The only problem I can think of is that they only come in circular form. So why not change the shape of the punch? Squares, triangles, stars, moons etc etc will improve the aesthetics of any paper work while providing high quality confetti at no extra cost.-- Del, Jan 11 2003 The truth about Birds and Rice... http://www.snopes.c...orrors/birdrice.htm [dbsousa, Oct 04 2004] Punchline http://www.mcgillin...unch/punchline.htmlBaked... [dbsousa, Oct 04 2004] Not nearly as good as the holes from paper tape. Baked to a burnt crisp, anyway - I've even seen hole punches with interchangeable shapes. Kate's Paperie was doing novelty shaped punches one time, but they're not on their web site.
(Btw, the tossed-item-du-jour is rice, which stings and really gums up the pigeons.)-- DrCurry, Jan 11 2003 The idea is to use paper scraps as confetti? But... that's what confetti already is. Can't see how different shapes would improve confetti, which is generally not examined close-up.
[gooberphat]: Tickertape went the way of the stock ticker, which, in turn, went the way of the telegraph.-- snarfyguy, Jan 11 2003 [Snarfyguy] Where I come from confetti comes in different colours and shapes. It costs money to buy when you could just as easily save up your hole punch waste and recycle paper.-- Del, Jan 11 2003 Difference noted, [Del]. I just thought people already practiced this.-- snarfyguy, Jan 11 2003 [gooberphat] and [DrCurry], the rice bit is an urban legend... check out the link... and there are already hole punches in different shapes. You can buy them at any craft store...-- dbsousa, Jan 11 2003 I can just imagine it now, the bride is showered with birdseed as she leaves the church and pounced upon by a throng of pigeons who proceed to peck her face off. That would go some way to explain why I see married guys with minging wives...-- Del, Jan 11 2003 Kind of baked in that link, but my idea is using an office hole punch. So while you are working you are collecting confetti-- Del, Jan 11 2003 Aw c'mon [Del] you can do better than that. I came up with this very idea at the age of 5 or so.-- madradish, Jan 12 2003 [gooberphat] - First of all, I don't know why anyone would throw instant rice instead of regular rice from the big bags at the store -- buy in bulk, that minute stuff isn't cheap.
Second, yes, it is an urban legend. Please look at the link that [dbsousa] provided. Rice is just another grain, one which many birds eat anyway. I'm not sure they're too familiar with Uncle Ben, but I have a feeling they don't care too much about whether it's "instant" or not.
Third, regarding the rolaids thing, whether or not it is true, would cause a completely different reaction, anyway. It would have to do with the acid-base reaction. This chemical reaction could, perhaps, cause a whole lot more of a "gut expansion" than any little bits of rice.-- cswiii, Jan 12 2003 My arts-and-crafty sister-in-law thought it'd be fun to make her own confetti for her wedding.
From painful experience, I can say this: It takes a *lot* of hole-punching to make any appreciable amount of confetti.-- JKew, Jan 13 2003 yes.. it would take an aweful long time of hole punchering and saving up to make enough confetti to use. but if you're going to save up enough recycleable paper, you might as well pick up all the little confetti pieces you find on the floor and reuse them. lol. =P Recycle and Reuse!-- PandaBear, Jan 13 2003 random, halfbakery