4th of July Craft {Jaime from Crafty Scrappy Happy}

Hi!  I am Jaime from Crafty Scrappy Happy and I am SO honored to be here today!  I just adore Linda and her blog!!!!
Here is a little preview of my project for today

{A Meaningful Map Project for the 4th of July}

But first I would love to introduce myself…I am Jaime from Crafty Scrappy Happy
I am a crazy up-cycling, DIY-er, and girl on a budget.  I LOVE to drool over things that I wish I could spend a million dollars on and then make my own version (or at least attempt to)!  I adore meaningful projects.  I must note that I have started to dabble in furniture up-cycling—which is quickly turing into a new obsession of mine!!  I also love to come-up-with-and-try new crafty “techniques”.

If I had to pick my favorite crafty tools I would say—mod podge (I mean what can’t you use it for?!?), a hand held sander (I love to distress everything) and encyclopedia paper (I am obsessed-I just adore it!).
Here are a few of my past projects I couldn’t even tell you how thrilled
I would be if you wanted to stop by and check them out!
Have I mentioned I love making new blog friends?!?!  You can find me at Crafty Scrappy Happy.

~So without further ado here is my project for today~

**But with a bit of explanation.** I have been feeling really patriotic lately.  Yes, its probably because the 4th of July is nearing, but it is also because my husband (Cal) just finished serving his last of eight years in the army.  I have been trying to think of a way to “commemorate” his time in the military in a meaningful way.  I came up with this re-vamp of a project I did a few months ago.

This project is a little way for me to say THANK YOU to him for giving up so much to serve the country. **Okay, so on to the “how I did it” part**

So, I know I mentioned that adore all things having to do with encyclopedia paper, so my project definitely utilizes my beloved encyclopedia—the Atlas and Index version!
We punched out stars from all of the meaningful places Cal had been throughout his military career.  It was such a special way for me to learn more about each training and “tour” overseas.
I then taped the stars to a piece of vellum I printed a meaningful quote on.
“Land of the Free, Because of the Brave”

Then I tried to pick the perfect background for my project…(encyclopedia paper is most definitely included in this line-up!).

But at the last minute my Cal asked me if I had any of the letters that he had sent me when he was overseas.  And OF COURSE I did.  The letter I ended up using was one of the most special, it was before we were even dating and it talked about the feeling Cal had for me.  Siighhhhh.  Love story for sure!
Sooo special to me.
And don’t worry I have many MANY more love letters to save and treasure!
I sewed each star individually right down the middle because I knew I wanted to fold them up a bit when I was done.  And then I sewed the vellum to the letter.
Kind of a fun project and super meaningful to my husband and I.
What do you think will you be making your own special version of this meaningful project?
_________________________________ Anddd because I mentioned in my intro that my 3 favorite “crafty tools” include a hand sander, mod podge and encyclopedia paper I thought I would give you a little sneak peek of my cabinet that I have up-cycled into my family room mantel I most definitely used my hand sander for this one!!!!
Come by my blog Crafty Scrappy Happy later this week for the up-cycle reveal!

Linda
Hi! I'm Linda, the craft addict behind Craftaholics Anonymous®, a craft blog. Crafting is cheaper than therapy, right? When I'm not DIYing something, I can be found taxiing around our 4 crazy kids or working out. Or shoe shopping... because you can never have too many shoes! Happy crafting! ♥
Linda
Linda

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