A STATE THAT MATTERS ~ and a fun game!

We traveled a lot this summer.

 

At the beginning of our summer we drove from Raleigh, NC to Orlando, FL, (10 hours)

from Orlando, FL to Columbus, GA, (6 hours)

from Columbus, GA to Atlanta, GA, (2 hours)

from Atlanta, GA back to Raleigh, NC, (6 hours)

from Raleigh, NC to Boone, NC, (3 hours)

and back again. (3 hours)

A few weeks later we drove from Raleigh, NC to Wilmington, NC (and back) (4 1/2 hours)

A couple of weeks later we drove from Raleigh, NC to Boone, NC (again!) (6 hours)

And the last weekend of our summer we drove from Raleigh, NC to Chocowinity, NC (and back again). (4 hours)

 

That's a whole lot of sitting still for a couple of young girls who love to be on the run!

So we started playing The State Game. The girls look for all the different states on car license plates. It keeps them busy. To teach them geography I printed out a US map for each of them. They color each state that they see. They learn where the states are and I don't hear "Are we there yet?" every two minutes. It's a win-win!

 

And speaking of states……

 

I saw this great idea on Pinterest…

The Effortless Chic

I love it!!!

So I wanted to copy it but with a little twist of my own. I printed out each state that has a meaningful memory for us.

NY ~ where the LOML was born

MA ~ where I was born

 

FL ~ where we both grew up, met and married

 

England ~ our honeymoon

NC ~ where we live now

Kazakhstan ~ where we adopted our daughters

 

THE PROCESS

I printed out each state and cut them out.

I Modge Podged each map onto a piece of cardboard.

I cut each cardboard piece out.

 

I painted each piece with Modge Podge.

Daughter #2 sprinkled green glitter over each map piece.

I then stuck a small heart where the city is.

I sprayed each piece with hair spray to keep the glitter in place.

I wanted to find an old window pane like I used in this project.

The window pane was really the LOML's idea. I think I'm rubbing off on him!!

But has this ever happened to you? You see something in every store you shop at until you need it. Then you can't find it anywhere!! Well that's what happened with me and the window pane. I looked everywhere and nothing! Very disappointing. Next time I see window panes like the one above, I'm buying them all!!!!!!!!!!

 

CHANGE OF PLANS!!!!

 

I bought yellow and white craft paper as backing for each state and letter stickers to label what each state means to us. I bought both at Michael's. I also bought 11×14 white frames from AC Moore.

I modge podged each state to a sheet of craft paper and  titled each picture.

 

We then attached the frames together with mending braces and small screws.

 

And the end result is absolutely beautiful!!! It's in the hallway leading to our guest bathroom so everyone will get to see it. I'm very happy at how it turned out. 

What do y'all think? Do you like decorating with states as much as I do?

Hope y'all are enjoying your weekend! We're working on our new fireplace mantel. So excited!

 

Linking up to The Dedicated House

The NY Melrose Family

Pretty Things

Ginger Snap Crafts

Someday Crafts

Polkadots on Parade

The Girl Creative

One Project Closer

Love of Family and Home

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Remodelaholic

Better With Age

Skip to My Lou

Under the Table & Dreaming

My Repurposed Life

Yellow Bliss Road

 

 

Love y'all,

Linda