TB mission-card insertable keychains... mini-frames... hmmm...

[+Sparrowhawk]

As you can tell from my most recent posting here, I am on a TB mission card kick.

 

I like the idea of being able to tell at a glance as soon as I see a TB in a cache if wherever I am going next is compatible with a TB's goal. Then I can make an informed decision as to whether to take that TB or not.

 

Hence the whole idea of TB mission cards. I'll be refining the idea of a fillable pdf as posted in my earlier posting here. That PDF assumes that a person actually has access to plastic lamination services, SOMEwhere, plus has the time to get the mission card laminated before attaching to the bug. This is the current weakness of the whole PDF form idea.

 

This morning, I was at the store looking at keychains. Among the keychains were a few of those cute, decorated mini-frames for pictures that you insert into the frame for safekeeping. Heyyyyy... HMMMM!!!!

 

I wonder... there HAS to be small, generic keychains that are just clear, tough plastic. They would be small enough to fit into some larger micros if need be, but large enough for all the TB information that can be put into a mini-card.

 

What I can eventually see is just locating the darn things on the net so we can order 'em for outselves at first...

 

...then someday, eventually (something to think about, maybe) Groundspeak can offer the generic, insertable keychains along with the TB tags.

 

After you get your TB tag and keychain, you would have the choice of filling out a PDF kinda like what I have already figured out. Then you cut out your card from your printout, insert it into the keychain fame, and VOILA! Instant, indestructable mission card for your TB!

 

I dunno... maybe make it a clickable choice on the page where you register your TB in the first place... you can get a neat little printout instantly suitable for inserting in the keychain.

 

The Groundspeak admins have enough to deal with as far as bright ideas from another forum-chatter is concerned. I have some sympathy for their workload. I am sure that even with the slight profit potential of offering such mission card keychains, I would not bug them about it... if they like the idea, cool, I can design a PDF accordingly.

 

In the meanwhile... darn... where would one find such a keychain??? It would have to be more than one, maybe one for a micro, one business card size, etc.

 

Maybe look into the luggage tag world for this kinda product? There's nothing about this idea that we can't really do on our own...

 

Hmmmm... I will be at an airport this Thursday... Oh, wow, THAT would just be too convenient for research on this! Maybe I will find something really cool and applicable...

 

I like exploring fun new ideas that might be useful...

 

-Elana (a.k.a. "Sparrowhawk")

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

You might look here- http://www.keyringsupplier.com/krc-l4.htm

[+scorpiomike]

Try the Oriental Trading Company. They have the photo key chains for very cheap, and luggage tags for even cheaper.

 

Oriental Trading

[+Eswau]

quote:

---

I wonder... there HAS to be small, generic keychains that are just clear, tough plastic. They would be small enough to fit into some larger micros if need be, but large enough for all the TB information that can be put into a mini-card.

 

---

 

Try Walmart. I found a three pack in the Automotive Depaertment next to the key cutting machine. Seems like two of them were slightly color tinted, but they were clear and had no extra decorations.

 

E

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

I've been thinking about these insertable key rings for a while and would like to have some to put our cache card in as a sig item as well as the travel bug idea. The ones at Oriental Trading Co. look a little small, but the price is right!

 

The largest one at http://www.keyringsupplier.com/krc-l4.htm looks like a nice size but you have to buy great quantities to get a decent price.

 

Anyone know of any other suppliers? I would go on 100 if the price was around .50 each, so maybe we could get a group buy on these!?!

 

[This message was edited by Capt. Jack & 1st Mate on July 14, 2003 at 09:52 AM.]

[+Sparrowhawk]

HA! A google search on the phrases "photo keychains" and "photo keyrings" comes up with BUNCHES of suppliers!! This could work!

 

I will now look for ideas at my local camera shop. And then create a new PDF form-card in a size that will fit 'em!

 

-Elana (a.k.a. "Sparrowhawk")

[+woodsters]

I like the idea of the luggage travel ones. I think you might be able to find a good size that a business card size printout would fit in. I agree about the TB mission instructions. We picked up a bug without any information on it. We did the same thing with our first travel bug. It dawned on us yesterday that we didn't even know the TB would be ther, what it's name was, what it's mission was or anything. We decided to grab it and see if our trip at the end of this week would help it or not. Luckily it will, otherwise we would of taken it back or placed in another local cache.

 

Our 2nd bug we included the mission instructions with it.

 

Brian

 

As long as you're going to think anyway, think big. -Donald Trump

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

Here we go....these look good!

http://www.shopcasi.com/store/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=sc&Category_Code=KC&source=81G

[+Sparrowhawk]

In the thread that Jeremy started on plastic TB tags, someone else brought up the idea of using precisely these kinds of photo keychains for TB bugs - but with a genius twist.

 

They offered the same idea PLUS have Groundspeak imprint the basic "I am a Travel Bug!" message, basic logging instructions plus TB number into the plastic on one side of the plastic photo-style keychain. Then they leave the other side clear for your TB mission card insert.

 

This whole thing is getting better and better! Can't beat THAT idea - even with a stick!

 

-Elana (a.k.a. "Sparrowhawk")

[+PDOP's]

Somebody should give these the DEET test before ordering a bunch of them.

 

PDOP's GPS Pages

[SiClops]

What about help from our 4-legged friends?

There are some tags made for dogs that could work. Still looking for a good one, but might be a way to go.

[+Crusso]

I propose the business card size one. Stock #252. $86.40 for 144. That comes to .60 each.

 

They look a little thicker than the picture frame ones & are already setup for standard business card size. The Mini frames are only 2x3 so would be hard to get standard paper for.

 

Every stationary store out there has precut business card stationary for use in standard PC printers. All you'd have to do is type in the info & punch out the card. This standard size would be big enough to hold alot of instructional info, easy to find blanks for & could be imprinted by Groundspeak. It would also not be much bigger than a TB Tag.

 

I frequently take business card size stationary & print little "first finder" certificates for my caches. I then stick them on business card size, adhesive on one side, magnets to turn them into sturdy refrigerator magnets. Anyway, this size card can hold alot of info.

 

Hey, Grounsdpeak could actually make these the TB tag itself! Thus doing away with the metal tag & encorporating everything into a single piece! All it would take is imprinting a tag number onto the card holder.

 

2 x 3 1/2" Business Card Size Key Chain - Clear (144)

Code: 352

Price: $86.40

 

[This message was edited by Crusso on July 16, 2003 at 07:58 PM.]