Create Your Own Letterbox
Once you've tried letterboxing you might want to create your own. If you
do, the first thing you will need to do is decide where you want to hide
the box. If it's at a park or on someone else's property you will want to
get permission first. When you choose a place to hide it make sure it's
neither too hard to find or too easy. If it's too hard to find then no one
will be able to find it. If it's too easy then anyone can find it and it
might become missing or destroyed.
Then you will need to get some supplies. Items you will need:
 | A Box - the box should be something that is water tight, like
Tupperware. It will be outside and will get rained on.
The basic requirement is that it be
waterproof and hold the stamp and notebook comfortably.
While others have researched a cylindrical tube from a surplus
supplier, Rubbermade containers work just as well. My favorite
is a #3865 "Servin Saver - size 11", measuring 4"x7"x2" inside, nice
smooth white cover for a label.
They also make a similar size, #5534 (size A), blue cover, more
rounded sides. This size will allow the notebook (and some
postcards) to lay flat inside.
These are available in most houseware departments. I like
the white one when I can find it. Either way, squeeze it to make
sure the seal is good. Cost $1.50 - $2.00.
Make a label for the cover, again, with the Letterbox name, and
where to contact you if it has been disrupted. And, a PLEA for the
finder to respect its contents. Keep in mind, unlike Dartmoor, the
odds are high that a chance finder won't know a thing about
letterboxing. Mine say:
"XYZ LETTERBOX. PLEASE DO NOT DESTROY. Enjoy the contents, and
replace where found, hidden from view. To Learn More About
Letterboxing on Horseback, please visit www.. If Contents are
Damaged Or Missing, Please call or send me an email"
I stick this onto the cover, and cover tightly with clear tape that
I hope will remain water-resistant for a while.
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| Unique Stamp - you will want to get something that is unique
because you want it to be recognized on site by other letterbox hunters.
You can have one made if you want.
The stamp can depict whatever you deem to be appropriate for the
Letterbox. Usually, it will relate in some manner to the location in
which it is placed; other stamps may commemorate a person or an event.
The choice is yours.
Stamps can be commercially made or hand made. Commercially-made
stamps can be replaced if they are lost (if you kept your artwork), and
can support MUCH finer detail, especially text. Hand-made stamps have a
different quality to the image they make. Which to use is a personal and
artistic choice.
Commercial stamps are of vulcanized red-rubber made from your
artwork. Expect to pay in the range of $10 for a 2" x 3" stamp.
Hand-made stamps are usually carved, either from carving medium, or
from erasers (white vinyl usually, some use red rubber erasers). Red
rubber is reported to withstand extreme heat (Texas-style) better than
vinyl. I don't know yet the effects of winter's cold.
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| Stamp Pad - just something simple so the people that find
your site can use the stamps, just in case they don't carry their own.
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| Notebook - the people that find your site will use their
stamps to stamp in your notebook to let you know that they were there.
The Notebook is the "log-book" that you leave in the Letterbox for
visitors to stamp into. Get a good quality artist sketch book,
acid-free (not news-print like) if you want them to last a lifetime.
Size is important - you don't want it too big for the container, also,
having lots of pages leaves lots of space for many visitors.
Strathmore makes some that are 3.5" x 5", which I think is a good
size. #350-3 has 100 sheets, is nice and white, and good quality. Cost
under $2. Put on a label with the Letterbox name, the date installed,
and perhaps, your name and tel # (optional). I also add the Letterbox
stamp on the first page, just for good measure.
Assuming that you will also look for others' boxes, get yourself a
similar notebook. I think a slightly larger size is better here, but
its up to you. Folding flat for stamping is a nice feature to look
for.
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| Plastic Bags - put your items in plastic bags that zip shut
so nothing gets wet just in case your box leaks. |
Other things you can put in the box are prizes. Nothing expensive, just
something simple. Sometimes letterbox placers like to put something
special for the first 3 finers. Go to the dollar section at your local store and by
those little packs of cheap toys, pencils, pens, notebooks or whatever
else you want to include. Another fun thing you can do is provide stamped,
self-addressed post card for the people to send to you. They can take one,
tell you how they found your box and send it to you.
After you have your box together and have it placed in it's spot you
will need to tell people where it's located so they can find it. One way
you can inform lots of people is on the Web sites, and submit your
directions online. Another thing you can do is to inform a local tack shop
or saddle club of the directions to your box. Also, you can tell your
friends.
When you're writing your directions you will need to decide how you
want to write them. You can make them easy so they take people right to it
or you can write up a riddle that they have to figure out first. If you
want to make it technical you can just give the coordinates of the box.
Then only people with Global Positioning systems will be able to find it.
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