A Little Face Lift... #4

I have another summer project for you! I'm not quite sure where it's going in my home so I can't really call it "A Little Face Lift" like the rest of my projects.  However, to keep with the series, I went with the same title & am calling it #4.  Awhile ago I stumbled upon & LOVED an idea I saw at Thirty Handmade Days.  She called it, "Come Away With Me" Personalized Map.  Oh my word, I need this is what I thought to myself!  I have no problem 'giving credit where credit is due' but I will say I viewed this post months ago & did not refer to it at all when creating my own version.  I had the idea in my head & had no need to reference the step-by-step post that she did.  However, feel free to check out her more involved post if you'd like to do something similar & my post leaves too much to be desired!
I started with a stop at The Teacher's Lounge (teacher store) in Decatur for a map.  A World Map to document our trips is irrelevant for our family.  Of course, we would love to travel world-wide, however, we plan to do most of our family vacations in the United States & explore it, first.  Therefore, I chose a U.S. map vs. a World Map for this project.
After not one, but two stops at heavenly Hobby Lobby, I had my project completed.  I took my U.S. map in with me to HL & purchased a roll of thin 'cork board' along with a 90% off clearance picture frame.  With supplies in hand, I asked the gal at the Custom Framing counter if she would put everything together for me.  Basically she was "framing" my map.  The differences: *add cork board between the map & the back of the frame *no glass
She was totally up for it & did a great job.  I think she was excited to have something a little unique to do.  She told me to shop around (force me!) & come back.  I returned after about 20 minutes to my finished product:
FRONT

 BACK

My plan is to use a straight pen & some type of sticker or paper attached to it & poke them in all of the places that we visit with Reddington.  (It's basically like a bulletin board since it has cork board behind the map.)  I can't wait to get started! 

At this point I would like to add straight pins/flags for these adventures:
-Pensacola, Florida (2009)
-Chicago, IL (multiple trips so I will not add a year to this one)
-San Francisco, CA (2011)
-Axtell, Kansas (2011)

Cost:

United States Map $2.71

18" x 24" Black Frame $4.00 

Cork Board $4.99

White Mat $10.00

Mounting $5.50

Hanger $1.00

Total = $28.20

I am a teacher & love visuals.  I think this is a great way to talk to Reddington about the trips that he's had in his life, even if he doesn't remember them.  I look forward to many more "Come Away With Me" adventures together as a family!