Digital cameras are amazing-- however, if you don't print out the photos and put them in albums-- the awesome photos are lost.
I've come up with two ways to document our Bus Adventures. One is more for me. One is more for Toad.
PART 1: PHOTOBOOKS
I discovered ArtsCow last year. I am really happy with the quality. They have amazing deals! The best part is you can put in coupon codes and all these free things end up in your account, and you can redeem them later. http://www.artscow.com/
ArtsCow has amazing photobooks. I think the most I have ever paid is about $10. The shipping is from China, so it is a bit slow-- but I love the quality and colour of the books.
The software is easy to use, and I love the "AutoFill" option. I usually dont put alot of text (I can't be bothered), but just the photos. I put them on the bus, and I love looking at them!
Here is the latest one:
PART 2: GEOGRAPHY QUILT
The second way is for Toad. He is very interested in Geography (and every other subject for that matter). There are map magnets you can buy, stickers, etc. First, Adam wouldn't allow stickers or magnets of any kind on the bus. For the record, we do have magnets on the fridge-- but the type of maps I am talking about have to go on the outside of the bus, or the inside of the door. The bus door is not magnetic (nor is stainless steel).
So, I started looking on Etsy. I found some fabric-- and I started to think of how I could use it.
I loved the colour! I loved that it included Canada!I found out they were "panels". Meaning, it wasn't a piece of fabric with a pattern, but each panel had one map. Perfect! Just needed to find one at a reasonable price.
I looked on eBay-- my go-to place to shop, and found an awesome seller who had the panel and some great fabric for the back.
Now to figure it out! I had the fabric for the front, some for the back.
I consulted my mother-in-law, who is an amazing quilter. She helped me figure out that I needed something to "sandwich" inbetween. I went to FabricLand and bought "Warm and Natural", and some fabric for a binding.
We spent a morning putting it together.
I came home and hand stitched the binding.
A week or two later, I machine-quilted some of the "borders", to keep everything together.
So what is it? It's a lap quilt for Toad. Each state we visit, I will put a "button" (to quilt and for visual purposes). This way, he can see the map and where we have traveled!
Hope to have quite a few more buttons on there in the next year!
