After making these tags with a US map die, I got the idea to use it to make a record of what states I have spotted Bigfoot in. And the project grew from there.
I needed a place to put it, after all! So a diorama took shape. Bigfoot and I have the west mostly covered, so we’re going to have to make our way eastward. The background paper is a topo map printed cardstock, the borders and states are cut from a small Bigfoot print. The little airplane in Texas indicates where I ran into him in an airport. It’s a stamp on thin paper, so when I can cover it with the Bigfoot print, it won’t make a lump.
Underneath the US map is a stack of suitcases. One “crocodile” and the other covered in travel “stickers” - fussy cut bits from a travel themed cardstock. The passport is from the same cardstock, but it’s glued to two layers of white cardstock to make it look more like the pages of a passport. Look at the tiny little buckles! EEP! I used 2 sizes of matchbox dies to make them; they are glued shut.
But this suitcase is not glued shut! It holds the rest of the state cutouts and some more airplanes. As well as some numbers for part of the details on the back.
Behind this suitcase is a list of other countries where I have seen Bigfoot. (He was purchased for the first ever trip that TheMisterT and I took together, which was to the Czech Republic in 2007) It’s mounted on mat board and attached with magnets so I can easily add more to the list. I cut them with a die, too, just to make them look tidy. We have a family trip for 2026 that would add 4 more if it all works out.
There’s a recessed area for Bigfoot to set his feet to make him just a little more stable in here.
I used paper brads to attach a sawtooth hanger on the back. The tops are on the inside above his head and the ends are covered with these star embellishments. I had originally used just E6000 to glue it to the back, but didn’t trust it to support this. Removing it, of course, tore the brown paper a bit, so I cut the film and put more of the Bigfoot print in the frames. All of Bigfoot’s adventures are photographed, so even though it’s a fix, it still ties into my ongoing BF project. 
The back also has a description of the piece and the dates. I’ve left the last two numbers off - and have a full selection in that little suitcase to add when the time comes. Each letter and number (and punctuation) is individually cut! It really wasn’t that bad.
The top and sides are covered with the same topo map paper as the map base, but I used a grid embossing folder to add interest and tie back to the grid paper he stands on. The top has the title: Leave Only Footprints from the phrase about responsible hiking: “Take only memories/photos, leave only footprints.” It seemed fitting since Bigfoot is famous for leaving footprints and this is mounted next to a digital frame that cycles through pics of him in the places we’ve seen each other.
He was already hanging out there, but on a different “stand.” I just rearranged a few things on the gallery wall.
BONUS: It’s all made from stash! WOO! I thought I was going to end up buying something to trim the edges of the main box and the shelf part, but I found the tree ribbon in the holiday gift wrapping stuff and cut little 1/8" strips of dark blue for the box.
SHINES 