Election Souvenirs

I've always loved souvenirs. When I was a little girl, I had a shadow box that I filled with little figurines that my parents brought me back from their trips abroad or that I purchased with my precious spending money when we traveled as a family.  My love for souvenirs and collections grew and I have little collections of all sorts of things throughout my home. 

My grandmother was also a collector and when passed away I was the lucky recipient of several of her collections including match books and boxes from her travels in Asia,  never used mid century modern dish towels, bright colored mixing bowls, and election pins. 

The election pins are fascinating. They go back as far as Eisenhower and they are for democrats and republicans. They are souvenirs that don't celebrate a place, but a point in time. 

A few weeks ago I was in a consignment store in Williamsburg, VA and I came across this souvenir plate from the election of JFK. I almost bought it! I thought it would but cute to display my pins in, but ultimately decided against it. I think I'm going to make some sort of framed display with them. I'll be sure to post that project here. 

This plate, my pins, and an oversized coloring pages of the current presidential candidates got me thinking about election souvenirs - and I thought it would be fun to design a couple of Paint by Number kits for the 2016 election. 

We want to make the election colorful in a good way! Paint by numbers are proven to be relaxing and can be a great tool to help keep yourself calm when the name calling and rhetoric gets out of hand. Imagine watching the debates while you paint!

For every kit sold, we'll donate 10% to a non-partisan charity with a mission is aligned with each candidate's platform.  Disclaimer: to our knowledge, neither candidate endorses or personally contributes to the charities we have selected. 

For all elephants sold, 10% of each sale will go to the Fisher House. The organization is best know for its network of homes where the families of veterans can stay free of charge while a loved one is receiving medical treatment. For all donkeys sold, 10% of each sale will go to Carry the Future, an organization that provides baby carriers and other basic supports to refugee families with children. 

Kits are available with or without the candidates names. Click here to purchase your kit - kits will be available until midnight on election day, Nov. 8, 2016