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!
~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!!!!
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! ♥
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Your project looks great, and your story is so meaningful. What a wonderful tribute to your husband. Thank him for his service.
:o) Thank you SO much for being so sweet!!! And I will tell him thank you—I just love people who understand how important it is to say thank you!!!
I love this! My husband is in the Army and now I want to make something like this for our home. =] Thanks for sharing, I ‘ll be visiting your blog. I hope the transition to civilian life goes/has gone well.
I am SO excited that you are thinking about making something like this for your husband—-I think he will love it! :o) And thank you for the wishes about transition to civilian life…!
So Cute! I adore this project and am going to attempt it in some form of red/white/blue!!! Oh-and I cannot wait for the Sneak Peak to be revealed!!!
Thank you so much for the sweet words! I am crazy about the idea of trying this one in red white and blue too! Great idea and thanks for sharing!!!
I’m so glad to see Jaime here . . . I just LOVE her and her amazing creativity! What an awesome project . . . so perfect for summer and the 4th of July. And I can’t wait to see what you did with that cabinet!
Thanks Rachel you are the best!!!
Awesome idea! What a beautiful and meaningful tribute. My brother and brother in-law are over seas right now and I was wanting to do something for them when they get home in the next few months. This is the perfect idea thank you so much for sharing and for your husbands service.
Please thank your brother and brother-in-law for me! I think that it is a special way to say thank you! And I kind of learned more about places my husband had been which was great! Thank you for the sweet words!
This project brought beats to my eyes. What a special gift. I love all the thought and special meaning it has.
Lisa @ thepearsonfamilee.blogdpot.com
:o) Thank you Lisa-you are just wonderful!
I love your tribute to your husband and that you used such a meaningful personal letter from him as the background. Your header is pure genious and says it all for the men and women who serve our country. Without them we could be like those countryies they are fighting in. Please thank your husband for his part in continuing to keep our country free. The service they give is soon forgotten once they return home and need the governments’ help. After being so willing to serve yet never paid what they deserve is beyond me. Government officials are given the lions share for sitting on their arsses plotting how to milk the taxpayers of their last dime. In my opinion they should be taking a pay cut and putting it in a fund to help the men and women comming home from war ro help get them back on their feet. Sorry for getting on my soap box but we can never say enough good about our BRAVE who keep us FREE.
I just can’t even explain how much a “thank you” means to these guys! My husband never seeks out attention for his service but I know it means the world to him when people say a simple “thank you”. And I agree I was just struck by the profound words “home of the free because of the brave” something to think about this time of the year!
Oh Jaime! I love the finished product. You have made it so special and to add that great touch with Cal’s letter is fabulous! You have been such a great love to my brother and I thank heavens that he was able to find you. I love you like a sister and you are doing wonders with your crafts…..keep shining love!
Cassie I am so blessed to have you as a sister-in-law! xoxo
Oh, Jaime…this project is so amazing…but I wouldn’t have expected anything else from you. Please thank Cal for his service to our country…I can’t tell you just how grateful my family & I are to you both for helping to keep us safe & free…you rock, darlin’…you absolutely rock.
Maggie, your words are always so so so sweet! And I would love to pass on the “thank you” to Cal!!! Thank YOU for being so wonderful!
Just beautiful! So meaningful Jaime! I love it!! You are so impressive!
Tabs, I am blessed to have many wonderful people in my life and you are most definitely one of them!
Jaime – this is such a beautiful tribute! I absolutely love the story and love that went into creating it! I am so going to have to share this idea! Hugs, antonella :-)
Thank you for such a sweet comment :o) I am glad you like all of the special meaning behind it for us!
So beautiful. Like made me tear up beautiful. And i LOVE that is is so meaningful to you two…
well done girl!
Pamela, your bff ;) @ pbjstories.blogspot.com
Thanks blogging BFF :o)
The project is absolutely gorgeous all by itself, but to then read the story behind it makes it simply breath-taking! You can just feel the love and passion you put into your work and it motivates me to not only want to craft with more meaning, but to be a better person all around. Thanks for another great tutorial and to your husband for his service so that I can enjoy my freedom!
Angela
Angela, you always leave the most wonderful comments–HOW am I SO SO lucky to have met you through the blogging world?!? And I will for sure tell Cal thank you—it will mean a lot to him!
I adore the meaning! It is cute to begin wtih, but one you know the meaning behind it it’s priceless!