Like all years and all people, in 2014, we have had our ups and downs. This year has felt so broken up into pieces, just based on what has been happening in our circumstances. I feel as though this year has been 3 separate years, each defined by different moments, good and bad.
I am grateful for so many things, and could list pages and pages of things, but I will stick to just a few highlights for this year.
My Husband
If you know Ryan at all, his work ethic is something that defines him. He not only graduated college, he did it with an amazing GPA, while working, while raising a family, and with a career. Without him, our lives would fall apart. His assurance is all I need to keep going. He is my rock.
Our Families
These pictures are missing several people but they are the best I have. I'm thankful for not only the support systems that families bring, but all the unique relationships. One of the hardest parts of infertility, is that Zoe is an only child, something that is hard for her and for me. But we are lucky that she has bunches of cousins who adore her and she shares special relationships with them.
We spent last weekend at my sister's house and she spent three days surrounded by cousins who are all vying for her attention. She feels so special when we get to visit cousins.
Whenever I need a baby fix (and I do quite often) I have sisters and sisters in law, who always oblige with either pictures or skype.
This applies to extended family too. My extended families are so reachable and I feel blessed to have special relationships with cousins, aunt and uncles and grandparents.
My Faith
I am not as strong as I would like to be, and sometimes my faith waivers. But I am grateful eternal the nature of my faith. For the knowledge that this life is not the end, nor is it the beginning. I'm grateful for the ability to correct my mistakes, be forgiven and start over.
We moved into a fantastic ward here in Texas and I'm grateful for the people we have met and who I serve with. I love that the Gospel is the same everywhere.
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We are sharing our Thanksgiving dinner with some new friends here in Texas.
Ryan is making the turkey, which is a first for us. He has covered in a homemade seasoned butter mixture and it smells divine.
Our pie to adult ratio is 1:1. Ryan scoffed when I suggested that may be too much pie. His response,
"You can never have too much pie!"
With that in mind, I am wishing you and yours a
Happy Thanksgiving with lots of love, laughter and pie!
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
Life is always busy. If it's not homework and laundry, that time fills with other things.
Pulling back the curtain a bit here, we seem full up to the brim with things happening around here, and when push comes to shove, a home-cooked meal is the thing that goes out the window.
Recently I've been trying to have things that we can easily make at home, where some of the ingredients are already made. Which was working sometimes, but we were still hitting the drive-thru more often than I'd like to admit.
In an effort to save money and our waistlines, I spent an hour yesterday searching my Pinterest boards for meal ideas and recipes. I spent another hour at the grocery store, shopping for the items that we needed for this week.
On the menu for this week:
Sunday
Balsamic Roast Beef
Monday
Baked Potato Soup with Ham
Tuesday
Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Wednesday
Kabobs with Chicken, Red Peppers and Onions
Thursday
Asian Peanut Noodles with Chicken
Friday
Macaroni and Cheese with Chicken and Broccoli
Saturday
Homemade Pizza
Today, I spent another hour washing, cutting, cooking and dividing up items for our meals this week. On Sunday Afternoons I usually enjoy an uninterrupted 3 hour nap, that recharges me for the whole week. Today, I shortened the nap to 1.5 hours to make sure that our prep for the week was done.
I have high hopes for this new process. I'll let you know how it goes. With all my preparation today, I should only be spending less than 10 minutes a day on dinner, which is a huge incentive for me. Gone are the days of "What should we have for dinner?" at 5:00pm, at least that's what I'm hoping for.
Is dinnertime a struggle at your house? Do you meal plan? I would love any and all advice or resource suggestions.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
Pulling back the curtain a bit here, we seem full up to the brim with things happening around here, and when push comes to shove, a home-cooked meal is the thing that goes out the window.
Recently I've been trying to have things that we can easily make at home, where some of the ingredients are already made. Which was working sometimes, but we were still hitting the drive-thru more often than I'd like to admit.
In an effort to save money and our waistlines, I spent an hour yesterday searching my Pinterest boards for meal ideas and recipes. I spent another hour at the grocery store, shopping for the items that we needed for this week.
On the menu for this week:
Sunday
Balsamic Roast Beef
Monday
Baked Potato Soup with Ham
Tuesday
Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Wednesday
Kabobs with Chicken, Red Peppers and Onions
Thursday
Asian Peanut Noodles with Chicken
Friday
Macaroni and Cheese with Chicken and Broccoli
Saturday
Homemade Pizza
Today, I spent another hour washing, cutting, cooking and dividing up items for our meals this week. On Sunday Afternoons I usually enjoy an uninterrupted 3 hour nap, that recharges me for the whole week. Today, I shortened the nap to 1.5 hours to make sure that our prep for the week was done.
I have high hopes for this new process. I'll let you know how it goes. With all my preparation today, I should only be spending less than 10 minutes a day on dinner, which is a huge incentive for me. Gone are the days of "What should we have for dinner?" at 5:00pm, at least that's what I'm hoping for.
Is dinnertime a struggle at your house? Do you meal plan? I would love any and all advice or resource suggestions.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
Does anyone else have lettering envy? I'm so guilty. I could look at hand lettered canvases and invitations for hours.
I've tried using calligraphy pens before and I've never had great result. I've tried faux calligraphy which works ok, but takes a long time.
I saw this kit available on the Darby Smart website, and with a $10 coupon, I treated myself to the kit. I've got plans to use it for an upcoming holiday project as well.
Darby Smart is a DIY kit company, they have kits for all kinds of DIY projects. It's like Kiwi Crate for grown ups. I like that they have a variety of kits and it is not a subscription.
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| Purchase Here. Use coupon code "howdydarby" for $10 off. |
This is my first purchase from Darby Smart. The kit included free 2 day shipping, but it took 5 days to ship, which was a disappointment. I think I've been spoiled living in a big city for the last few months. Things in the mail, even UPS arrive much faster.
I was excited when it came. The Tiffany blue box was a nice surprise on a weekday afternoon! Upon opening the kit, I found all the pieces included as described and got right to practicing.
The booklet has great instructions for how to make all kinds of letters. The most helpful page in the whole booklet, was page 3 which shows you how to hold the pen. My lines became much more consistent after I followed the guidelines.
It comes with black India ink. A word to the wise, have a rag or paper towels nearby. Also, I wouldn't recommend practicing anywhere near white fabric. #justsayin'
After several sheets of practice letters, I found my groove. It took awhile to learn how much ink to use, how many letters I could get between dips and how to hold the pen. Eventually, I was even starting to writing in cursive. I've only used two of the nibs so far, the smaller two. I'm not quite sure what to use the bigger ones for, as the lettering I'm planning on doing, is going to be rather small.... (more on that to come soon!)
Overall, this was a fun addition to my crafting. What I really liked about this kit and the Darby Smart idea, is that I only needed one box.
When I'm working on scrapbook pages or sewing projects, I have to get out lots of boxes and materials. I like that this is still crafty and fun, but requires less of a stuff and space commitment.
If you are interested in purchasing this kit (or any others) you can go here, and use the code "howdydarby" for $10 off!
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
Please note affiliate links are used in this post, but my thoughts and opinions are my own, I was not compensated for this post.
We didn't get to do a special Halloween photo shoot like we have in years past. But I snapped a couple quick photos at our church party on the 30th.
This was our Halloween celebration.
Zoe had a blast running around with her friends and trunk or treating.
I won first prize in the chili cook-off, using this amazing recipe. They called the chili by a different name than what I had entered it under while announcing the winners, so originally I didn't realize I had won. After all the awards had been handed out, I had to approach the judges after and say, " I think mine was the winner." We verified that it was mine and I collected the award without fan fare. #awkwardmoment.
When actual Halloween came the next day, Zoe wore a super-hero costume over her uniform.
Rather than trick or treating, we opted for mummy dogs dinner and The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown movie. It was the perfect way to spend the holiday.
We failed to participate in a lot of the traditional Halloween festivities but we still managed to dress up and eat too much candy, so for this year, we are calling it good.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
Scrapbooking on a student budget seems near impossible sometimes, especially with new products coming out every couple of months. But I'm here to tell you it's not. My budget isn't big enough to handle my desire for all the latest and greatest products - So I've come up with 10 ways I am able to stay on trend without having to break the bank.
1. Shop sales and coupons - Obvious right? Besides the tradition holiday sales times (Christmas, Labor Day, Memorial Day, etc) scrapbooking stores have big sales right around CHA time (December-January and June-July) They are clearing out last CHA's product to make way for the new stuff. Also, look for promotions during National Scrapbooking Day (May)
Don't forget to watch for photo printing deals, Snapfish and Shutterfly offer lots of great promotions throughout the year.
*Beware of buying just because it's on sale. You can blow through your craft budget with products you're not really in love with*
2. DIY - Some products are easier than other to re-create, but many are easy to replicate with a little time and a trip to the office supply store/printer. The best part about DIY embellishments is that you have more freedom with colors, themes, and amounts.
Here are some tutorials I've made replicating popular scrapbooking products.
DIY Transparency Alphabets
DIY Foldover Tabs
DIY Stitched pockets
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| Page using the DIY transparency alphas |
3. Check big box stores - Joann's and Michael's only carry certain name brands, but with their weekly coupons, you can get some great products and tools for cheap! I tend to use those for staple products, cardstock, ink pads, colored cardstock, paper cutter blades, etc.
* Don't forget your coupons!*
4. Warehouse Sales - If you have a favorite brand, check out their blogs or Facebook pages to see if they do a yearly box sale. Most of the companies offer a great discount and a partial list of what may be included. Some also have brick and mortar places set up, where you can pick and choose which products you want. * My favorite warehouse sale is the American Crafts. It's located in Utah every years and is open from Thanksgiving to New Year's. If you have an opportunity to go, I would highly recommend it. Not just because of the great prices but because they have four different brands located there (Crate Paper, American Crafts, Studio Calico, Pebbles) We shall see what 2014 brings with their recent acquisition of Pink Paislee and Imaginesce*
5. Be Picky - When a new line rolls out that I am in love with, I have a tendency to want every.single.piece of it, especially the papers (my weakness) Logistically, that is impossible to afford and store in my less than 1000 sq. feet apartment. I tend to window shop the line. Review each piece over and over online and narrow down my selections. I usually end up with 3-5 papers and 1-3 embellishments. This cost is at most $20, which is much for affordable then the $75+ of the entire line. Also, Before making an embellishment purchase (meaning anything other than patterned paper), I ask myself, "How long with this last me?" For example, I can spend $4 on a roll of washi or a pack of decorative brads. Depending on the colors, themes etc, one will probably last me way more than the other.
*Try to buy products that can be used for more than one event/category/holiday.*
6. Tools - In the short run, tools cost more, sometimes a lot. Over the course of a year or more, they can save you lots of $$$. Specifically, an electronic diecutting machine (Cricut, Silhouette, etc) can allow you to make alphabets, stencils, even your own patterned papers, which reduces your need to buy. Color mists and inks can also help you create unique backgrounds, change embellishments and enhance products your already have.
* Tools are great for DIY embellishments.*
7. Sell/Share - There are Facebook groups and message boards where you can sell your unused products and boost your craft budget by a little. You can also try to sell locally on Craigslist or at your local scrapbook store. Also, you can sign up for swaps or share a pack of embellishments with a friend.
8. Buy with a project in mind - Mindlessly buying can lead to unused products and wasted money. I used to do this. It's cute, I'll buy it. I'm much more conscious of what products I'll be using for which projects. This stops me from buying just because it's cute or trendy.
9. Know Thyself - Go back through your scrapbooks and look at what products your gravitate towards. Think about what you're always running out of, or your favorite things to add to a page. Stick to those things. If there are certain products that you love, but rarely end up using on a page, keep those purchases to a minimum or not at all. For example, I have a hard time using ribbon. I love it, it's pretty, but it rarely makes it onto a page. Once I realized this, I stopped buying ribbon.
*If you are new to scrapbooking and aren't sure what products to use or which ones you like the best, I would recommend purchasing from a kit club which will allow you to try a sampling of products without a huge financial commitment. *
10. Splurge - Every once in awhile, a product comes along that I am just dying to use. It doesn't follow my 9 previous rules, but for whatever reason, I just can't talk myself out of it. Save up your craft budget and spend it on that thing you've been dying to have. The reason I say this is actually a mental thing. Budgeting can be hard. Giving up freely spending isn't fun. And rather than try to supplement with products and DIY's that aren't going to satisfy you, it's ok to splurge every once in a while.
How do you stay on budget, while still enjoying your hobbies? If you have any tips, please share below, I'd love to do a follow up post.
XOXO,
Holly &Co.
Wow, that went by fast. I wanted to post a quick update from our three months in Texas!
- Things still feel partially unsettled here, I feel like we just haven't hit our groove quite yet. We're still adjusted to Ryan's funky work schedule and trying to fit in homework, the Y, and dinner all before 7:30p. Most nights, we are unsuccessful. But that's ok.
- It's still not Fall here. And by Fall, I mean sweater weather. Not a single hot chocolate has been drunk. Not a scarf worn.
. We've got some falling leaves and I might even be able to get a fall photo or two soon, but I'm disappointed it's still hot. - I love my job! The more I work there, the longer I realize that there was most likely divine intervention with me getting this job. It is just so perfect.
- We've started a new tradition. Almost every week, we try a new BBQ place. I'm thinking we need to make a score card or something to bring with us. Ryan and I don't agree on our favorite place for BBQ, so we're still searching for a place we both just love.
- I posted this photo on instagram, but on my way to work every day I see this utility boxes painted to look like famous cowboys. This man is Roy Rogers. I looked it up and apparently there are 13 total in the area. I think this might becoming a scavenger hunt for us to do one day.
- My sister moved to Lubbock, TX a few weeks ago. It's still 5 hours away, but it's nice to have family in the same state. We are planning another visit next month to celebrate my niece's birthday.
Check back for more Texas updates!
Each year after school starts, I receive the inevitable envelope for school pictures. Each year I'm faced with the struggling decision to purchase pictures or not.
I know I can take better pictures, but I kind of love the look of official school pictures.
I can't help it, and I always end up buying just a few.
I love to see the progression over just the last couple of years. It's amazing how just two years makes a world of difference
Do you order school pictures?
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
After we had decided to accept the job in For Worth, I immediately started looking up things to do in the area. Legoland Discovery Center was on almost every list. While Zoe isn't Lego crazy, it is one toy she has continued to play with throughout the years. We knew she would enjoy it.
It is located in Grapevine, TX, which is about an hour drive from us. Google Maps for the DFW area is often wrong, or takes you the craziest way possible. This time Google Maps took us straight through the DFW airport. Weird right? But it got us there.
We actually ended up going on Star Wars weekend, so there were lots of kids and adults in costume. Zoe was a bit nervous to take her picture with Boba Fett. We also saw the Emperor, Obi Wan, and Anakin.
My favorite items there were the Lego portraits. I especially enjoyed the light-saber frames.
Overall we had a great time. We went right at opening and I highly suggest doing so. You have to pick a time slot when you purchase tickets. We purchased our tickets online the night before (better price and guaranteed to get the time slot we wanted.) If you walk up without tickets, you will get the first available time slot, which may or may not be several hours away. Be safe, buy tickets online before you go.
They have 4 rides, perfect for Zoe's age group. The free play areas were the best and where Zoe spent most of her time. There is a large gated playground area (socks are required), a build and test area (lots of Legos) and a Princess play area, with a karaoke stage and lots of girl themed Legos. They also have a splash park, but it was closed the day we went, due to weather.
The last place to talk about is the 4D movie. We saw Legends of Chima. Warning, you will get wet. I believe the 4th dimension refers to the sensory additions to the film. Basically it's a 3D movie with wind and water to enhance your experience. We were not told we were going to get wet, so that was weird, but we did enjoy the film.
We spent almost 4 hours there. They do have a cafe inside, we opted to eat lunch elsewhere. Zoe had a great time and keeps asking to look at the souvenir map that we brought home. She keeps talking about the next time we go...
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
This girl is fearless.
This girl taught herself to swim with a pair of goggles and some dive toys, in a matter of hours.
This girl lives life with a song, literally.
This girl reminds me that jumping in is okay, and sometimes really fun.
This girl has a gift of comforting others.
This girl has a special light that attracts others.
This girl is growing up way too fast.
This girl loves animals. Especially dogs. Especially the dogs at Abi's house.
This girl is the perfect mix of tomboy and girly girl.
This girl is fine with sandwiches for every meal, just like her daddy.
This girl is doing really well in spelling, but struggling in math.
This girl is constantly grateful. Every day is "the best day ever!"
XOXO,
Holly & CO.
Things are finally settling around here and I've gotten back into some digital design. In Texas, we had a sneak peek of autumn over the weekend and I was in heaven. I got to wear long sleeves and snuggle up with a blanket. I almost broke out my hot chocolate, but decided to save that for another day.
I've been itching for pumpkin flavored everything, flannel and boots everyday. Since I've got a few more weeks since I can really enjoy Fall, I made some PL cards to share! Please share anything you make with them, I would love to feature your creations here!
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
I've been itching for pumpkin flavored everything, flannel and boots everyday. Since I've got a few more weeks since I can really enjoy Fall, I made some PL cards to share! Please share anything you make with them, I would love to feature your creations here!
The cards are square edged, but if you prefer rounded corners, all the designs are compatible with rounded edges. I'm not a PSL drinker, but I know the majority of the world is so I threw that in there.
For personal use only please.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
With smartphone cameras being comparable to a point and shoot camera quality, we carry a camera with us the majority of the time. But even then, not all stories we want to tell, get captured on camera. Over the years I've found three good ways to scrapbook without photos.
1. Fill the page with text.
Whether it's handwriting, typewriter or a newspaper article, words are the foundation of stories. Don't be shy, add lots of details and adjectives to document on your pages.
I wanted to document all my childhood Christmas traditions, but because we spent most of those moments together participating, there was no photo to go along with it. I used a calendar page, filled in some of the square with patterned paper and then made small blurbs randomly, about each tradition.
2. Use supplies to tell your story.
Use patterned paper, stickers, stamps, colors, even typography to help recreate the occasion. Just looking at the page and you can already catch a glimpse of what story you are telling
I used a map on a patterned paper to document all the places I've been and what brought me to each place. I used twine and printed labels to easily identify each place with a quick look.
3. Blend moments together.
Rather than tell about one smaller moment, combine it with other similar stories and create a collection on a page!
From time to time, I get sweet notes from both my husband and daughter. There is no real way to photograph those moments, as usually, they are left for me in secret. Combining notes from both of them on one page tells the bigger story and is a great way to store them!
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
Earlier this year, I chose adventure for my one little word. Without really thinking about it, I feel like adventure has seeped into my life and I am finding it easier and easier to say yes to unexpected opportunities, be it traveling, creating etc.
We've had some really big travelling adventures this year, mainly with our move. But even now that we are in Texas, we spend weekends exploring new places, trying new foods and even getting lost. This new wave of spontaneous decision making is actually a lot of fun.
I have a few other adventures I'm hoping on at least starting on by the end of the year. I have made a travel Pinterest board, if you want to take a peek into some of my plans. I feel like so far, Adventure has definitely made a huge difference this year.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
We've had some really big travelling adventures this year, mainly with our move. But even now that we are in Texas, we spend weekends exploring new places, trying new foods and even getting lost. This new wave of spontaneous decision making is actually a lot of fun.
I have a few other adventures I'm hoping on at least starting on by the end of the year. I have made a travel Pinterest board, if you want to take a peek into some of my plans. I feel like so far, Adventure has definitely made a huge difference this year.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
So this weekend we celebrated one month in Texas! It's hard to believe it's been one month. We are getting adjusted. Here's an update about us after one month.
- Zoe started school last week. She is going to public school, but she wears uniforms, which is awesome! After a little uncertainty on her part, they are turning out to be a non-issue. I can't get over how adorable she looks in them!
- I've been working part time at Fort Worth Fabric Studio and I'm loving it! Jodie is fantastic and I look forward to work every day. If you are looking for an online fabric store, her store is great, she makes her own bundles and kits as well.
- I have grown a mild obsession with Trader Joe's. I mean I liked it before, but now that I have one less than 5 miles, I'm there like twice a week. (Mostly because Ryan goes through so much of their jalapeno and cilantro hummus) But yeah, serious love for TJ's.
- It is still hot. We are still going to the pool several times a week, much to Zoe's joy! While I'm pumping the house full of cinnamon/pumpkin scents, just dreaming of pulling out my sweaters and boots. I'm still a long ways off from being able to wear them....or so I've been told.
- There are SO many kinds of bugs here. Also, I was introduced to fire ants this week (thanks Jodie!) Giant moths and cicadas roam around outside, while mosquitoes are sneaky and find a way inside our house.
- We went to the movies yesterday and our theater offered a full service menu. We are talking burgers, skewers, cheesecake, etc. Apparently that is a thing here. It a genius idea, I just wish we had known before we had gone....I wouldn't have eaten lunch at home.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
I have a postcard collection.
The postcards are either cards I've purchased or been given and they just sit in a box. I've got maps and business cards that I've collected over the years and they just sit in a box.
During our packing/sorting/purging just before our move to Texas, I decided that these items were no longer going to remain hidden in a box in a storage unit, I was going to put them where I could see them.
We didn't get many souvenirs on our cross country road trip, but I couldn't resist grabbing a couple of items at the Grand Canyon gift shop. I wanted to page to mostly be the memorabilia, but added a small selfie to round out the design.
For memorabilia that doesn't fit so easily on a scrapbook page, I think these 12x12 envelope page protectors are a great option. This is where I would put bulky things like maps, booklets, pins, etc.
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| Source |
I challenge you to add memorabilia to a scrapbook page. It helps tell the story on the page and keeps items out of boxes and storage closets!
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
Last week after we were finally getting a little more settled, I was just itching to print my pictures from our road trip and get them into my scrapbook.
I haven't purchased more than a few dollars in supplies in the last 6 months. I haven't been scrapbooking very much the last year or more, and I couldn't justify buying any supplies for a craft I wasn't doing.
Lucky for me, even after several purges from our moves, I have kept some of my supplies from over the years and had plenty of items to work with.
Almost all of the supplies for this layout came from old Studio Calico kits. The paper that I used to make the title, is over 3 years old. It's amazing how perfect it was for these photos. I had fun digging through my boxes of papers and embellishments to find the perfect items for this layout.
I learned something through this process....it's okay to keep stuff you really love.
I think sometimes we beat ourselves up over keeping supplies we love, even though it's been 3+ years and we haven't used it yet.
I am giving myself permission to keep my loved supplies and fabric until a moment in time when I'm either ready to let it go or to use it! I urge you to do the same.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
We have officially been in Texas one week and I wanted to document my thoughts and feelings thus far.
- I knew it would be different from living in Idaho, but the concentration of people and buildings is something I'm struggling to get used to. Driving into Fort Worth, my anxiety was super high, there were just so many people, I'm not quite used to it yet.
- It is not nearly as hot as I thought it would be. According to the locals, it has been unseasonably cool, ranging in the 80's this first week. I was assured I would be suffering soon.
- The amount of restaurants within 5 miles of here is bound to make me gain 20 lbs. Several of my old favorites like Taco Bueno and Schlotzky's are nearby, and there are a few new ones on our list to try. Also, there is a restaurant where there whole menu is chicken fingers, that's it. I'm thinking these chicken fingers must be magic to sustain an entire restaurant chain.
- I'm so grateful for Google Maps on my iPhone. I use it to get anywhere. I'm hoping someday soon, I'll be able to find Target without it, for now though, it is my best friend.
- U-turns are the norm here. There are lots of unprotected left hand turns and making u-turns is part of driving around here.
- There is a serious biscuit aisle here. Like serious. Like this isn't even the whole thing.
- People are so friendly. I've missed southern hospitality.
- I miss Idaho. I didn't think I would miss it so much, but I do. I miss my friends, Zoe's friends, and my routine. I even miss getting to bring Ryan his lunch during the day. But once school starts in a few weeks, I think things will really start to feel normal again.
- So far I haven't picked up an accent. This I'm guessing will not be the case in a few more weeks.
I plan on reporting back in one month and one year. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
I came up with the project just a few weeks before we were planning to move. Not a great time to start a time intensive project, however, most of it was completed while sitting at the splash park while Zoe played, or on the long drive to California for a wedding reception.
Materials:
- Funnel Cake Digital Stamp from Studio Calico (The template I used was a limited time digital stamp, and is no longer for sale. However, you could use a digital map template and free hand the letters, or watch for the actual digital stamp to be returned, sometimes Studio Calico will put old stamps back on sale for short periods of time.)
- Needle
- 6 colors of embroidery floss.
- 6" embroidery hoop
- flour sack towel
- 12x18 canvas
- graphite pencil/water soluble pen
- staple or glue gun.
I re-sized the map to 11x17 in Photoshop, and printed it on two sheets of paper. I taped them up to my window and then taped the towel on top of it, pulling it taught, but not enough to distort the image. I used a graphite pencil to trace because I knew this project was going to take more than a couple days and sometimes the water soluble markers fade.
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| Tracing took about an hour. I did not trace all the fun accents for this project because I wanted to be able to clearly read the states and I was worried about the small spaces. I was right in this assumption and I'm glad I didn't add them, even though they are awesome! |
I used a back stitch for this project. If you are not sure how to do a back stitch or need a reminder, there is a great tutorial here. Small stitches make the cleanest lines, they take longer, but look better.
Having it mounted on the canvas makes for easing hanging. This bad boy will be on our gallery wall with some other pieces of art I've collected. For now, it's sitting on top of my bookshelf.
The stitching took about 40 hours. It sounds like a lot, and it was. Texas took over an hour to stitch, but the finished project is so worth it! Once I finished the stitching, I ironed it out. I starched it quite a bit to get it nice and stiff, before mounting it on my canvas.
I centered the map on my canvas and then tightly folded the edges and stapled. You could also use hot glue, but I would wait until you are sure each side is cool and dry before moving onto the next one.
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| The back of my canvas. My trimming was not very neat. |
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| Finished Project |
I hope this project encourages you to make use of your digital stamps. Digital stamps have so many uses and are great items to invest in. This is one of my favorite projects to date.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
Day 1: Idaho to Utah
Our first day of driving was from Rexburg, ID to my parent's house in Utah. We spent the night and got to say our final goodbyes
Day 2: Utah to Arches National Park
Even though I've been to Utah, probably hundreds of times, I've never explored many of it's natural beauties. We decided to stop at Arches National Park, and we weren't disappointed. The red rocks were amazing and we were so glad we decided to stop.
We arrived in the late afternoon and took the short hike to the Delicate Arch viewpoint. We were all wearing flip flops, not the footwear I would recommend for hiking, even a short hike like this one, so it took a little longer than usual, but the view was great and we were glad for the few minutes out of the car.
Day 3: Arches to Four Corners to Grand Canyon
Thanks to my dad, we realized on our drive we were just an hour out of the way from visiting Four Corners monument. Four Corners is the place where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah intersect. It's in the middle of nowhere, but it was fun to visit.
Day 4: Arizona to Texas
This was our longest day of driving. Over 12 hours. The only good part of this day was that we finally got word about Ryan's top secret security clearance and he was granted the clearance!
Day 5: Texas to Fort Worth
We woke up really early, mostly out of anxiety about getting to our place, but we made it before noon.
It was a long trip but we definitely made some great memories. I'm glad we decided to make a trip out of it, I think it made most of the days more enjoyable, having something to look forward to.
We are now in Fort Worth and getting moved in before Ryan and I start work next week. It is definitely different than Idaho, and we are working on getting adjusted from small town living to city life. This is a big change for our family, not only in location but also routine. This is the first time in our marriage Ryan will not be in school and we are excited to take advantage of more family time together.
Our first day of driving was from Rexburg, ID to my parent's house in Utah. We spent the night and got to say our final goodbyes
Day 2: Utah to Arches National Park
Even though I've been to Utah, probably hundreds of times, I've never explored many of it's natural beauties. We decided to stop at Arches National Park, and we weren't disappointed. The red rocks were amazing and we were so glad we decided to stop.
We arrived in the late afternoon and took the short hike to the Delicate Arch viewpoint. We were all wearing flip flops, not the footwear I would recommend for hiking, even a short hike like this one, so it took a little longer than usual, but the view was great and we were glad for the few minutes out of the car.
Day 3: Arches to Four Corners to Grand Canyon
Thanks to my dad, we realized on our drive we were just an hour out of the way from visiting Four Corners monument. Four Corners is the place where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah intersect. It's in the middle of nowhere, but it was fun to visit.
From Four Corners, we drove to the Grand Canyon. This was my favorite stop of the trip. It was so incredible. I was worried we would drive all the way there and it would be unimpressive. I was very wrong. It's hard to comprehend how massive the canyon is, but it is so amazing, it almost looks fake.
Day 4: Arizona to Texas
This was our longest day of driving. Over 12 hours. The only good part of this day was that we finally got word about Ryan's top secret security clearance and he was granted the clearance!
Day 5: Texas to Fort Worth
We woke up really early, mostly out of anxiety about getting to our place, but we made it before noon.
It was a long trip but we definitely made some great memories. I'm glad we decided to make a trip out of it, I think it made most of the days more enjoyable, having something to look forward to.
We are now in Fort Worth and getting moved in before Ryan and I start work next week. It is definitely different than Idaho, and we are working on getting adjusted from small town living to city life. This is a big change for our family, not only in location but also routine. This is the first time in our marriage Ryan will not be in school and we are excited to take advantage of more family time together.
XOXO,
Holly & CO.
