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estrelle

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Everything posted by estrelle

  1. Just wanted to again say "thank you" to all of you who have been so helpful to me in figuring out this coded writing thing. I'm a newbie and I appreciate how warm and nice I've found the geocaching community to be so far. I'm trying to spread the love by creating a fun cache for others to enjoy. Thank you!!
  2. Or maybe not. I realize this is the Internet and all that, but fictitious or not, that's a little too much information And there's that little thing about forum guidelines... My lifestyle is unusual (thought not as much as you might think), but definitely not fictitious. Look me up on [edit] if you don't believe me. I'm a member of all those groups. I felt it was important to set narcissa's mind at ease and to clarify for the sake of others who may have the same impression or get that impression after reading narcissa's words. I do not want people to incorrectly believe I'm in an abusive relationship at all. Note that I did not choose to bring up the subject, I felt that I had to explain so people didn't get the wrong idea. I'm not shoving anything in anyone's face, I'm just being myself. I did not say anything explicit and I should hope that I would be afforded the same right to express myself as a member of any other sexual minority. You don't have to understand but I do hope you can be respectful. FWIW our relationship functions very similarly to the "traditional" model. Maybe that makes you feel more at ease.
  3. lol! Thanks for not being all judge-y
  4. I'm aware that it takes money and care to place a cache, I'm simply trying to minimize the money aspect. We already have many of the materials you mentioned. As I stated in my first post, I have placed a simple multi, with good results. I've been maintaining it just fine, no problems and many happy finds reported. As far as my boyfriend's control over my spending..it seems like I should divulge a little more info about that. "Boyfriend" may not be the right the word. He is my Dom and I am his collared submissive. We are in a 24/7 Dominance/submission (BDSM/kink) relationship. His control over me is consensual and carefully negotiated. You may also be comforted to know I'm slightly older than you might assume, given that I've mentioned being a college student. I'll be 26 in May. I don't believe I need to learn a relationship lesson, at least not in the way you suggest. I am a big girl, and this is my choice, but I appreciate your concern, I suppose.
  5. The problem with UV lights is that if they get wet at all your screwed. You need to make sure you have a REALLY good seal on your container, then you have to make sure everyone seals it correctly. Not to mention constant needs maintenance because of the batteries running out, or the uv light getting wet. If you were to use the strips with the writing indent on it and you didn't want people to cheat the best thing to do is allow them to bring a pencil. Don't tell them not to or they'll know what to try. What you should do is word you cache description like this. "Get your paper strips from the first Cache, in the second you'll have the method to reveal it." All you would put in the second would be a pencil and nothing else. If you had other objects it would distract them from the method that needs to be used. If you use the above wording they probably won't try to cheat because they will assume the second box is the only way to reveal it. Nobody would think, "It tells me to go to the second cache, why don't I try doing everything I can to figure out this piece of paper before I go there." I wonder if people would see the indentation, figure it out, and not bother to go to the second spot. I think this method is pretty well-known... but I do like the idea a lot. I think it's my favorite right now. Boyfriend is balking at spending even $6 + shipping for a UV set, apart from the issues you mentioned. Would you say the second spot should have some kind of instruction with the pencil? If they didn't already know what to do, I wouldn't think they'd figure it out after being given a pencil and no directions.
  6. Two more great ideas! I will have to ruminate on them. I'd thought a UV ink set would be more expensive.
  7. If there were a code that had be rendered by being held up to light, it could be a night cache with seekers told to bring a flashlight...darkness adds to the mystery and fun
  8. At present, the most viable option seems to be using strips of paper with writing pressed into them, revealed with a pencil rubbed over the imprint. In order to make the game equally fun for all parties, they would have to be told not to bring a pencil, and then get a pencil from a secondary location (in hopes everyone plays by the rules), or to bring a pencil or be given a pencil at the site with the strips, eliminating the need for a second location at which to get an item to render the code. So that second choice would go like this: they would go to the coordinates with code and pencil, render the code, then either add a coded number to dummy coordinates or the code is the coordinates of the final location. Would it be better to let people know ahead of time that the hide is multi-stage, or let them figure it out with a short note at the initial coordinates telling them how to reveal the code? I worry that just giving papers and a pencil would leave people clueless and they would sign the strips. lol Some explanation is required, I think.
  9. That's in interesting thought. It still involves delicate pieces of paper that will have to be replenished, but there's no fire or anything that will spoil..people could cheat by holding up the paper at an angle, or just using their own pencil without going to a second spot, but maybe that would be okay...maybe they could even be told simply to bring their own pencil (and that it must be a pencil), thinking that the location with the strips is the final, but lo and behold if they want to find the true final it's embedded on the strips...? In that event, when reading the description, they might not know how special the find is, though. One problem with the cache that I have hidden already is that although it's a really easy multi, it doesn't get a lot of traffic. I was hoping to attract lots of visitors. I love creating a fun experience for others I don't know if getting more visitors means making things easier or more difficult. lol Couldn't they cheat with the fire strips if they brought a heat source? The only way to stop cheating is by making the answer unnoticeable. With geocachers i don't think that is really possible... Theoretically, if we're going with the method of providing a code and providing something to reveal the code, they would just take strips from the first location without being told what will be used to make the ink visible. It would only be at the second location they would get the lighter or grape juice with explanation of how the code is rendered.
  10. Someone mentioned asking people to bring lighters, and I think that got ruled out as being really no different from providing the lighter. I could ask people to bring grape juice, or I could just say "heat source", but it seems like not every heat source will do. I worry about people not doing the cache if it involves bringing something like grape juice, which they might have to run to the store to get. Would people be attracted by the added layer, and wondering what the juice is for, or would they be deterred by the prospect of an errand? In other words, do complications attract or repel cachers? I like your thinking! Thanks again for all of your input, everyone!
  11. Regarding concerns about fire danger: this cache would be placed in an area with minimal risk of setting a forest ablaze. However, I think the suggestions involving fire have been put to bed anyway. Also out: grape juice. Would it be out of the question to use wine instead to reveal a baking soda code? Again, any container holding foodstuff would be well-sealed, perhaps in a container inside another container, and all by itself. Spoilage is a bigger concern. General note: I am willing to maintain the cache frequently. I bicycle past the place almost daily. I am willing to create more strips and replenish them as needed. I would prefer to use a method that is cheap, natural, and vegan. Easier is better, but I can compromise on that. Some more info about the colored-grid concept would be appreciated I'm not sure I fully understand it right now. Would special equipment be needed?
  12. That's good to know, thank you. I'd been considering researching the science experiment from 5th grade that involved creating electricity with a potato (I think..) and tell cachers to bring a potato...or supply potatoes...lol I'm hazy on the particulars of that one. I know invisible ink is the obvious solution, but I really don't want to spend much money, and I'd like to use an all-natural and vegan method if possible. I don't know what the invisible ink is made of, but in any event it isn't as cheap as I would really like.
  13. That's in interesting thought. It still involves delicate pieces of paper that will have to be replenished, but there's no fire or anything that will spoil..people could cheat by holding up the paper at an angle, or just using their own pencil without going to a second spot, but maybe that would be okay...maybe they could even be told simply to bring their own pencil (and that it must be a pencil), thinking that the location with the strips is the final, but lo and behold if they want to find the true final it's embedded on the strips...? In that event, when reading the description, they might not know how special the find is, though. One problem with the cache that I have hidden already is that although it's a really easy multi, it doesn't get a lot of traffic. I was hoping to attract lots of visitors. I love creating a fun experience for others I don't know if getting more visitors means making things easier or more difficult. lol
  14. Toy stores sell "spy pens" that have stable chemicals built-in. One pen writes "invisibly", the other reveals the writing. A flame from a lighter darkens the writing, too. But see if you can eliminate the need for fire. You could instead print clues obscured by a grid of color (often red is used for this), where holding the print under a colored cellophane filter reveals the clue. I've been trying out ultraviolet inks. There are even ultraviolet ink stamp pads available. You use a UV LED penlight (or a "black light") to reveal the message. It's possible to have the penlight available in the cache stage, and I'd expect it to be less maintenance than grape juice. I wouldn't make it so there are liquids to fiddle with at all, particularly with the chance of them freezing in the winter. Maybe that won't be an issue in your situation. You're right about freezing danger. I hadn't thought about that! Thank you! This might be the perfect time to put out a seasonal cache and remove it come cold weather. I am looking to spend minimal money, and to use an all-natural, vegan option if possible.
  15. I'll research more about the varathane, but it seems like I could achieve that effect by other methods. I'm looking to make a bit more of a challenge.. Stumptown in the house!
  16. Hmm...spoozlebopp reads red eagle loud and clear..
  17. you may end up with a container full of wine after a while or maybe vinegar That would be awesome, but how could you keep people from drinking the wine? Then they'd never find the cache and I'd never have the satisfaction of knowing someone enjoyed finding my hide. lol
  18. I assume that would be no more likely to be approved than if the lighter were provided. I don't think the issue is that I give them a lighter, but rather that they'd be encouraged to use one. I guess I could just say "heat source" and leave them to their own devices, but I'd also hoped to make the seekers obtain both the secret messages and the device to solve them. Right now I'm considering a baking soda water solution revealed with grape juice, but I'll have to make the grape juice airtight. Very interesting concept, and I also congratulate you for thinking outside of the cliche. The lighter issue has already been covered, so I will focus my reply on another consideration. I haven't checked on what part of the country/world you are in, but where I'm from, a cache can easily get 50 - 200 hits in a year. Are you ready to prepare as many invisible ink strips as you need to? Will you be OK with running out there to replace them when they go missing? Also realize that you will need to make absolutely sure that your paper strips don't get wet or even damp enough to cause the "ink" to run. I think your idea has a lot of merit, but that it also has a lot of possible complications that you need to think through first. I am trying to think through everything. I'm in Portland, Oregon, which can get wet so I would be sure to make the strips water-tight. I am indeed prepared to make many strips, replenishing as necessary. I have in mind a potential location very close to home. Your comments do make me realize that seekers would have to be warned not to get strips wet when they're removed from their container. Thanks!
  19. I found a method of invisible writing which involves ink of a baking soda-water solution, which is revealed when brushed with grape juice (I would provide q-tips and a plastic baggy). If the grape juice were well sealed, perhaps in a container inside another container, would it attract critters? Would it go bad? You guys are so helpful!
  20. Was there invisible ink of some sort used in this series? No, but the clues for the finals were not in order either. You had to do all the caches to get all the clues, then put the clues in order to get the finals. You have to remember that chemicals will degrade over time, this means more maintenance for you. The Twiddlesticks series is out in the country, probably 15 miles from town, down a typical dirt/rock country road. We got to the first cache about 11ish and left the finals about 3ish, so that's 4 hours to drive and walk and find all the steps. If I recall correctly, each cache had about 12 sticks in it, all with the same clue. So after say 10 finds the final is visited, the clue sticks retrieved, and redistributed among the caches. Interesting! I like that as an alternative way to make things complicated and adventurous
  21. I assume that would be no more likely to be approved than if the lighter were provided. I don't think the issue is that I give them a lighter, but rather that they'd be encouraged to use one. I guess I could just say "heat source" and leave them to their own devices, but I'd also hoped to make the seekers obtain both the secret messages and the device to solve them. Right now I'm considering a baking soda water solution revealed with grape juice, but I'll have to make the grape juice airtight.
  22. Was there invisible ink of some sort used in this series?
  23. Thanks for the replies. I'm really trying not to have to spend more than $10 at the most. My college student budget (and very frugal boyfriend) forbids anything more than that. How would the water-ferrous sulfate be rendered? I've been turning this over in my head for awhile, and I tend to conclude that the cache should be at some location with a built-in heat source, such as lights at a low height..? It's very difficult to find available hide locations in my area, much less ones with lights that would suit these needs. The all-natural invisible ink methods I've found all seem to require either heat or some organic substance to be rendered, which may go bad and/or attract wildlife. Know of anything else?
  24. Hi all, I'm relatively new to caching. I've found 25 and hidden one. I have a really cool idea for a hide, but I want to know first whether it would be alright. I don't want to put the effort into making this if it will not be allowed. Here's the idea: Seekers are given coordinates for a location, at which there is a container with strips of paper that have numbers written with lemon juice. The seekers take a strip for North and a strip for West. They then move to a second location (which they are given coordinates for), and at this second location is a lighter or other heat source (such as?) and a container of water, which they will have open and ready just in case the paper catches fire. The seekers hold the flame under each strip of paper, turning the lemon juice brown to reveal the two sets of numbers they must add to given dummy coordinates for the final location. At the second location (with the lighter), there is also a rolled-up scroll with the numbers written in plain ink, in the event the seekers cannot reveal the lemon juice invisible ink. What do you think? Will I get approval for a hide that involves using a lighter? Any suggestions for something else I could use as a heat source, or a better way of doing invisible ink (apart from buying an invisible ink set--I'd rather not buy something like that if I don't have to). Apparently vinegar writing will be revealed with cabbage water, but I worry the cabbage water would go rancid. Thank you! ~jessica
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