Two years ago I created a family version of a popular board game that I called Travelopoly.
This year’s inspiration came from a popular card game, which became GNOME-O …
As ever, I tweaked the rules to suit my sense of fair play …
commissioned Don to create a series of gnome paintings …
and surveyed the year’s pictures …
to use in place of the numbered cards …
The cards themselves were created using the services of makeplayingcards.com, which did a very serviceable job (although their shipping charges were ridiculous).
Sadly, the game playing that I had anticipated during our family get together the week after Christmas never materialized. Although we managed to make it to St Louis (thanks to my son-in-law who booked the last seats on an American Eagle flight), our luggage remained in Austin due to the not-to-great Southwest Airlines meltdown.
We are now back home and fortunately reunited with our luggage. Here’s hoping Southwest reimburses us for the postage required to mail everyone’s presents.
Ho Ho Ho …
I'm Going to Texas (version 2.0) 
First up so sorry for the airline meltdowns and the luggage hither and yon and tardiness and mailing of post – that’s all a bit stressful. Hope things settle…But oh my the cards!!! What an astonishingly deeply thought about gift for playing – with so many memories and so much heart and so much fun revealed in it all. Next time!!!
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For sure will pack a deck of Gnome-O cards in our carryon when next we get the family together! As for the rest, I’m happy to say it was more annoying than stressful … our daughter and son-in-law took great care of us and I didn’t really miss most of what we had packed (with the exception of the gifts)
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LA – OMG – what a brilliant bit of work on the card game – so sad that the luggage misdirection resulted in non-play. F and I now only do hand luggage – of course means not much room for games etc. But glad you are safe; and best of luck with posting of presents. Go gently. B
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Thanks B … we had a lot of fun putting the game together … and I can’t help thinking how my dad was a marketing manager for a toy company back in the day … I remember visiting his office and meeting the toy development team
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This is utterly amazing Liz!! You’ve been very busy! Wonderful 🙂
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Thanks Nancy … making gifts took up a lot of December, hence my absence here … it’s so nice to be back
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OMG, super clever Liz, you and Don could market this idea. What a shame you weren’t able to play it with the kids. And had no idea you got mixed up in that Southwest fiasco. Looked like a nightmare. Glad you are safe and sound and got your luggage back. xoxox
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Fortunately we’ll have all the kids together again in the summer … and as one of my family members posted “Christmas is over … I’m ready for summer” (spoken like a true public school teacher)
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what a great idea, these cards ! Must’ve been a nightmare ! Good to hear you are all safe and sound
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we’ve been loyal Southwest customers for 20 years … gonna have to rethink that … but thank you, yes, we are better than fine
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You two really put your hearts and souls into creating lifetime memory gifts. I thought “Moon Myth” was absolutely amazing .. still do!! And now this .. your heartfelt gifts will be treasured for generations to come.
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Thank you Tina … I’m hoping those cards will become well-worn with use for many years to come
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Gnome-O is spectacular! The gnomes are very Don-ish and so cute and the whole concept is so delightfully personal and engaging! I look forward to the fun your family will have the next time you gather, hopefully without the travel trauma.
Happy New Year!
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Dana – I’m looking forward to July when we’ll all be at the beach together … for sure there will be some rollicking games played! We’ve already booked our flights … with Southwest no less
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You are giving your grand kids such rich and loving gifts of heart and creativity and the fact that you both create them,, is simply wonderful. This Gnome game touches my heart for I am a gnome lover and last year, when you shared Don’s gnome paintings, I was thrilled.
Years ago when my girls were little, gnomes seemed to pop up all over the place and in fact, we did get them a gnome pop up book for Christmas and in their Advent Calendar, (I made one for them every year, even when they were in college), they each received a gnome ornament to hang on the tree.
What is so terrific about your gifts of games is that the whole family can participate and that is what families are all about…
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Oh, I remember the gnome book … I wonder what ever happened to our copy … hmmmm
And yes, even three-year-old Ellis can play this version as I got her a card holder to make it easier for her little hands … we make a great team
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Oh I am inspired! 🙂
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Last year I made standard decks of cards with our grandkids’ pictures on each deck … finding a way to put everyone’s pictures into a single deck was the motivation this time around … makeplayingcards.com was a reasonably easy site to work with
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