Several people asked how I made my world map after I posted a photo on Instagram. Well...I can't take all of the credit, because I got the idea on Pinterest. I think this may be the most successful craft project I've attempted after finding it on Pinterest. And just know...if I can do it, then so can you.

 

What you'll need:
3 canvases (I used the ones that come in the two-pack at hobby lobby
World map (I bought mine ab Books a Million, but I'd imagine you could find them on Amazon as well)
Modge Podge
Brush

The hardest part is measuring your map and knowing where to cut it. For a reference, I cut mine along the 75 and 155 degree longitude lines. Leave room to wrap the map around the edges as well. You will also need to trim the top and bottom considerably. I lost Antarctica on mine...oops.

Once you measure and cut the map into thirds, the rest is easy. Spread a very thin layer of Modge Podge on your canvas using a sponge brush. Make sure it is thin and even so you don't end up with wrinkles like mine. Unless you want to go for the old, distressed look.

Finally, carefully lay one section of your map over the first canvas. Starting in the center, smooth the bubbles out of the map, working your way to the edges. I like to think of this process like putting a screen protector on your phone. Let your canvasses dry laying flat overnight.

If you love to travel, begin placing pins on each of the cities you've visited and watch as you see the world, on step at a time.

I've always been told that I have neat handwriting. And that I hold my pens and pencils strange, but I blame my teachers for never correcting me. For Christmas, I recieved a basic tool kit to teach myself calligraphy. I've always wanted to have a hobby/creative talent, and thought, what better time to start?

So now I am in search of tutorials and youtube videos to teach myself.

The front-runner (and most expensive at $95) is the 30 day online course supervised by Melissa Esplin of I Still Love Calligraphy. With 8 lessons and printable guides for practice, you will learn Copperplate Calligraphy and pointed pen techniques. While in the course, you can upload your work and get feedback from Melissa each week. On top of teaching the traditional techniques, she also talks about how to put your own spin on it.

Here are other sites and tutorials that I have found.

1. The Flourish Forum's Contemporary Pointed Pen Calligraphy tutorial

2. Digital download beginner tutorial (including terminology, how to dip a pen, etc.)

3. Modern Calligraphy by graphic designer Molly Suber Thorpe (blog: Plurabelle)

And now for a little inspiration.  

MELISSA ESPLIN | I STILL LOVE CALLIGRAPHY

MISS B | BESOTTED             

MOLLY | PLURABELLE         

You may remember making these in elementry school. 

You may also remember wanting to desperately eat them

because they so closely resemble gingerbread cookies. 

But after that first bite, you would have been

sadly mistaken and secretly wished 

that your teacher would have had the class 

bake cookies instead.

Fast forward many years, 

and it's still not too late to recreate this childhood memory. 

Especially if you have little ones in your house 

who are anxious for a man to shimmy down their chimney 

tonight.

You might remember these that I sent to my 

merry mail group. 

If you plan on mailing these, 

pack them ever so carefully 

so they do not turn into cinnamon potpourri.  

Recipe from Katy Elliott

All you will need is: 

1 cup applesauce

1 1/2 cup cinnamon (about 3-4 of the packages sold in the grocery)

cookie cutters

a straw/toothpick to poke holes

string

Mix 1 cup of applesauce with 1 cup of cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix, mix, mix. This is the kinda recipe you’ll need to use your hands to really incorporate the spices. Make sure you don’t miss any wet spots. Add the additional 1/2 cup of cinnamon, cloves and continue to incorporate. If it’s too wet add more cinnamon, too dry add more applesauce. But be patient. It takes time to mix so don’t add cinnamon or applesauce till you’re absolutely sure it’s well mixed.

Scatter some cinnamon (like if you were rolling out cookies with flour) and roll out applesauce/cinnamon dough to 1/4″ thick. If the dough is too wet it will make a huge mess and stick to your rolling pin.

Use your cookie cutters to cut out the hearts. I noticed the first time around my dough was too wet and the edges were straggly. Once I add more cinnamon the edges were clean.

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the hearts on a cookie sheet with a silpat. The hearts can be really close together but not touching; they won’t rise in the oven. Using a skewer carefully make a hole through each heart. Stick the ornaments in the oven for an hour or more. The juice from the applesauce needs to evaporate. The range in cooking time depends on your house, humidity and climate. My house is cold so I had them in for 1.5 hours and then I turned the oven off and left them to set overnight. They should be rock hard. If they’re not, give them some more time in the oven.

On Christmas morning, they will be ready to hang on the tree and leave the living room smelling like Christmas.

 The following are a few more photos to get you in the Christmas spirit:

When you don't have a fireplace (or heating)

you put on a second layer of socks,

and gather by the space heater 

to eat your milk and cookies. 

In a perfect world, I would take weekly trips to the spa and live in a white terrycloth robe and slippers. Since this is not a perfect world and I am sporadically employed right now, I will have to put said dream on hold. 

Have no fear, because the internet is full of DIY spa treatments and the following ones are tried and proven by yours truly. Why not have a grown up spa girls night in? Instead of painting your nails with every color of glitter polish and giving "makeovers" you can actually try and benefit your skin.

Who knows, maybe with the money you save on a trip to the spa, you can splurge and get the white robe, because I think it really makes all the difference. (See my post on wanting to live in a white robe, like Rachel Zoe here.)

1. Brightening Toner

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 cup water
2/3 cup Witch Hazel
Plastic bottle

Mix ingredients in the bottle. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Pat face dry. Apply toner with a cotton ball, sweeping upward and outward over your face and neck. Apply moisturizer. 

2. Body Scrub

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup olive oil 

(if you like, you can add vanilla and honey)

Mix ingredients together. Use in the shower and rinse. 

4. Listerine Foot Soak

1/2 cup vinegar

1/2 cup Listerine

5 cups warm water

Let your feet soak for about 10 minutes, or until the water starts to become cool. The dead skin will practically fall off and if you have a pumice stone, you can do some damage to calluses. 

What is your favorite at-home spa treatment?