Kids’ Entryway with Free Printable

Once I had the kids’ coat rack hung up on the wall, I decided I wanted to add a few more touches to officially make it the space for the Jackson kids. Andrew’s mom gave us a series of books by Nancy Tillman, and I especially love “Wherever You Go My Love Will Find You.” Emily is also fascinated by maps so I thought it would be fun to put the two together. This took me months. I tried hand lettering. I tried lettering on an iPad. I tried all sorts of different writing utensils. Bottom line, I am currently not a hand letterer. So I decided instead of doing something I am not, I pulled up illustrator and designed the text and added a few pen-tooled hearts.  I printed onto a map of the midwest that had been loved to pieces (literally) by Emily and put it in a frame.  I really like how it turned out, although I am in search of a map I like better.

I also added the Jackson sign that I welded at BYU the second semester after we were married. I felt like this sign was super significant in my transformation from a Moose to  Jackson. That name changing thing was hard after being such a crucial part of my identity, and I felt like as I heating and bending and welding the metal I was changing me too.

Emily is in a big why phase right now and sure enough, she asked me why we were putting these things up.  When they leave our home I want them to remember that we love them no matter what, no matter where they are, and that they are Jacksons. “Why?” (asks Emily). Because when you remember who you are, you make better choices, and when you make a bad choice you remember we can help you.

I’m including the pdf so you can print your own 4×6 sign.  Simply download, print on a 8×11 piece of paper and cut out along the print lines.  I’d love to see what you print it on! Leave a link in the comments section or tag me on Instagram @jessicajacksn.