Posted on: December 8, 2010

Travel A to Z

Create a visual reminder of the year’s favorite travels with a mantle-worthy craft

Anh-Minh Le’s A to Z poster serves as a visual travelogue of places she has visited. Photographs from various cities peer from behind cut-out letters. Since the letters frame a limited view, photographs with bold colors or those that are abstract in nature work best.

Materials

22 x 28" poster board

26 A to Z alphabet stencils, 4" tall

(available at craft stores)

Up to 26 photos (4 x 6") of cities/places, one for each letter of the alphabet

Colored paper

22 x 28" picture frame Tools

Ruler

Soft lead pencil

Painter’s tape or removable tape

Cutting mat

Small utility knife and replacement blades

Instructions

1. On a clean, flat work surface, place your poster board face down and orient vertically.

2. On an area next to your poster board, arrange your alphabet stencils in five rows (as shown below).

Finished size as shown: 22 x 28"

A B C D E

F G H I J K

L M N O P

Q R S T U

V W X Y Z

3. Using your ruler and pencil, mark a 2" margin along the top and bottom of the poster board. Draw horizontal lines for each row every 4" with a 1" margin between rows.

4. Starting with letters A through E (row 1) tape the stencils to the poster board face down. You will be working in reverse starting with the letter E on the left-hand side and ending with A on the far right. Space the letters evenly across the guideline. Carefully trace each stencil with your pencil.

5. Repeat Step 4 for the remaining rows-letters F through K (row 2), L through P (row 3), Q through U (row 4), and V through Z (row 5).

6. Place your cutting mat underneath the poster board. With a small utility knife, slowly cut out each letter. Use your ruler with your knife to achieve straight edges. Replace the blade every 10 to 15 cuts, especially if you are using the blade's tip. For cutting curves, do not cut all the way through on the first cut. First score the curve with the blade, then run the knife along the curve. It may take two or three passes before you cut all the way through the poster board.

7. Organize your travel photos alphabetically from A to Z. Tape each photograph to the poster board face down in the corresponding letter opening. For example, a snapshot from Amsterdam would be taped over the letter A. Trim pictures, if necessary. If you do not have enough travel photos to fill all the letters, simply cut and tape a colored piece of paper as a placeholder. Flip the board over to make sure the photos are showing through the letters.

8. Place the poster board face down and secure it in your picture frame.

Craft and images courtesy of “Crafting a Meaningful Home: 27 DIY Projects to Tell Stories, Hold Memories, and Celebrate Family Heritage” (STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book, 2010)