Some piecepack material sources

[jdroscha@...]

Dave Boyle asked me the following, and I thought the answers might be 
of interest to others on this list:

> Where did you get the pieces that you used in constructing your piece packs?
> I'm assuming from Woodwrks, it looks like they have everything.

   Yes, I got all my wood parts from http://www.woodwrks.com (note the 
missing "o" if you are typing the URL by hand).  For my own piecepacks, 
I used the following:
tiles = 2" x 2" squares, 1/4" thick
coins = 3/4" diameter circles, 1/8" thick
dice = 1/2" x 1/2" x 1/2" blocks
pawns = pre-painted game pawns
   Chris Young prefers to use 5/8" blocks for his dice, which I 
recommend.  5/8" is the size of standard, 16mm dice.  The only reason I 
use 1/2" blocks is that I already had a large quantity left over in my 
stockroom.

> How about the stamps?

   The rubber stamps I used to mark my piecepacks were all purchased at 
various shops here in Michigan, but they might be available elsewhere.  
The stamps I used are:
tile numbers = "Friendship" alphabet (w/ numbers) on 1-1/2" x 1" 
blocks, by Hero Arts
coin and dice numbers = "Friendship" alphabet (w/ numbers) on 3/8" x 3/
8" post blocks, by Hero Arts
coin and dice suits = Classical Desk Set from the Pixie Stamp Set line 
on 3/8" x 3/8" post blocks, by Personal Stamp Exchange (item # PI106)
tile sun and moon = 1-1/2" Celestial set by Hero Arts (item # LL507)
tile arms = 1-1/2" Fleur de Lis by Rubber Stampede (item # A1946B)
tile crown = 1-1/2" Crown by All Night Media (item # 448C)
coin ace = spiral from Silhouette Sprinkles set on 3/8" x 3/8" post 
blocks by Hero Arts (item # LL438)
   There's also a spiral (used for the coin aces) in the Classical Desk 
Set, but I like the way the one from the Silhouette Sprinkles set looks 
better.
   So far, I have not yet found a suitable method of marking the 2x2 
grid on the backs of the tiles.  I will attempt to carve my own rubber 
stamp for this, but have not taken the time to do so.  If you find a 
good way to mark the tile backs, please share with the list.

   For those of you that live in Michigan, I got all these stamps at 
Debbie & Company in northeast Grand Rapids (Plainfield) and at Our 
Favorite Things in East Lansing.  Though I have not bought anything 
directly from them, I know that Hero Arts has a website:
http://www.heroarts.com

   Now, having passed along all this info, I would encourage everyone 
to experiment with their own piecepack designs, including materials and 
methods of marking.  Although the more piecepacks you make, the faster 
you will get at it, it seems to take me roughly an hour to make one.

   If anyone else has info on good ways to manufacture piecepacks, 
please feel free to share with the list.

--James