About five years ago I came upon a wonderful large paper map of Idaho.  (yes, you are right, I got it from a de-junking pile at an elementary school!) 
My husband has a passion for the back-country of Idaho where he has spent many a summer hiking, camping, canoeing, working, fishing, you name it.....
So I was super ecstatic to find this map. 
But alas, I didn't really know where to hang it, and I couldn't figure out how either....
The only thing I could think of was framing it, but I really didn't want to spend the $$$$$$ on that custom framing job....

So there it sat, rolled up in a closet for YEARS!!!!!

Well, it finally hit me:  I figured it all out....
I would hang it roll-down school-map style!

And now our map hangs happily on the wall in the living room.  And I like it there!

It was super easy to do and I spent less than $10 (on the two dowels)
(the map was free.... )
I would have hung the whole thing on a cord at the top, but our ceilings aren't super high, so I wanted to save the space.

If we ever move to a house with taller ceilings I will probably add that....

:)

Anyway, I really like the way this map looks on this large wall.
The colors are simple and calm.  So peaceful for our living/family room.  Perfect.

The library catalog?
I bought it about a year ago on Craigslist. 
It was kinda pricy, but in great condition...  so I couldn't just resist it....

I was so excited that two milk-crates fit PERFECTLY underneath the card catalog!
I use them for my magazines:  Ensign on the left:  New Era and Friend on the right....

I took pictures as I put this map together.  I couldn't believe how easy it was. 
So the tutorial follows....
Hope you like it!
:)



(Note the number love on the vintage shoe makers form....  Love it!)

• How do you like my map?
• What would be your number one map choice?
• Which country/state/city?
  

Materials Needed:

• Large Map
• Two Dowels
• Masking Tape
• Duct Tape
• Two Nails

 
Tips:

• I bought my two 48-inch dowels at Ace Hardware.  I was so lucky: they were the exact right length! 
• After staining the dowels I let them dry for a couple of days before attaching the map.
• I would have used white duct tape, but I didn't have any, and when I checked, the yellow did not show through, so........ I just used what  I had on hand...)
• Position the back side of the map correctly in relation to the dowel using tiny pieces of masking tape.
• Go right over top of the masking tape with the duct tape.
• Use just a skinny edge of the duct tape on the dowel (we wouldn't want it to show on the front....)
• Push down firmly
  
• Don't go all the way to the end:  we don't want to duct tape to show....
• Place one dowel at the top, and one at the bottom of your map. 
  
• Hang your map using two nails:  one on the left top, and one on the right top.

Your map will hang very nice and straight (the weight of the bottom dowel keeps it from rolling back up)

Watch the photos below for some visual instructions:

Remember this pillow I made in the spring?
I really like this particular one because it has a good thick sweater look...  Cozy winter comfort kinda pillow......
Well, guess what.....it is famous now.....

{Do you think she will remember me....????}

Yay!!!
Who would have ever thought that our sweater pillow would make it to a magazine!
How lucky we are!
It was so fun to go out to mailbox and find the current GreenCraft Magazine in there, and discovering we had our pillow in the pages...!!!!!  :)

{...insert me doing a happy dance....}

Here we are:  on pages 32,33, and 34.
A wonderful rust colored super soft awesome vintage style sweater pillow....

Don't you just love it...
Can't you just see yourself taking a little nap on the couch, cozy with your head on this snugly pillow....
Makes me sleepy just thinking of it....  :-)

I have made an easy to follow tutorial called "Printing Numbers Onto Fabric at Home" that has simple step-by step directions with lots of pictures on five pages.

Getting rid of your favorite sweater is hard to do, so instead of donating it to charity or throwing it in the garbage, do what we do:  fashion it into a snugly center-piece for your sofa!

If you want to make your own sweater-number pillow, you just go, girl!

• Instructions on how to sew the pillow are FREE at the bottom of this post AND in the magazine {The file is the  same article as in the magazine...}
  
• If you would like the FREE PDF file on how to make those fun number-prints....  that is also included at the bottom...  :-)
  

For your sewing pleasure!
Enjoy!!!!   :)
Crystelle

I am ready for spring to start, and I thought that perhaps if I counted down to spring, it would come more quickly....
Kind of like when you count sheep, sleep comes more quickly....
Do you think it will work.....?????
I'm hoping....

Here it goes:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9......

These wonderfully soft sweaters deserved a new lease on life…. So I took them
Washed them
Now they smell soooo good and are super-soft….

These pillows are looking forward to living in your home and spending many hours on the couch together, nibbling on yummy snacks, watching movies, and enjoying little naps…. And when you are too busy to sit down and relax, they will do their very best to sit quiet and look cute...


*size: 14 x 14 inches (37.5 x 37.5 cm)
*includes fluffy pillow insert
*zippered closure at the bottom
*Spot-clean only please, and you and her will enjoy many happy years together…!!!

To make your own printed number on fabric, just download the "Printing Numbers Onto Fabrics" PDF file at the bottom of this post....
Enjoy...!!!!




:-)
Crystelle