2011 Birthday Card Project

[numbat]

Hey people. Well, now my latest story is finally done & dusted and of course, it was Roof's half birthday yesterday, it's time to turn our thoughts towards this year's birthday card.

I said at the end of last years project that we would kick it off on April 29 - hopefully a full 6 months should be long enough for us to get organised and to get the card to London with a few weeks to spare so he can actually get it before his birthday for a change!!!

So i've been thinking about what we might do this year and i've come up with a couple of ideas.

One of the issues that i thought we had last year, was of people "chickening out" at the last minute and not sending a message for inclusion in the card. Now i'm not being critical or singling out anyone in particular because it happened quite a few times, but i'm really keen for everyone who wants to get involved to do so without feeling intimidated or nervous about writing a message to Rufus.

SOOOOOO, i thought we could do something completely different this year. For this year, we could do away with written messages altogether and try for a photographic element. My idea is for us to come up with a "Happy Birthday Rufus" sign which each of us could print out at home and then have our photos taken somewhere in the town/city we live in, holding the sign. The photos can then be sent to me electronically and i will print them out and include them in the card.

I can't decide though whether this will frighten everyone more than sending a written message, so i'd really like your feedback here!! I really like the idea of everyone having the same sign, and also for people to show where they live. I'm sure Rufus would love to see all of our beautiful faces (!!!!!), but if anyone really has a problem, they could always subtley obscure their face with the sign, lol. The whole point of the card when I started it a few years ago was to show Rufus his worldwide family of fans, and i think this would really contribute to that idea.

But tell me what you think - are you more or less likely to get involved with this idea. Or would you rather send a written message? Just because i've suggested it doesn't mean we have to do it this way. We can stick with written messages if you'd prefer.

If we do go down the photo route, I'll also need some of our talented graphic artists to come up with a really great eyecatching birthday sign that we can all printout.

That's the first part of the card, the messages.

The second part of the project is of course the theme/decoration. Last year you'll remember i did a rather long cap-it about Tom Builder and his struggle to get someone to make his sandwich, which i think turned out pretty well. BUT, this year i'd like to use the fabulous LolRoof format. I haven't had chance to get involved myself yet, but i have been reading the thread and it is FANTASTIC!!!! The idea i had was to make a gallery of LolRoofs - each one dedicated to one of his movies/TV shows, "summing it up in one picture" kind of thing. Now i'm not going to come up with all these myself, so my challenge is for you all to put forward submissions, and i'll include all the best ones in the card.

In case you're not sure what i mean, these are a couple of examples. Not saying that they are the ones i'll put in the final card, but they give you an idea. Trying to sum up the essence of the movie in one picture/caption:











You get the idea i'm sure!!! And i know we didn't come up with the first one but i think it's priceless. I'm sure we can track down the maker on tumblr and get their permission to use it.

We may be able to use some sandwich ones, but i think the most important thing is to sum up the essence of the show/character. I don't care how rude or cheeky they are as long as they're funny. I've always felt that Rufus would prefer to get a laugh out of his birthday card, rather than it being a "love fest". I'm sure he gets enough weirdo letters from girls expressing their undying love for him, without getting one from us, lol.

My only requirement is that the screen-cap is of good quality so that it can be printed out. I'd still like the final product to be in an actual card form, rather than electronic.

I do need to keep final control over the project, but it is from and for all of you, and i can't do it without your help/input. So, over to you - what do you all think?

(BTW In case you were wondering, i've put this thread under Contests/Polls even though it doesn't really fit, so that it doesn't keep getting lost in the "Other Rufus Stuff" There's quite a lot going on there these days!!!)

;D

[megagem]

Hi numbat! I don't think I've had a chance to speak with you since I joined up. I think your ideas are fantastic, but just one thing -- if it's decided that photos are to be the standard form of wishing him a happy birthday, could we also send him a personal message anyway? Or is that too much? I'm only suggesting it because myself and the rest of the newbies didn't get to send him anything last year, and since this is probably the only chance I myself will ever get to tell him anything at all, I was wondering if some of us (or all of us) could do both?

[numbat]

Hey there meg!! Yes, i do apologise to the newbies that i haven't said hi to, and all those people with birthdays that i haven't sent greetings to over the last few weeks/months. Things have been a bit hectic in my neck of the woods, and i'm one of those easily distracted people prone to wander off when something shiny catches my eye and then forget what i was supposed to be doing!! And Jacob Hood has been occupying my brainspace a bit too, as he so often does.

But i promise to try and pay attention from now on!!

I have a feeling that the card is going to get somewhat overloaded if we try and do photos and messages. Last year we did messages that were uniformly 10x15cm (4x6in) and even they were a little too big. Even at A4 size, i can only fit 3 at the most on a page.

We will do the card again next year, and if we do photos this year then we can do messages next year (or vice versa if that is what people prefer), so as long as you stick around, you will get the chance to send Rufus a message at some point. As with last year though, we do ask that the messages are of a general birthday nature, not people's life stories or a tale of their undying love for him!!

BUT... if the general consensus is that we want photos and messages, then another alternative is that we do both, but no LolRoofs ie, the card is decorated with the photos, with the messages inside.

So i suppose the three alternatives that we need to decide between are:

a) LolRoofs and photos

b) LolRoofs and messages

c) Photos and messages

Thanks for bringing that up meg - what do other people think?

[ophelia]

Hi Numbat. Love the idea of photos and LOLroofs. I agree with you that Rufus does probably receive a lot of correspondences about how wonderful and gorgeous he is. Which is true! But something different is always good. I am such he would love to see the faces of his rooftoppers and will absolutely love lolroofs. I can image he would enjoy them and laugh outrageously.

Love Ophelia

[anyother]

I like all options, even though I'm no fan of myself in a picture.

[rumantic]

I like the idea of the LOLRoofs and the photos....but I'm willing to go along with anything.

[nell]

Great the ideas are coming in for the birthday card project.

I will join in whatever is decided. I love the idea of pics of where we come from but I can't imagine the ribbing I'm going to have to take if I have to ask hubby to take my pic holding up a banner. I don't posess a camera of my own either except a crappy quality phone camera. However, I'm sure I'll work something out. One idea that just came to me (probably a rubbish one) what about a photo montage of pics of us all made into Rufus's face. Now I know this is way beyond my abilities but some of us have the software and might be able to do it and send it electonically to numbat put on the back of the card. That way we could do LOLRoofs on the card (not that I fully understand them all) the one I attempted turned into red cross too - argggghhhhh !!! (but there are some funny ones) and short messages on the inside of the card.

Another idea (you can tell me to shut up if you like !) I had already considered this before this was launched - what if we send in postcards from where we all live and write our personal messages on them. Will this make it too big numbat ? I personally think messages being hand written makes it feel more personilsed. I know some struggled (me included) to come up with a message last time but I've given it some thought and I have an idea already for this years. I mean if we do a postcard - all we have to put is "I know it's a S**t hole ! - but I live there OK ! - Oh yeah and Happy birthday !" ;D I don't think we should start putting pointy arrows to our houses on the cards though - way too creepy !

But like I say I'll take part whatever we all decide to do.

[dippyponge]

I like the photo montage idea nell. And love the lolroof idea buit I also love the Zen V Hood thing on cap its (Would it be possible to combine them maybe) Whatever idea you come up with will be great as always and I'm in as always.

[stama]

I like Numbat you're back here and with your birthday card project.

That idea with pictures of the place where we live seems perfect for me. But I'm not sure of LolRoof format. In truth, I'm not able to understand it, with my language skills, but it just my problem, though, if they win it, I will not join it. I'm sorry, I cant sign by something I do not understand.

One idea that just came to me (probably a rubbish one) what about a photo montage of pics of us all made into Rufus's face.

Nell, that´s great idea!!!
And Nell, the poscard is a good idea, but I don´t know how Numbat will bw able to assemble, you know, if it´s from both sides, one side of a city/town image and the other side a personal message.

I don´t want to be a big rebel here, it's just my personal opinion.

[lassie]

I really don't mind what we do, as long as we do send him something for his birthday. A selection of our underwear perhaps ?? - only joking folks ;D

I think Rufus will be receiving a 'Birthday Folder" full of messages and photos this year. I'm happy to chip in with the postage costs!

Lassie x

[germanlady]

Good to see you back. Glad you take care of the Birthday Card Project, Numbat.
The earlier the better.

Think the photo will scare away some, may be even me...
Making a big enough banner is a task on its own.
Going to a place you want your city to be represented is another one.
Not to mention finding someone taking a nice picture of you there.

Like the LolRoofs and the messages. Would we stick with a certain theme for
the LolRoofs ? Most of them are funny and hopefully his kind of humor.

Have to say that I would prefer Nell's idea of sending him a postcard of my city with
a personal message.

Whatever you decide on, I would like to be a part of the 2011th Birthday Card Project.

[numbat]

Hahahaha, you lot are not really helping me here!!!

In the end i hope you don't all mind if i make an executive decision.

Just a couple of comments on some of the things that have been raised:
* I do like the photo montage idea, but if you look at the "photo mosaic" thread, those photos are much too small for anyone to actually identify anything about them, which would kind of defeat the object of us having photos taken.
* Stama is right about the postcard idea - i won't be able to stick them in a card if you need to look at both sides.
* Also with Stama, the LolRoofs really are just a play on language. The humour in them is partially that the spelling and grammar is all wrong. If we do decide to go down that route, i will explain each of the photos to any non english speakers so that you feel comfortable with them. I hope this will help.
* Whether we have a birthday sign or not, i think you have to be in the photo of the place you live in. Otherwise it's just a random landscape. Some really interesting photos would be good - not forgetting Roof's own photography skills. We don't want to send him anything boring!!

Maybe i need to put a fourth alternative out there, would you all rather stick with a cap-it rather than the LolRoofs. There is no reason why we can't stick with the kind of thing we did last year (ie, cap-its plus messages) if that's what you would prefer.

On a different note, this thread has been up for a couple of days now, but the feedback has been a little thin. Could i also have an indication as to how many people are interested in being involved this year, as the project probably won't go ahead if the support isn't there.

Even if you don't want to comment on the proposed formats could you please let me know (either here or via PM direct to me if you'd prefer) how many of you are interested.

Cheers luvvies!!!!!

[judypatooty]

Hey Numbat!

I'm SO glad to see you back in the forum! I hope your life is settling down a bit after all the excitement you've had recently.

I'll go along with whatever you and/or everyone else decides to do. I do like the idea of including photos of the places we live, though, since it reflects the worldwide scope of the Rooftop.

[zenina]

Count me in for whatever you decide. I'm not particulary fond of seeing myself in a picture - don't want to scare Roof but I'm willing to make an exception ;D

[numbat]

OK, i'm just off to bed, but my latest thoughts based on your replies and some conversations i've had are these:

* If the general consensus is that people aren't keen of photos of themselves, then we can stick with messages. My idea was based on a really cool video i saw that was made by a worldwide group of Train (the band, not the vehicle!!) fans - who call themselves "Traniacs" rofl.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUNuJbWPuFU&feature=youtu.be

Obviously their's is a video, but i thought we could do a similar thing with but with still photos to decorate the card with. Maybe this idea is something we could work up to and we can just stick with messages this year if people are a bit shy. But i honestly think that Rufus would really like to see us all.

BUT, if we stick with messages, i don't want anyone not sending their message to me because they don't know what to write like last year, lol.

* To get over the issue of some of our members not understanding the LolRoofs, we could still do them, but use proper spelling and grammar. I really like the idea of a gallery of photos showcasing Roof's work in a really funny way, but maybe we should tidy up the actual language (if that's what people want).

So for example, the Illusionist picture that i posted above would read "I see what you did there..." and the Hamlet one would read "Can i have the crown now?"

I think they would still sum up the essence of the movies in a humorous way, but may be easier for the non english speakers among us to understand.

Just some thoughts......

Night!!!!!!!!!