When I think about the start of summer, my mind doesn’t go to a beach, a pool, or even a backyard barbecue.
It goes back to family road trips.
Growing up, summer meant packing up the car and heading out to explore. We visited theme parks, state parks, national parks, and just about every roadside attraction we could find. At the end of each adventure, my parents had a tradition. Instead of buying expensive souvenirs, they would let me pick out a felt pennant to remember the trip.
Those pennants hung on my bedroom wall for years. Each one represented a memory, a place, and a story. They weren’t just decorations. They were reminders of family adventures, winding roads, campfires, and discovering new places together.
So for my Summer Kickoff project, I decided to bring that childhood tradition back to life with my own handmade twist.
Using my LOKLiK iEngrave, I created a collection of layered wooden National Park pennants inspired by the vintage felt pennants I collected as a kid. Every piece was laser cut, assembled, and hand painted to capture the spirit of some of America’s most iconic parks.
Yellowstone National Park features towering mountains, evergreen forests, a steaming geyser, and a grazing bison.
Rocky Mountain National Park showcases dramatic mountain peaks with a majestic elk standing proudly in the foreground.
Glacier National Park highlights snow capped mountains, crystal blue water, and a wandering bear.
Grand Canyon National Park celebrates the colorful layers of the canyon with a soaring eagle above the winding river below.
Joshua Tree National Park brings the desert to life with vibrant colors, a winding trail, towering Joshua trees, and desert cacti.
What makes these extra special to me is that they combine two things I love: crafting and travel. Every layer, every brush stroke, and every detail reminds me of those childhood summers when the journey itself was the adventure.
This project officially kicks off my summer crafting season and serves as a reminder that sometimes the best inspiration comes from the memories we carry with us for a lifetime.
What summer memories inspire your creativity?
