One project suggested in an entire month??

[Sour of Abnaxus]

2 questions though.

You'll have to stay in the water 5-10 minutes. Does it matter if I stay like...15 min? or is that too long?

Is it ok to "trap" villagers by digging holes around them? So it's easier for me to find them...
or will that mess up the "!!!" getting

15 minutes should be fine. I wouldn't think there would be a maximum time limit, as this most likely isn't an intended feature.
I'm not sure about the digging holes thing. I tried it once with Ruby, and it worked the first 2 or 3 times, but after that, she wouldn't ping at me anymore. But that could be because she was sick of talking to me...

 

[Kate86]

I've been having better success with the Golden Watering Can than I have with the Diving. What I do is fill my pockets with tools/flowers/things-villagers-don't-want and use the watering can 30 times (that's the minimum that I've found works) and then they run up to me for a catch phrase, greeting, or PWP. I haven't tried with the Silver or Regular watering cans yet. I tried standing in one spot and using the can 30 times and that did not work. But watering spots that didn't have flowers in them did seem to work, so I guess it's not the flower but the tiles that seem to matter. I'm still experimenting with it, though.

 

[LillyKay]

The tip about not having bells or items they may want to buy is useful. I have been doing all the above suggested tricks and the villagers normally run up to me to buy something, sell something, catch phrase or greeting but very rarely PWP. I will try this and run past Jacques... hope he will eventually ask me for a sphinx or pyramid not some stupid shoe statue.

 

[bootie101]

I've been having better success with the Golden Watering Can than I have with the Diving. What I do is fill my pockets with tools/flowers/things-villagers-don't-want and use the watering can 30 times (that's the minimum that I've found works) and then they run up to me for a catch phrase, greeting, or PWP. I haven't tried with the Silver or Regular watering cans yet. I tried standing in one spot and using the can 30 times and that did not work. But watering spots that didn't have flowers in them did seem to work, so I guess it's not the flower but the tiles that seem to matter. I'm still experimenting with it, though.

I might try this tomorrow. The diving thing has worked for me but I'm not really a fan of it.. Kinda boring so ill try the watering can trick.