OHMYGOSH!!! Old cemeteries are my LIFE! Well, not really, LOL, but close. I am all over this swap, girlfriend!

How about everyone give their name and birthdate (or any significant date) if they are inclined to do so, so that their partner can be on the lookout for tombstones that match any of them?

Wanda - August 18, 1952

Of course this may be 'extra' since the sentiments on various tombstones are usually the most interesting thing. Those and the 'pictures' - like doves, roses, lambs etc.

And an idea - if you use a charcoal pencil, maybe it needs to be sprayed with fixitive before mailing so it doesn't arrive smudged?

I am so glad to have found this swap!

Excellent ideas, Wanda! ;hearts

I think hairspray can be used as a fixative too if using charcoal. I bet colored chalk would work nicely too. Thanks for the great input and for joining the swap! Laura Mae September 24, 1964

WOW awesome idea I can't wait to try this. My name is Diana B-day is Feb/1/1978

I can't wait to do this. there is a really old cemetary right here in my town that I visit to read the old tombstones. I would love to receive one with a great design rather than my name or date of birth.

what is the best kind of paper to use for this?

If anyone is really into cemeteries and would like some pictures of something in particular I would be happy to send them to you if I find what your looking for, just let me know. I'm in Butler County, Ohio.

do you think Freezer paper would be ok ? It comes in a pretty big roll and is a nice size and the back is coated i'm thinking that way it wont rip.

susan, I read that rice paper, unprinted newspaper or even lightweight pellon works.

ya its ME again :) you asked for our name and date of some sort thats a little too creepy for me personally but I love the personal messages people have engraved and pictures if they turn out otherwise Anything would be neat to see.

There are a few 'celebrity' graves near here Ray Combs is one of them, a former host of Family Fued , the guy who invented the Richter scale to measure earthquakes. Lots of interesting history in graveyards.

I've always used freezer paper. It works great for me, and doesn't tear.

I think 'Mr. Richter's' tombstone would be an interesting one to see.

Freezer paper is a great idea! Thanks for all your ideas & enthusiasm.

Great idea! There is nothing like an old graveyard! I live near Plymouth and Duxbury MA, so there is lots of rubbing to do here! Lisa Aug 14 1956

Once I got started doing the rubbings (we did it last year for all hallows eve) I only stopped when I ran out of paper! It was really a neat thing to do. As a cancer survivor this exercise made me really think about our impermanence in this life. It made me think -What do I want to create now in my life that will leave a lasting impression for my kids to be able to use as a touchstone to me when I am gone(besides a gravestone). It's a good question to ask ourselves. I hope you have as thought provoking time as I did with this one.

This is a great idea for a swap. I don't want my name done though. I want my swap partner to have full artistic freedom. Thanks!

So COOL!!!!! I love old graveyards and have 4 within 2 miles of my house. There is an old graveyard nearby but sadly there are no words on the stones. I actually go to graveyards and make pictures. I have always been fascinated but when my brother was murdered I started spending alot of time there. Many people say they are spooky but I think they are really peaceful.

Shoot. My name is Crystal and my birthday is January 14, 1977.

I wonder what kind of graveyard it is that it doesn't have words on the stones? How odd! It must be really, really old! I agree with you-I think they are peaceful too. Sobering & peaceful!

Newbies Welcome!

I am signing up for now. I tried out rubbing today and I did have trouble with the size of my paper. Also, I could not get it too look super neat. I am going to try a few more practice rubs and if I don't think they look good I will drop. Insecure, I know...

They don't turn out super neat. The main thing is to rub the big words and keep the paper very still so there is only one rubbing image. Try another medium too. Did you use a crayon? I found that really did work best. Apply firm pressure on the crayon to get a nice, dark image. And I used construction paper. The freezer paper is probably a good one too. I haven't tried that yet! Don't give up! You can do it!

WOW! This could be fun....I love celtic crosses, 12th century if someone overseas gets me. Anything pre-16th century really....lol...the older the better. However, it does not matter what my partner chooses. It will be fun to hang out in the cemetary....lol.

i love this idea! i enjoy going to cemetaries just to read the headstones!

my name: Raven dob: dec 26th

btw...has anyone else read "spoon river anthology"? it can be hard to find since it came out eons ago but i found it on ebay. the book is a collection of epitaphs that describe the town and residents of the fictional spoon river. it's one of my very favorite books!

No, I haven't read that wicked faerie. I'm going to look for it now though!

Thanks for the invite to this swap. As a ghost-hunter I see a lot of cemetaries, although this would be new for me. I have never done a Gravestone Rubbing, actually never thought of it, since Im on the lookout for spirits while im there. I will take a look around and see if i can find something interesting, and of course practice first. LOL But sounds very fun.

Oooh, wickedfaerie - I read that in high school and loved it then, and now, still. A year or so ago I did a series of ATCs of those spirits telling their tales. That was the thing - in the book, each spirit was noting their tombstone and saying something about their life. Let's see... I painted Russian Sonja dancing ballet by her grave in the starry moonlight, Oscar Hummel, the harmless drunk who was killed by a belligerent man when he accidently stumbled into his yard in the middle of the night, Louise Smith who was a sour old maid (if I remember correctly), Cooney Potts(?), a farmer who worked himself to death, and George Gray, who never did take the time to pursue his desire to sail. I may be rusty on their stories... I need to buy a copy of the book...

I have wondered if I could do a sort of 'Skidmore Evergreen Cemetery Anthology' of sorts sometime. Mine wouldn't be as skilled or poetic as the original, by a long shot, but it would interest and entertain ME, anyway. LOL!

This I really want to try.

I actually work at a cemetery, so this is just so perfect. My co-workers will probably wonder what I'm up to, but then again, I'm always doing something that they think are weird =P

But I really don't know what paper to use... I hope the weather is clear tomorrow so that I can try it. Autumn in Norway is very, very wet!

The freezer paper might work best Theka. It has a waxy side and a papery side. Just be sure and put the waxy side down. I'm so glad there is so much interest in this! I can't wait to hear about what we all come up with!

What a Gothic Idea! maybe I´ll join it next round!:)

Hi! This sounds like a great idea! I don't have anyold cemetaries around here though. Wouldn't it be REALLY rude to go up to some random persons tone and do that though? I have a few family memebers in graves so I might get it from there. I wouldn't know what to say if someones family member came up tome and said WHAT ARE YOU DOING.

Ashley, it doesn't have to be old cemetaries, really. You can just say you are memorializing the tombstone. Good Luck everybody!

I also love the celtic crosses. If anyone can get me one of those or a pagan design on a tombstone that would be so awesome.

I extending the send by date so we have plenty of time. Rain is forecast until thursday here. I was hoping to get these by Halloween but if it's raining it will have to be when weather permits!

I have finished mine and will be sending it tomorrow. I like the way it turned out and I hope you do too, Mary!