Hi, friends! This week I am taking a break from Scrapbook Sundays due to holiday craziness, but I still wanted to drop in and share a crafty project I've been working on. Many of you asked to see an example of how you would stitch on the Places We've Been map, so I started stitching my map this past week, and it's become so fun and addictive. It's the perfect relaxing activity to do when I'm listening to my new favorite podcast, Startup. God knows we all need a little relaxation this season, right?!
I've been collecting personal pieces of art and tidbits for a family memories gallery wall in our home. It will have things like the keys to our first houses, paintings people have made of our dogs, and personal stuff like that. This map is perfect for our wall!
I am filling in all the states where we've been together (and, no, I am nowhere near done yet!). It's kind of exciting to realize many states where we haven't been as well (like Alaska! Maine! Wyoming! Utah! We're coming for you soon….) I think this map will become a pretty special keepsake and maybe we can even expand it worldwide someday?
I decided to do crazy, messy stitches and make each one a little bit different. I don't have a plan, I am just filling them in with various patterns and lines, some more dense than others.
Well, that's my project for the week! I will definitely share our art wall with you when I get it completed. I am doing it in our biggest hallway (upstairs) so it has room to expand.
You can get this Places We've Been map in this month's Happy Mail kit. Last month sold out pretty quickly, so don't wait too long if you're planning to sign up! xo. Elsie
55 Comments
What a cute idea! It’s a great way to find new places to travel to so you have a reason to fill it up.
I love this!!! Such a clever idea. I’m glad your happy mail is so successful.
Such a gorgeous concept – absolutely love this!
Love, Lucy
http://www.farawaylucy.com
.. seems very interesting and creative. Expecting excellent completion, please give me a chance to have must-have item..:-)
Simon
What a truly GREAT idea!! A bloody brilliant way to combine your travels with crafty skills and create a keep sake to treasure!
Gemma
http://www.fadedwindmills.com
What a beautiful idea 🙂 I’d love to make something like this as a gift
Jennifer x
artstylelove.com
Ahh, this is so freakin’ cute! xoxo
http://sundaycabanas.blogspot.com
So cool!
Ooh, this would be great for showing the route of my next road trip too… love it!
This is gorgeous!
Such an amazing keepsake for the family, and so cute and colourful too!
Love it
May // Drops of Brandy
xo
I JUST wrote about StartUp on my blog (thanks to you Elsie!!) – thank you SO much for sharing.
PS. I have seen the “scratching the places you’ve been” maps and they do not even COMPARE to this one. This is artsy, FUN, personal and beautiful.
Xoxo,
Kristina
How cute is that!!
This is going to look so great when you’re done! xxx
I was also thinking that it’d be really nice to expand this to a worldwide map! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s
This is literally the cutest thing in the world! I love the colours and wow you did an amazing job! <3 Hope you get to fill them out someday.
Xoxo http://thoughtsintiffanyblue.blogspot.com/
Yes for sure come out and visit us here in Utah!! So fun! 🙂
I’ll be traveling throughout Europe as well as various other parts of the world this year, and blogging about it, so this would be a lovely little thing to do as an end of the year project! Thanks so much for the idea love! xx
So cute! Love this idea. Would be a great gift to stitch out a trip route!
This is really cute! As an australian that’s a subscriber I wish it was more a world wide map, as this will be wasted on me 🙁
Love this, wanted to order the happy mail just for this one…still thinking… i have been here for a over a year, and been to 6 states so far, this map would be perfect to fill up…Alaska is so on my list too…
xo
Hems
agoldentulip.blogspot.com
What a great idea, need to try this out
Very nice idea! I like how it looks, thx for the tip!
Yes, do come to Alaska! It’s absolutely beautiful! I am very happy the island of Kodiak was included in the map –so often my little hometown/island is left out. You should go to Kodiak!!
Thank you for a great blog and apps. I was wondering if you was thinking to add at dymo label to the fonts in ABM app? I Think it would look great on photos!
This is such a wonderful idea, so so soooo cute x
holljc.blogspot.co.uk
Here’s a super-cute idea! I love it!!
Ahh I love this- my kids would love to get to look at something like this and see and remember where we’ve traveled together!
http://www.hollandsreverie.blogspot.com
This is so lovely Elsie! I love the colors and stitching patterns that you’ve used. For your international readers, do you think it would be hard to make one of these for other parts of the world? I remember reading that the actual map is just printed on heavy cardstock so do you think it would be hard for us to design our own and print it out? I would love to make one for Canada/Europe!
xx Kathryn
http://www.throughthethicket.ca
Hi Katryn,
You could use any map to stitch on! It wouldn’t be hard at all! :))
I originally wanted to do a world map, but it wouldn’t all fit on that size page (and be big enough to stitch!)
xoxo! Elsie
Thanks for your request! I’ll keep that in mind next time we add fonts! 🙂
-Elsie
I would love to!!!
-Elsie
Agreed–come hang out with us in Utah!
Sorry Kellie! It’s tough that when designing a variety of stationery I know that every design can’t be loved/usable to every single customer. With that said, they make great gifts too! So maybe you can give this piece as a gift! :))
-Elsie
We love Utah and have been a bunch, but never together! We need to make it happen soon! :)) xx- Elsie
Glad you are enjoying startup too!!! 🙂 It’s great!
-Elsie
This is ridiculously cute! I want one of these, only a world map!
What a fun idea : )
I like this idea for stitching! I had no idea how I was going to outline all the east coast states!
Very cool! Is it possible to order just this, separate from the monthly mail? My kids would love doing this! Thanks!
Hi Sarah! The map is only available in the December Happy Mail. That’s what makes each item so special. 🙂 -Jacki
what a fun idea!
xx nikki
http://www.dream-in-neon.com
This was my favorite thing from this month’s kit! 😀
I love this! I’m planning a road trip for next summer, so it would be fun to document all of the places we go on a map like this.
Always, Anita
Hi!
This is a really lovely idea! I made something similar with a world map last year, but didn’t mark the whole countries but only the cities my boyfriend and I went to (http://tulipandlily.blogspot.co.at/2013/09/travel-map.html in case you are interested). Using just a map of Austria wouldn’t have made that much sense in our case as the country is so small and one is pretty fast done with all the states… 😉
Have a great day,
Steffi
I just got my Happy Mail! YAY!
Would love to have a Places We’ve Been for Canada 🙂
Thanks for sharing the podcast! And double thanks for sharing about the cross-stitch map.
This is adorable
My boyfriend and I went on a grand road trip across the US back in October. Currently I’m painting in the states we visited, on the very map I used to stay focused on saving money for the trip. But I’m addicted to all the ways I can commemorate our adventures, and I’d love to do a project like this too!
I adore this, and I love your messy stitching!
I bought a gorgeous world map which I am stitching my travels on to from Sconnie and Jam on Etsy. It’s really cute!
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/195884026/stitch-your-own-adventure-fabric-wall?ref=shop_home_active_1
I’m looking forward to receiving my map, but would definitely love to see a worldwide one!
Being from Australia, I’ve only been to two US states so far (soon to be more I’m sure!) so a worldwide one would be a lot more relevant! 😀
xx
Come to Maine!! I’m biased because I’ve lived here my whole life, but it’s a great place to visit. I don’t know if you’ve been to Vermont either but I went to school there and it’s another great place to visit. Email me for suggestions!!
But…
I’ve only been to one state though!
This is the first time I have been to your site and I love the Places We Have Been Map…how could I get one?
Hi Debbie! The map was part of our December Happy Mail kit. That one is no longer available, but we do have a new kit each month! You can read more about that here: http://shop.abeautifulmess.com/happy-mail