07, RIFamily wrote:
>
> Baker, my gut feeling is that you have a box (or boxes) that muggles are
> finding. Those seem to always be the ones without stamps of course.
>
> RIFamily
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com ]On
> Behalf Of Baker
> Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 7:49 AM
> To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [LbNA] Non Stamping Letterboxers
>
> Have any of you noticed in your log books an increase in the frequency
> of boxers who don't use stamps and just sign in? I have. The problem is
> they seem to be the ones who don't seal up the box and rehide it very
> well. I was wondering what you people have seen in your places.
>
> Thanks
>
> Baker
>
> http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/
>
> --
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 269.9.14/883 - Release Date: 7/1/2007
> 12:19 PM
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



--
Barefoot Lucy
"It's not about footwear, it's about philosophy"


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It seems to me that these people are not really Letterboxers, and have just happened to stumble across the Letterbox. So, in not having a stamp, they just sign in, use their thumbprint or even stamp the boxes stamp into the logbook! Just one more reason to hide those boxes really, really GOOD - so nonBoxers don't have a chance to stumble across them!! MayEve

Baker wrote: Have any of you noticed in your log books an increase in the frequency
of boxers who don't use stamps and just sign in? I have. The problem is
they seem to be the ones who don't seal up the box and rehide it very
well. I was wondering what you people have seen in your places.

Thanks

Baker

http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/






MayEve

z





---------------------------------
Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! FareChase.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Recently I found an interesting box in a very cool location. But it had one
problem.... as you were coming up the hill the box was very visible in it's
"hiding" place. So a lot of muggles were logging in it. I suggested a
simple move to the back side of the same really cool rock. That easy move
would make it impossible to be seen from someone walking the path.
Sometimes we have to think like muggles.

RIFamily
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 269.9.14/883 - Release Date: 7/1/2007
12:19 PM


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I know that I have found some boxes that were found by geocachers and
they signed in anyway -- sometimes because they couldn't find the
cache they were looking for. Another time I was doing some boxes in a
certain area and noticed a person simply signed in, and then when I
went home to do some boxing, this person had signed in with a stamp --
I have a feeling that someone they found out about those boxes in the
one area and went out looking, got bit by the "bug" when he found
them, then came home and found a stamp. I also came across a box once
where the person was on vacation and forgot to bring their stamp with
them, so they simply signed in to let the host know they were dropping
off a hitchhiker. There could be a lot of reasons. Laziness could
also be a reason, but I choose to give people the benefit of the
doubt....

midlandtrailblazer

RIFamily wrote:

> Baker, my gut feeling is that you have a box (or boxes) that muggles are
> finding. Those seem to always be the ones without stamps of course.

It's nice that they sign the log and replace rather than write
obscenities or steal the box.

There are a couple of other possibilities here. One is that the box
is hidden somewhere where it's difficult to stamp in without being
seen. Some may opt to just sign and replace rather than breaking out
the stamp and ink pad, which might attract more attention.

The proper thing to do in such cases -- in fact, in most cases -- is
to carry the box off a ways and take your time stamping in. In
general, you never want to stamp in right at the hidey hole, because
a muggle might come by and see what you're doing and where you are.
If he sees what you're doing at a picnic table 100 yards away, no
problem, in fact you can TELL him what you're doing -- you're not
giving away the hiding place. And, of course, if you try to stamp in
at the hiding place and then see that a muggle is approaching, it's
too late to move off. In general, always move away as soon as you
find the box before opening it up and stamping in.

But many newbies may not know that, and decide that the most stealthy
thing to do is just sign and replace and get outta there.

-- Kirbert

I don't think that they are muggles as most of my boxes are hard to get
to an d all are well hidden in quiet spots. I think that they maybe
geocachers who don't have any geocaches to an area they are going to so
they may be looking at the LbNA or finding them on google searches and
just satisfiing their treasure hunting urges.

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "RIFamily" wrote:
>
> Baker, my gut feeling is that you have a box (or boxes) that muggles
are
> finding. Those seem to always be the ones without stamps of course.
>
> RIFamily

Maybe it is letterboxers or geocachers not bothering with stamps. I
have noticed in geocaching that many people are just signing the log
book and are not exchanging trinkets...their custom similar to our
stamp exchange.

Thanks,

Baker
http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/



--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Barefoot Lucy"
wrote:
>
> It may also be geocachers - if they find a box, they will sign in to
> acknowledge the box. You might check the geocaching website to see
if there
> is a cache near your box.

You may be right about that. I just hope that it is not a trend with
newbies to get away from stamping.

thanks,
Baker
http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Kirbert" wrote:
>
> RIFamily wrote:
>
> > Baker, my gut feeling is that you have a box (or boxes) that
muggles are
> > finding. Those seem to always be the ones without stamps of
course.
>
> It's nice that they sign the log and replace rather than write
> obscenities or steal the box.
>
> There are a couple of other possibilities here. One is that the
box
> is hidden somewhere where it's difficult to stamp in without being
> seen. Some may opt to just sign and replace rather than breaking
out
> the stamp and ink pad, which might attract more attention.
>
> The proper thing to do in such cases -- in fact, in most cases --
is
> to carry the box off a ways and take your time stamping in. In
> general, you never want to stamp in right at the hidey hole,
because
> a muggle might come by and see what you're doing and where you
are.
> If he sees what you're doing at a picnic table 100 yards away, no
> problem, in fact you can TELL him what you're doing -- you're not
> giving away the hiding place. And, of course, if you try to stamp
in
> at the hiding place and then see that a muggle is approaching, it's
> too late to move off. In general, always move away as soon as you
> find the box before opening it up and stamping in.
>
> But many newbies may not know that, and decide that the most
stealthy
> thing to do is just sign and replace and get outta there.
>
> -- Kirbert
>

Baker wrote:

> I just hope that it is not a trend with
> newbies to get away from stamping.

Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we found
our *first* letterbox?

I'm thinking that there may just be a large contingent of newbies in
the area, and they're all trying out some finds before they decide
whether they're going to be interested enough to obtain a sig stamp.
Somebody may even have suggested it somewhere, like on that infamous
Chevy Suburban ad or something. Or maybe some primer described
letterboxing and happened to omit mentioning the need for a sig
stamp, and all these guys didn't have any idea a sig stamp was called
for until they found their first box!

-- Kirbert

Baker wrote:

> Maybe it is letterboxers or geocachers not bothering with stamps. I
> have noticed in geocaching that many people are just signing the log
> book and are not exchanging trinkets...their custom similar to our
> stamp exchange.

That's probably most of them, actually. A lot of geocachers are
adults, and most consider the trinket trading as just for the kids
who find the cache.

In some cases, when I find a cache that contains nothing I'm
interested in, I'll take something anyway and leave something in
exchange just to move the toys around. This is especially
appropriate in some cases where the geocache contains a zillion of
the exact same toy. Some placers stock their new geocaches that way,
a whole box full of the same thing, you're supposed to trade stuff so
the toys move around.

A lot of geocachers drop off a signature item, often a business card
or a wooden nickel or some such. I personally find the practice
irritating; the signature item is rarely desirable as a trade item,
it just clutters up the cache. Even when it is desirable, you're
left wondering if you're supposed to take a signature item or you're
expected to leave it in the cache.

Some also have address labels printed up and stick them in the log
book. Unfortunately, the things tend to peel off and then start
sticking pages together.

I stamp geocache log books with my sig stamp. It takes more time
than just signing, but it adds a bit of pizzazz to the log book
without taking up too much space or making a mess of things.

-- Kirbert

Hello,

I've been a member of the group for a few weeks and have been lurking every since.

I placed a box back in March and in May got a message from a boxer that it had been opened and thrown about. When I looked to check in on the box I noticed the boxers whom logged in right before the box was reported damaged by the other boxer, all had no stamp just signed in. I had not seen their signatures before so I wondered if maybe they were new to boxing and didn't know to re-hide the box, but the signatures were very child like and maybe the chaperone didn't notice the kids didn't re-hide the box, either way I have seen the trend with other boxes were it seems they are not re-hidden well. MY friends and I just found a series last week were the first box appeared to be thrown into the bushes as apposed to being hidden under the rock were it obviously was before. I don't know if it's muggles finding the boxes or new comers not taking the time to re-hide the boxes. If it's new comers hopefully some might see this thread and start re-hiding the boxes; if it's muggles then hopefu
lly if they get into letterboxing they will know better for the next box they find.

--
When people run around and around in circles we say they are crazy. When planets do it we say they are orbiting.

-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Baker"
> You may be right about that. I just hope that it is not a trend with
> newbies to get away from stamping.
>
> thanks,
> Baker
> http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/
>
> --- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Kirbert" wrote:
> >
> > RIFamily wrote:
> >
> > > Baker, my gut feeling is that you have a box (or boxes) that
> muggles are
> > > finding. Those seem to always be the ones without stamps of
> course.
> >
> > It's nice that they sign the log and replace rather than write
> > obscenities or steal the box.
> >
> > There are a couple of other possibilities here. One is that the
> box
> > is hidden somewhere where it's difficult to stamp in without being
> > seen. Some may opt to just sign and replace rather than breaking
> out
> > the stamp and ink pad, which might attract more attention.
> >
> > The proper thing to do in such cases -- in fact, in most cases --
> is
> > to carry the box off a ways and take your time stamping in. In
> > general, you never want to stamp in right at the hidey hole,
> because
> > a muggle might come by and see what you're doing and where you
> are.
> > If he sees what you're doing at a picnic table 100 yards away, no
> > problem, in fact you can TELL him what you're doing -- you're not
> > giving away the hiding place. And, of course, if you try to stamp
> in
> > at the hiding place and then see that a muggle is approaching, it's
> > too late to move off. In general, always move away as soon as you
> > find the box before opening it up and stamping in.
> >
> > But many newbies may not know that, and decide that the most
> stealthy
> > thing to do is just sign and replace and get outta there.
> >
> > -- Kirbert
> >
>
>
>




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I didn' t have a stamp when I first started. The first time I heard of letterboxing was when a friend of mine told me about it and I went with him. I used my thumb print as my first stamp :) and my stamp has been evolving ever since.

--
When people run around and around in circles we say they are crazy. When planets do it we say they are orbiting.

-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Kirbert"
> Baker wrote:
>
> > I just hope that it is not a trend with
> > newbies to get away from stamping.
>
> Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we found
> our *first* letterbox?
>
> I'm thinking that there may just be a large contingent of newbies in
> the area, and they're all trying out some finds before they decide
> whether they're going to be interested enough to obtain a sig stamp.
> Somebody may even have suggested it somewhere, like on that infamous
> Chevy Suburban ad or something. Or maybe some primer described
> letterboxing and happened to omit mentioning the need for a sig
> stamp, and all these guys didn't have any idea a sig stamp was called
> for until they found their first box!
>
> -- Kirbert
>




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I had a sig stamp.. store bought, used it for my first 100 finds and then
carved my own;

Maiden

_____

From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Kirbert
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 5:34 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Non Stamping Letterboxers



Baker wrote:

> I just hope that it is not a trend with
> newbies to get away from stamping.

Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we found
our *first* letterbox?

I'm thinking that there may just be a large contingent of newbies in
the area, and they're all trying out some finds before they decide
whether they're going to be interested enough to obtain a sig stamp.
Somebody may even have suggested it somewhere, like on that infamous
Chevy Suburban ad or something. Or maybe some primer described
letterboxing and happened to omit mentioning the need for a sig
stamp, and all these guys didn't have any idea a sig stamp was called
for until they found their first box!

-- Kirbert






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I confess . . . I was sig-stampless on my first excursion. But I was
instantly inspired that afternoon to run to an art supply store to get a
carving block.

Here's a spin-off question . . .
How many have updated/enhanced or completely changed there sig-stamp from
their original carving?

Fishman


From: "Kirbert"
Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Non Stamping Letterboxers
Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:33:44 -0400

Baker wrote:

> I just hope that it is not a trend with
> newbies to get away from stamping.

Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we found
our *first* letterbox?

I'm thinking that there may just be a large contingent of newbies in
the area, and they're all trying out some finds before they decide
whether they're going to be interested enough to obtain a sig stamp.
Somebody may even have suggested it somewhere, like on that infamous
Chevy Suburban ad or something. Or maybe some primer described
letterboxing and happened to omit mentioning the need for a sig
stamp, and all these guys didn't have any idea a sig stamp was called
for until they found their first box!

-- Kirbert

I have a signature stamp that is store bought of a frog holding a flower and this past week I carved a custom.? I carved the stamp that I had with a quote beside it.



Sparky Butterfly


-----Original Message-----
From: Pete Mandeville
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, 4 Jul 2007 12:27 am
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Non Stamping Letterboxers







I confess . . . I was sig-stampless on my first excursion. But I was
instantly inspired that afternoon to run to an art supply store to get a
carving block.

Here's a spin-off question . . .
How many have updated/enhanced or completely changed there sig-stamp from
their original carving?

Fishman

From: "Kirbert"
Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Non Stamping Letterboxers
Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:33:44 -0400

Baker wrote:

> I just hope that it is not a trend with
> newbies to get away from stamping.

Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we found
our *first* letterbox?

I'm thinking that there may just be a large contingent of newbies in
the area, and they're all trying out some finds before they decide
whether they're going to be interested enough to obtain a sig stamp.
Somebody may even have suggested it somewhere, like on that infamous
Chevy Suburban ad or something. Or maybe some primer described
letterboxing and happened to omit mentioning the need for a sig
stamp, and all these guys didn't have any idea a sig stamp was called
for until they found their first box!

-- Kirbert





________________________________________________________________________
AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Kirbert" wrote:
>
> Baker wrote:
> Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we found
> our *first* letterbox?

Well, I typically research something quite a bit before I take the
plunge, so I (and all other members of my family) had sig stamps when
we found our first letterboxes, and they were store bought. In fact,
I have changed my store bought stamp since then, but do have plans of
carving one for myself as soon as I settle on something
distinctly "me" ;)

midlandtrailblazer

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Pete Mandeville"
wrote:

> Here's a spin-off question . . .
> How many have updated/enhanced or completely changed there sig-stamp
from
> their original carving?


I started out with a simple store bought stamp as my sig, and have
since changed to two store bought stamps as my sig -- but I am working
very hard on designing a personal stamp (*think, think, think* tapping
head) that I will carve myself. My family's stamps are all store
bought and probably will always be because they just aren't as into it
as I am -- they go along to humor me and to use as blackmail to get me
to do things they want to do....

midlandtrailblazer

I started with a store bought, kept it for my first 100 boxes. Carved a new
one, used it for about 6 months, then two good friends each gave me a new
signature stamp for my birthday. I use one for when my husband is with me
and one for me alone.

Maiden

_____

From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of midlandtrailblazer
Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2007 4:15 AM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Non Stamping Letterboxers



--- In letterbox-usa@
yahoogroups.com, "Pete Mandeville"
wrote:

> Here's a spin-off question . . .
> How many have updated/enhanced or completely changed there sig-stamp
from
> their original carving?

I started out with a simple store bought stamp as my sig, and have
since changed to two store bought stamps as my sig -- but I am working
very hard on designing a personal stamp (*think, think, think* tapping
head) that I will carve myself. My family's stamps are all store
bought and probably will always be because they just aren't as into it
as I am -- they go along to humor me and to use as blackmail to get me
to do things they want to do....

midlandtrailblazer






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I was completely unprepared. We were down in the wilds of Slowerlowerdelaware
and my sister said she wanted to go find a letterbox--we thought she meant antiquing for a mailbox. So she had a stamp (storebought) but I stamped in w/my fingerprint, and my youngest sister inked up the end of her nose!

I was bitten by the bug though, and by the time we went out again at the end of the week I'd carved my own stamp. Still using the same one, although I recently changed my ink (couldn't find the original color in pigment)....

Sheba

Pete Mandeville wrote:Here's a spin-off question . . .
How many have updated/enhanced or completely changed there sig-stamp from
their original carving?

Fishman


From: "Kirbert"

Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com


Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we found
our *first* letterbox?




---------------------------------
Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>>>Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we found
>>>our *first* letterbox?

I did. It was the first stamp I'd carved, and I still use it for sentimental
reasons. My first box was Houston Astros in Orange City, FL. :o)

Three Hearts



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>>>Here's a spin-off question . . .
>>>How many have updated/enhanced or completely changed there sig-stamp from

>>>their original carving?

I haven't yet, but when I do, the original will most likely become a
personal traveler. I just have to first figure out what image would mean enough to
me to make the switch from the original.

Three Hearts



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It could also be geocachers. Many geocachers in my area seek out letterboxes when they have run out of caches..and they usually just sign in ....although a couple are now using store-bought stamps.

I had a store-bought stamp for my first find (the letter Z)and had handcarved my first crude stamp for my mom ( now my personal traveler). But quickly carved a rather crude padlock for myself. WIthin a month or two I had carved the more elaborate stamp you see for me now. I recently had my boxing stuff stolen, so I recarved my stamp with just a different background.

LW PhD
"Nice Counts"


---------------------------------
Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Pete Mandeville wrote:

> I confess . . . I was sig-stampless on my first excursion. But I was
> instantly inspired that afternoon to run to an art supply store to get a
> carving block.

Gee, my problem was that I had no idea that carving blocks existed.
I was very surprised to learn that someone actually made a product
especially intended for carving rubber stamps, and even more
surprised that there was more than one, there's actually competition
in the market! Whoda thunk it?

> Here's a spin-off question . . .
> How many have updated/enhanced or completely changed there sig-stamp from
> their original carving?

As soon as I knew a sig stamp was called for, I knew exactly what the
image should be for mine. I carved my first stamp ever, my original
sig stamp, out of a piece of foam that was actually the thing used to
hang a pair of flip-flops on the sale rack. Later, when I figured
out how to do significantly better work, I carved a new sig stamp on
pink stuff -- exactly the same image but half the size and with
better detail.

I recently carved a sig stamp for someone else. Goldwing Grandma of
Georgia has been stamping in with a store-bought stamp -- of a Harley-
Davidson! I told her that was unacceptable, so she will now be
stamping in with a much more appropriate hand-carved stamp.

I also carved a sig stamp for Thot of Houston. I'm not sure how
active he is; I carved a stamp for him to place, too, and the box
quickly went missing -- twice. After I carved it the third time it's
apparently been more durable, but I think he was pretty disgusted
with the whole affair.

-- Kirbert

I've carved a couple sig stamps for friends also.
Darkstar - in Pittsburgh
Bruteforce - here in DE
Both of those stamps are far better than my original sig stamp. Thus I was
looking to see how The Elders & Prophets of Letterboxing looked upon
upgrading sig stamps. :)


From: "Kirbert"
Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Non Stamping Letterboxers
Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2007 10:52:46 -0400

Pete Mandeville wrote:

> I confess . . . I was sig-stampless on my first excursion. But I was
> instantly inspired that afternoon to run to an art supply store to get a
> carving block.

Gee, my problem was that I had no idea that carving blocks existed.
I was very surprised to learn that someone actually made a product
especially intended for carving rubber stamps, and even more
surprised that there was more than one, there's actually competition
in the market! Whoda thunk it?

> Here's a spin-off question . . .
> How many have updated/enhanced or completely changed there sig-stamp from
> their original carving?

As soon as I knew a sig stamp was called for, I knew exactly what the
image should be for mine. I carved my first stamp ever, my original
sig stamp, out of a piece of foam that was actually the thing used to
hang a pair of flip-flops on the sale rack. Later, when I figured
out how to do significantly better work, I carved a new sig stamp on
pink stuff -- exactly the same image but half the size and with
better detail.

I recently carved a sig stamp for someone else. Goldwing Grandma of
Georgia has been stamping in with a store-bought stamp -- of a Harley-
Davidson! I told her that was unacceptable, so she will now be
stamping in with a much more appropriate hand-carved stamp.

I also carved a sig stamp for Thot of Houston. I'm not sure how
active he is; I carved a stamp for him to place, too, and the box
quickly went missing -- twice. After I carved it the third time it's
apparently been more durable, but I think he was pretty disgusted
with the whole affair.

-- Kirbert

Pete Mandeville wrote:

> I've carved a couple sig stamps for friends also.
> Both of those stamps are far better than my original sig stamp.

I HATE it when that happens!

-- Kirbert

Actually I carved a specail geocaching stamp. I wish the geocachers
would use paper in their logbooks. I have seen a few other stamps in
some of caches I've found.

Baker
http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/
> > stamp exchange.
>
> That's probably most of them, actually. A lot of geocachers are
> adults, and most consider the trinket trading as just for the kids
> who find the cache.
>
> In some cases, when I find a cache that contains nothing I'm
> interested in, I'll take something anyway and leave something in
> exchange just to move the toys around. This is especially
> appropriate in some cases where the geocache contains a zillion of
> the exact same toy. Some placers stock their new geocaches that
way,
> a whole box full of the same thing, you're supposed to trade stuff
so
> the toys move around.
>
> A lot of geocachers drop off a signature item, often a business
card
> or a wooden nickel or some such. I personally find the practice
> irritating; the signature item is rarely desirable as a trade item,
> it just clutters up the cache. Even when it is desirable, you're
> left wondering if you're supposed to take a signature item or
you're
> expected to leave it in the cache.
>
> Some also have address labels printed up and stick them in the log
> book. Unfortunately, the things tend to peel off and then start
> sticking pages together.
>
> I stamp geocache log books with my sig stamp. It takes more time
> than just signing, but it adds a bit of pizzazz to the log book
> without taking up too much space or making a mess of things.
>
> -- Kirbert
>

i did, it's still my stamp. I've put a little more detail into it
though.

Thanks,

Baker

http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/

i came upon a box like you just described. The last sig has done by
kids it looks like, they did rehide it, but the took the boxes stamp.
The I let the placer know and they sent me a stamp to replace the
lost one. I think that kids are discovering this activity and they my
not be as careful as we would hope. But their kids...hmm

happy boxing

Baker

http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, barrudaki@... wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I've been a member of the group for a few weeks and have been
lurking every since.
>
> I placed a box back in March and in May got a message from a boxer
that it had been opened and thrown about. When I looked to check in
on the box I noticed the boxers whom logged in right before the box
was reported damaged by the other boxer, all had no stamp just signed
in. I had not seen their signatures before so I wondered if maybe
they were new to boxing and didn't know to re-hide the box, but the
signatures were very child like and maybe the chaperone didn't notice
the kids didn't re-hide the box, either way I have seen the trend
with other boxes were it seems they are not re-hidden well. MY
friends and I just found a series last week were the first box
appeared to be thrown into the bushes as apposed to being hidden
under the rock were it obviously was before. I don't know if it's
muggles finding the boxes or new comers not taking the time to re-
hide the boxes. If it's new comers hopefully some might see this
thread and start re-hiding the boxes; if it's muggles then hopefu
> lly if they get into letterboxing they will know better for the
next box they find.
>
> --
> When people run around and around in circles we say they are crazy.
When planets do it we say they are orbiting.
>
> -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: "Baker"
> > You may be right about that. I just hope that it is not a trend
with
> > newbies to get away from stamping.
> >
> > thanks,
> > Baker
> > http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/
> >
> > --- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Kirbert" wrote:
> > >
> > > RIFamily wrote:
> > >
> > > > Baker, my gut feeling is that you have a box (or boxes) that
> > muggles are
> > > > finding. Those seem to always be the ones without stamps of
> > course.
> > >
> > > It's nice that they sign the log and replace rather than write
> > > obscenities or steal the box.
> > >
> > > There are a couple of other possibilities here. One is that
the
> > box
> > > is hidden somewhere where it's difficult to stamp in without
being
> > > seen. Some may opt to just sign and replace rather than
breaking
> > out
> > > the stamp and ink pad, which might attract more attention.
> > >
> > > The proper thing to do in such cases -- in fact, in most cases -
-
> > is
> > > to carry the box off a ways and take your time stamping in. In
> > > general, you never want to stamp in right at the hidey hole,
> > because
> > > a muggle might come by and see what you're doing and where you
> > are.
> > > If he sees what you're doing at a picnic table 100 yards away,
no
> > > problem, in fact you can TELL him what you're doing -- you're
not
> > > giving away the hiding place. And, of course, if you try to
stamp
> > in
> > > at the hiding place and then see that a muggle is approaching,
it's
> > > too late to move off. In general, always move away as soon as
you
> > > find the box before opening it up and stamping in.
> > >
> > > But many newbies may not know that, and decide that the most
> > stealthy
> > > thing to do is just sign and replace and get outta there.
> > >
> > > -- Kirbert
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Geocachers do use paper in their logbooks. There's a paper logbook in the cache as well as an online logbook. The paper logbook is needed as proof that you visited the cache.

Lone R

Baker wrote: Actually I carved a specail geocaching stamp. I wish the geocachers
would use paper in their logbooks. I have seen a few other stamps in
some of caches I've found.

Baker
http://bakersoutdoors.blogspot.com/







---------------------------------
Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Yahoo! Answers.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, ThreeHearts429@... wrote:
>
> >>>Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we
found
> >>>our *first* letterbox?

We had store-bought stamps when we went for our first box. Individual
stamps, even one for the dog! We later carved a "family" stamp so we
only had to stamp in once, and recarved a new family stamp when our son
was born. We will be carving yet another family stamp in the next few
months to include our next son.

ampm & tm

Baker wrote:

> I wish the geocachers
> would use paper in their logbooks.

Gee, as opposed to what? Have you been running into a lot of those
Write In The Rain logbooks made of Tyvek?

-- Kirbert

Whoops, I met to say better paper, as most caches that I have found use
paper that is not great at holding the ink from a stamp.

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Kirbert" wrote:
>
> Baker wrote:
>
> > I wish the geocachers
> > would use paper in their logbooks.
>
> Gee, as opposed to what? Have you been running into a lot of those
> Write In The Rain logbooks made of Tyvek?
>
> -- Kirbert
>

Good paper is great. Good ink is better. Last week I had to pull 4
letterboxes because someone had used "gasp" embossing ink! I just
couldn't clean it up on the trail. Happily, all have been thoroughly
scrubbed and returned.

I had a blend of two store bought stamps for probably my first 10 finds, then realized how easy it is to carve my own. Less easy was mustering the creativity and imagination to design the sig. stamp. Happy with it for now, will carve same sig in a couple of other sizes for micro boxes and mini logbooks.

bella0514@aol.com wrote:
I have a signature stamp that is store bought of a frog holding a flower and this past week I carved a custom.? I carved the stamp that I had with a quote beside it.

Sparky Butterfly

-----Original Message-----
From: Pete Mandeville
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, 4 Jul 2007 12:27 am
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Non Stamping Letterboxers

I confess . . . I was sig-stampless on my first excursion. But I was
instantly inspired that afternoon to run to an art supply store to get a
carving block.

Here's a spin-off question . . .
How many have updated/enhanced or completely changed there sig-stamp from
their original carving?

Fishman

From: "Kirbert"
Reply-To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Non Stamping Letterboxers
Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:33:44 -0400

Baker wrote:

> I just hope that it is not a trend with
> newbies to get away from stamping.

Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we found
our *first* letterbox?

I'm thinking that there may just be a large contingent of newbies in
the area, and they're all trying out some finds before they decide
whether they're going to be interested enough to obtain a sig stamp.
Somebody may even have suggested it somewhere, like on that infamous
Chevy Suburban ad or something. Or maybe some primer described
letterboxing and happened to omit mentioning the need for a sig
stamp, and all these guys didn't have any idea a sig stamp was called
for until they found their first box!

-- Kirbert

__________________________________________________________
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Baker wrote:

> Whoops, I met to say better paper, as most caches that I have found use
> paper that is not great at holding the ink from a stamp.

Most geocachers -- including me -- just use a wirewound notepad for a
log book. They're cheap. I haven't had too much trouble stamping
them, though.

-- Kirbert

csb_bc wrote:

> Good paper is great. Good ink is better. Last week I had to pull 4
> letterboxes because someone had used "gasp" embossing ink! I just
> couldn't clean it up on the trail. Happily, all have been thoroughly
> scrubbed and returned.

Please enlighten me: I have no idea what embossing ink is. I see it
in the craft stores right next to the dye and pigment ink pads, but I
have no idea what it is -- and the employees are always good for a
blank stare. I see the embossing powder there, too, no idea what
that's good for.

-- Kirbert

In all honesty, I don't know what embossing ink is used for either.
Embossing I guess. Years ago I made the mistake of buying an ink pad
for embossing, and when I got home and tried it out I knew immediately
that something was wrong. It's thick, gooey, and takes forever to dry.
I find it astounding that after stamping into the first box, anyone
would continue. I think it was particularily bad because after the
letterbox was closed there was no chance of it drying. I even had the
stuff on my clothes when I got home. But, it was a letterbox adventure,
and I have blue stains on my T-shirt to remember it by. :)

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Kirbert" wrote:
>
> csb_bc wrote:
>
> > Good paper is great. Good ink is better. Last week I had to pull 4
> > letterboxes because someone had used "gasp" embossing ink! I just
> > couldn't clean it up on the trail. Happily, all have been
thoroughly
> > scrubbed and returned.
>
> Please enlighten me: I have no idea what embossing ink is. I see it
> in the craft stores right next to the dye and pigment ink pads, but I
> have no idea what it is -- and the employees are always good for a
> blank stare. I see the embossing powder there, too, no idea what
> that's good for.
>
> -- Kirbert
>

At 01:43 AM 7/5/2007, you wrote:
>Please enlighten me: I have no idea what embossing ink is. I see it
>in the craft stores right next to the dye and pigment ink pads, but I
>have no idea what it is -- and the employees are always good for a
>blank stare. I see the embossing powder there, too, no idea what
>that's good for.

Embossing ink is a thick heavy ink that stays wet for a while. You
stamp your image, then pour embossing powder over the ink, tap off
the excess powder and then use a heat gun to "set" the powder. It'll
melt and harden, leaving the image raised (embossed) on the
paper. Very cool and simple way to enhance your images on cards,
scrapbooks, etc. Very bad idea for on-the-go letterboxing.

In my experience, most pigment inks aren't great for letterboxing, as
they usually take a long time to dry/set. So, they stay wet on the
stamps and log books. I'm sure there are exceptions, but in general,
pigment inks should probably be avoided for boxing unless you're
familiar with how they dry.

Bali

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

"Color Box" makes a pigment stamp pad that works very well. It's
also acid free.

>
> Embossing ink is a thick heavy ink that stays wet for a while.
You
> stamp your image, then pour embossing powder over the ink, tap off
> the excess powder and then use a heat gun to "set" the powder.
It'll
> melt and harden, leaving the image raised (embossed) on the
> paper. Very cool and simple way to enhance your images on cards,
> scrapbooks, etc. Very bad idea for on-the-go letterboxing.
>
> In my experience, most pigment inks aren't great for letterboxing,
as
> they usually take a long time to dry/set. So, they stay wet on
the
> stamps and log books. I'm sure there are exceptions, but in
general,
> pigment inks should probably be avoided for boxing unless you're
> familiar with how they dry.
>
> Bali
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

csb_bc wrote:

> "Color Box" makes a pigment stamp pad that works very well. It's
> also acid free.

I can't say I've ever seen an ink pad that _wasn't_ acid free. The
cheapest ink pads on the market, the StampCraft things sold at Wal-
Mart, are prominently labelled "acid free" and "archival safe".

The one pigment ink pad I've purchased that didn't work well at all
just happened to be a Color Box. I wonder if there's a lot of
variation from one pad to another, or maybe from one color to
another.

-- Kirbert

baliddle wrote:

> Embossing ink is a thick heavy ink that stays wet for a while. You
> stamp your image, then pour embossing powder over the ink, tap off
> the excess powder and then use a heat gun to "set" the powder. It'll
> melt and harden, leaving the image raised (embossed) on the
> paper.

Ah! A heat gun! Does the heat melt the powder itself? And does the
heat also tend to dry the embossing ink, so that once done it's
pretty firmed up?

I haven't noticed the heat guns. Are they for sale on the same rack
somewhere? Or do you just use a hair dryer?

And do you generally apply such ink with a rubber stamp? Or is this
some other unrelated idea? If a rubber stamp is used, am I correct
in presuming it would need cleaning?

> Very cool and simple way to enhance your images on cards,
> scrapbooks, etc. Very bad idea for on-the-go letterboxing.

Offhand, I'm thinking it might be a very cool idea for a letterbox
log book cover.

> In my experience, most pigment inks aren't great for letterboxing, as
> they usually take a long time to dry/set. So, they stay wet on the
> stamps and log books. I'm sure there are exceptions, but in general,
> pigment inks should probably be avoided for boxing unless you're
> familiar with how they dry.

Y'know, the second pigment ink pad I purchased fits your description
perfectly, and as a result I don't use it. The first one I bought
works great, though, I've never had a problem with it, the ink is
always dry by the time I'm through writing the date and whatever
comments I'm adding.

IMHO, everyone should have one black pigment ink pad in black simply
because black is used so often and the black dye ink pads are such a
lousy version of black, just a medium gray really. My cheap pigment
ink pad makes things stamped in black look a lot better than that,
and Geometry Junkie's "graphite black" ink pad made mine look poor,
it is a true jet black when stamped.

I actually have one black dye ink pad that makes a really black
image, from JoAnn Fabrics CraftEssentials line. The problem is, if
you come back a week later, the image has grown a yellow border all
around it. This is a really cool effect, it's especially nifty for
Halloween images, but it's not good for generic black images.

-- Kirbert

>>>The one pigment ink pad I've purchased that didn't work well at all
>>>just happened to be a Color Box. I wonder if there's a lot of
>>>variation from one pad to another, or maybe from one color to
>>>another.
>>>-- Kirbert

Funny you should say that. I was thinking the same thing. The color box pads
that I have are the only ones I dislike. I find that their coverage of the
stamp media is uneven, and the image is not very good-looking. I've had great
success with All Night Media and Color Box pigment pads. Both of which dry
quickly enough to use on the trail - even in our Florida humidity - and produce
clear images.

Three Hearts



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, ThreeHearts429@... wrote:
>
The pad I use is color box. It dries quickly and little mess. Also
I bring scrapbooking markers for more colorful stamps or ones
without ink.
> >>>The one pigment ink pad I've purchased that didn't work well
at all
> >>>just happened to be a Color Box. I wonder if there's a lot of
> >>>variation from one pad to another, or maybe from one color to
> >>>another.
> >>>-- Kirbert
>
> Funny you should say that. I was thinking the same thing. The
color box pads
> that I have are the only ones I dislike. I find that their
coverage of the
> stamp media is uneven, and the image is not very good-looking.
I've had great
> success with All Night Media and Color Box pigment pads. Both of
which dry
> quickly enough to use on the trail - even in our Florida humidity -
and produce
> clear images.
>
> Three Hearts
>
>
>
> ************************************** See what's free at
http://www.aol.com.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we found
our *first* letterbox?

...raises hand sheepishly and says: "Well, erm I did. "

I even attempted lettering on this stamp, the first one I ever
carved. It had my real initials and the word "Denver" on it, even
though I had also picked my trail name that I still hand write in.
After about the first 20 boxes, the lettering wasn't holding up and
I didn't like how it looked, so I cut them off both ends leaving the
middle bit.

And nearly 2 years since I found my first box that's the very same
sig stamp I still use with no plans to change it. Having recently
visited some boxes I stamped in using that original version, I'd
forgotten all about it.

Now, of course it was over a year from when I first heard
about 'boxing until I finally went out and found my first one.
Getting rid of the ex who wouldn't step outside even if free food
were involved had something to do with. For the duration, I read as
much as I could get my hands on...

A PREpared preboxed
Maybe I'm just weird, or something...
Denver, CO

Nope! You're not weird (or at least no weirder than some of we LB'ers are thought to be). LBing was my reason for hiking rather than stumbling across a box while hiking. I'm the sort that prefers to get exercise as a by-product of something enjoyable. It alway amazes me how I can print off a few sheets of paper for several smaller hikes to make in a day, and spend 12 hours hunting boxes down, but used to find it impossible to find1/2 day to hike (The Adirondacks are a day trip around here). If that isn't the epitome of weird, I don't know how to top it!

And to answer the question at hand - yes, both 'ses' and I stopped at a craft store for commercial stamps (I used two together, so I suppose it was custom, but not hand-crafted) on our way to our first day's adventures! (both of us having shed ex's similar to yours)


HER wrote: Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we found
our *first* letterbox?

...raises hand sheepishly and says: "Well, erm I did. "

I even attempted lettering on this stamp, the first one I ever
carved. It had my real initials and the word "Denver" on it, even
though I had also picked my trail name that I still hand write in.
After about the first 20 boxes, the lettering wasn't holding up and
I didn't like how it looked, so I cut them off both ends leaving the
middle bit.

And nearly 2 years since I found my first box that's the very same
sig stamp I still use with no plans to change it. Having recently
visited some boxes I stamped in using that original version, I'd
forgotten all about it.

Now, of course it was over a year from when I first heard
about 'boxing until I finally went out and found my first one.
Getting rid of the ex who wouldn't step outside even if free food
were involved had something to do with. For the duration, I read as
much as I could get my hands on...

A PREpared preboxed
Maybe I'm just weird, or something...
Denver, CO






---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "HER" wrote:
>
> Quickie poll: How many of us had a sig stamp in hand when we found
> our *first* letterbox?
>
Here, here! I found out about boxing by coming across
the "Letterboxer's Companion" book at a library booksale. I read it
cover to cover, ran to Michael's to find some pink stuff, attempted to
carve a stick figure and some lettering, then went out and found my
first boxes by myself as the sun went down. Night boxing for a first
attempt! :) Still using the same sig stamp a couple years
later...every time I think of recarving it (my skills improved a bit
with time), someone tells me how simple and happy it looks! hehe Guess
I'll keep it for awhile longer...

SapphireBerry

Funny, the few boxes I've found exposed have also had only signatures
as opposed to stamps as the last mark in them. Wonder what the answer
is.

Some friends took me boxing, so I used one of their stamps at first.
Within a few weeks I'd carved my own sig stamp, and have been using it
since...!

I try to keep an extra/old stamp with me for when Lightning brings a friend,
or for that matter, when I bring a friend along. Otherwise, they always
thumbprint the book. The nice thing about having an extra stamp designated
for an extra person, is that over time other boxers will recognize that
stamp as being a sidekick to us. The problem is - I keep giving away my
extra!




On 7/27/07, megaviolent wrote:
>
> Funny, the few boxes I've found exposed have also had only signatures
> as opposed to stamps as the last mark in them. Wonder what the answer
> is.
>
> Some friends took me boxing, so I used one of their stamps at first.
> Within a few weeks I'd carved my own sig stamp, and have been using it
> since...!
>
>
>



--
Barefoot Lucy
"It's not about footwear, it's about philosophy"


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]