The Jagged State of Things

I'm happy to report that this evening I got to complete my first DIY project in a very long time. But of course that doesn't count my Valentine's present to Rob, which I'm really excited about and I can't wait to actually do a post about it, but I can't until after for the obvious reason - I haven't actually given it to him yet. But I digress, my wonderfully patient husband agreed to go to Hobby Lobby and then Michael's this evening to hunt down the exact right frame - which we found on sale at Michael's by the way. But why don't I start at the beginning.

I have been dying to do this project for awhile now. I've found tons of ideas that I love on Pinterest but I just haven't gotten to do any. And there have been a couple that I have been eyeing for this empty wall we have. And finally I decided to just start and see where I get.

Rob's from Iowa, I'm from Missouri, and we live in Kansas. Look at that - three states right there. Convenient for this particular idea. I could always change my mind later and adapt this to the first idea of where we met, where we married, and where we live. You know how I like to change my mind.


So first step was getting maps. I found our maps on yellowmaps.com with easy printable version that I figured would work perfectly. And it did. The worse part of all this was cutting out the maps. There are a lots of jagged edges to our states that you don't think about until you trying to cut along them.   

I then used just a red Sharpie to put poorly made hearts where we were both born and where we now live. This is actually the project where I learned what a horrible heart-maker I am. Maybe I just cracked under pressure and I'm actually a pro at drawing hearts? I guess we'll never know - and you'll certainly never know by looking at this maps. 

He's a dream, isn't he? I know by looking at this picture you might think I'm kidding but I'm completely serious. He took me to Hobby Lobby and Micheal's and helped me finish the framing of this project all before dinner. He doesn't understand why I want to do these things, but he has admitted the apartment looks much homey with me around plus despite his not understanding, he gets that it's important to me and I want to do it. He's pretty awesome. Okay, I'm done singing his praises now.

I taped them to the back glass so they would stay where I wanted them while we put the glass back in place. Nothing worse then three states becoming one. 

Then clean and hang.

And it's just that easy.

It is by no means perfect. It's not as great as I had hoped but maybe one day I'll reprint those states and cut them better and practice my heart drawing. Regardless, I like it. It's different. We have pictures on all the other walls. Honeymoon, wedding, family. So this is something different, which leads me perfectly into the next pinterest project.....that I haven't completed yet. But is forthcoming. See that space next to the maps above, there is a plan for that spot, so make sure to keep an eye out for that post in the coming days.