I'd like to introduce myself...

[Quossum]

Hello!

Now that I've been steadily lurking for a while, I'd like to take a moment to introduce myself.

In mid-September one of my students gave me a few dollars for a Scholastic book order, and one of them had a peculiar marking thereupon: a message from some sort of "Wascally Wabbit" and a website inquiring about the location of a fellow named "George." Curious, I went to that website, registered the bill, registered myself, started reading with avid curiosity, and, well...you guys probably know the rest of the story.

I've got to give props to my WG Parent, Terry. I sent him a message and he responded, gave me great advice and tips and is already bringing me into the Midwest fold. Thank you, Terry!!!!

So, finally...

Friday, I ordered my stamps.

This weekend, I gathered up all the cash in the house in preparation.

Today after work, I stopped by the credit union and picked up my very first strap of Georges (asked for uncirculated, and though they didn't have brand new ones, they seem to have given me a bundle of really nice-looking bills). Also cleaned out their Toms.

Got home, and woo-hoo! The stamps are here! (Stamp Connection *rules*!)

So now, I've entered and marked my very first batch of bills. Started small, only nine bills; wanted to see what you guys think of my stamping method:

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g229/Quossum/MyAbe.jpg

Too much?

On the back I put two one-liners: "Currency Tracking Project" (that line on the wild I found was one of the things that particularly moved me to enter the bill) and the "Track this bill at..." one. I want to hit the balance between "curiosity-raising noticable" and "garishly obnoxious." I thought the dog face and the "Hi from Houston" just might arouse enough of a friendly feeling to inspire a hit. (Feel free to check out my profile for the Corgi who presently inspires me!)

I'm happy to be here! I'm ready to go stimulate the economy tomorrow!

--Quossum aka The Quizzical Corgi

[Tumblin Tumbleweed]

Welcome to WG! Be sure to check out the Midwest Forum. Lots of friendly people there.

[MickK]

Wow. You really hit the ball running! I started out by writing on the back with black pen. Needless to say, not many hits on those..... So I've been improving on my marking style and the hits have become more regular. :)
Welcome to WG? and welcome to the forums, one of the most useful tools on the site!!!;)

[Okiegal]

It's hard to decide which I like best - your quilt or your "quizzical Corgi" stamp. Welcome to the wonderful world of George.

[TËD]

Welcome to the obsession.

Hope you have as much fun with George as I have.

[ejs54]

Nice stamp set-up! Keep stamping those bills and then prepare for some hits!

--Eric

[Magicman]

Welcome to WG and the fourms from one of the Western bunch. It takes awhile for the hits to start showing up so don't give up. It will be a lot of fun.

[Fried Hog]

Welcome to WG, Quossum! :)

[ALAN The MAD Georger]

I like the stamping style you have, and no it is not to much.
Welcome to the Wonderful World of George, where no bill deserves to be naked, and welcome to the forums.

Now go ems until your fingers ache.

Oh yeah, good luck.

[sleeper54]

--snip--

So now, I've entered and marked my very first batch of bills. Started small, only nine bills; wanted to see what you guys think of my stamping method:

Too much?

--snip--

--Quossum aka The Quizzical Corgi
.
Let me add another Midwest Forum 'hey there' and welcome...

Too much..?? I might only do one of the red stamps on the front, especially if you have both (or similar) on the reverse . . .but what do I know, I am just another opinionated newbie...


Like the blue corgi though. I might have to try a lighter, more subdued color on my next ink pad...


Again, welcome to the forums and to WG..!!


...tom...

[niffir]

Welcome! It sounds like you are jumping in with both feet :) Just a heads up on the blue stamp (which I really like)-- some bill scanners (like many of the U-Scan machines at stores) will reject bills with blue ink on them. I decided to stop using my signature stamp regularly because of this issue. The stamp is a small blue one. The machines at some stores would reject any of them that I had stamped with it. I figured I didn't want to get anyone else stuck needing to get that bill to go into a machine only to have it rejected by the scanner because of the blue ink. I do still stamp a few of my bills with the signature stamp, though. I love it too much to quit using it entirely and the stamp has to be blue to be historically accurate :)

[Candy]

Welcome to WG. Hope you have lots of fun here.

[Jumere]

Welcome!

I like your stamping style, and I LOVE the Corgi.

I have experimented with a lot of different marking styles, but the "Currency Tracking Project" stamp is included on almost every bill I enter.

Good luck, and may the hits come rolling in!

[ErichJ]

In mid-September one of my students gave me a few dollars for a Scholastic book order, and one of them had a peculiar marking thereupon:

That's great! I think I'll use cash the next time my son sends in a book order. Maybe I will find a new Georger, or worst case scenario not have my check out there uncashed for four months. I just had one clear from May last week. :eek:

Anyways, welcome to Georging and the forum. I love the marking style.

[Prince Roy]

I concur with the others--you've got a very appropriate stamping style. Just keep EMS'ing and the rest will follow...

[Carless]

Your stamping is very good. Your quilt is awesome!
Your font is a bit small, though.
Welcome to WG and the forums!

[Queue]

Hi! Welcome from the Middle Atlantic!

Your Corgi stamp turned out really nice. You are now a member of the "dog signature stamp club" (I just made that up.) But I know of at least two others (including myself) who use a dog as their signature stamp. Check my profile to see my sig stamp. The other one is a doxy, I forget the user's name, but I think it is posted in either the "stamping style" thread or the "signature stamp" thread.

I think your stamping style is good. Mine is a little more conservative, and perhaps that's why my hit rate is a little low, but I'm still very much a newb, so I'm not changing anything just yet. If/when I do, I think "Currency Tracking Project" either in the form of the band stamp or a single stamp is very high on the list.

Anyhow, welcome to the madness and fun that is Where's George?

[Queue]

Your font is a bit small, though.


I read this and went back and looked at the bill and was scratching my head, wondering what you meant. I thought the bill looked fine.

duh...
Her font in her post!!!! :bang:

It is still a little early in the morning for me.

[Brandon21]

Welcome to Where's George. I too found my first bill back when I was a teacher. I received it as change in the cafeteria and entered it during my planning period. I've kept with it for almost three years now and finally have some decent stats. It can be frustrating at first but just keep EMSing and it will pay off eventually.:)

[Wade]

Welcome aboard this crazy train, I hope you enjoy this for years to come. Larger font please.

[Chaplain Peter]

Welcome to Where's George?! This truly is a fun hobby, not the least because it allows for a lot of flexibility in how we stamp, what bills we decide to enter, where we want to spend them, etc., etc. (as long as we play within the rules of course). Personally, as others have said, I think that your stamping setup is just fine. I especially like the Corgi stamp. I also like the blue color. I know many others have had trouble getting blue through an automated machine, but I have never had an issue (though I avoid them whenever possible--much better to go through a checkout line where the cashier can hand back your bills to all the people behind you).

May the hits start rolling in for you! :)

[Yeti]

Welcome. Very nice stamping style; it's just right don't add anything else. Really like to corgi stamp

[Laurie]

Welcome!
I like you stamping style. your custom stamp is really cool. I recommend changing the color from blue though. I have found that blue and purple do not scan well. Many bill scanners will reject the blue/purple ink, but take other colors. I used to use blue or purple ink exclusively but found that I could not use self checkouts, or other vending machines. Some people get annoyed with marked bills enough, I didn't want to create problems for them with my marked bills. I switched to red ink and have not had a problem since. Orange ink is nice too

Enjoy your experience here. And make sure you post your first hit!!

[usSiR]

Welcome!

WOW! you have started out great, you already have a strap, some toms, and stamps...

Enjoy your new hobby

[Jay-in-CA]

Welcome to WheresGeorge!! :)

Hope you have lots of fun and an overwhelming flow of hits! :D

I think you've got just the right level of stamping!!

I'm usually not keen on stamping what your location is on the bills because it eliminates that one mystery ("I wonder where this bill is from?") that might pique some people's curiosity. But "Quizzical Corgi" is such a great phrase, it's sort of won me over this time. Best of luck with it! :cool:

btw...beautiful quilt work!

[10_Pin_Mama]

Hope you can make it to a Texas Gathering soon. I would love to meet you. Welcome to the addiction.

[Quossum]

Thank you all for the kind words of welcome!

The use of blue ink and its potential problems is duly noted. Does green ink have the same potential hazard? I'd like for the "personal" stuff I put on the bill to be more or less inconspicuous.

Released my first marked bills into the wild today, courtesy the pizza delivery guy. Wish me luck and can't wait to spend some time here!

--Quossum

[JoeMac]

Hello and welcome to WG!! I have been doing this for a few months now and I think you will love it like I. I like the stamps, I mark mine in three or four different places. Check out the arcade if you get a chance!

[Thomas253]

Welcome to WG and the Forums!:D

[scrunchk]

Welcome :)

[Jan]

HEY!! Welcome to this crazy place :D

[Mark in the Finger Lakes]

Thank you all for the kind words of welcome!

The use of blue ink and its potential problems is duly noted. Does green ink have the same potential hazard? I'd like for the "personal" stuff I put on the bill to be more or less inconspicuous.

Released my first marked bills into the wild today, courtesy the pizza delivery guy. Wish me luck and can't wait to spend some time here!

--Quossum

Welcome to the addiction, Quossum! While I have had some problems with blue (and purple) getting rejected from some self-checkout and vending machines, others take them without a problem, and I sometimes like spending them with "live" people when I don't want to have the bills draw too much attention, like red might. So, you may end up doing what I and others do, and use a variety of colors. To each his/her own. :p

Have fun!

[Yeti]

Thank you all for the kind words of welcome!

The use of blue ink and its potential problems is duly noted. Does green ink have the same potential hazard? I'd like for the "personal" stuff I put on the bill to be more or less inconspicuous.

Released my first marked bills into the wild today, courtesy the pizza delivery guy. Wish me luck and can't wait to spend some time here!

--Quossum
I've used green and haven't had any problems that I can think of. I also use black and have no problem with sco with that color

[Magicman]

I think you will have your best results with red ink, something like a L'Amore Red by Palette. Make sure it is an archivel type ink.

[jardbud]

Welcome. Houston must be a good place to release bills. I have almost twice as many hits in Harris County as I do in my own rural Louisiana Parish. So, keep a lookout for some of my bills. My mother is also a Georger and lives in Houston.

[Gerry in Bridesburg]

Welcome to WG and the Forums,
And I Like your stamping style, and I LOVE the Corgi.