The year 2008 was a Presidential election year in the United States. Just Born®, the makers of PEEPS®, contacted me in June 2008 with ideas for an election project. They wanted PEEPS® to be involved in the election and wanted to encourage people to get out and vote. They commissioned me to create a display using PEEPS® to promote the election and voting. I eagerly accepted the challenge!

Following is the Just Born® press release announcing the event.

Just Born® contacted me in June 2008 with ideas for an election project. They wanted PEEPS® to be involved in the election and wanted to encourage people to get out and vote.

Ideas from Just Born® included:
- A large 3 dimensional sculptural artwork on a base.
- PEEPS® for all seasons lined up going to vote for President.
- Humorous & creative.
- Worth talking about!

After our initial discussions I began to design the project. I came up with mulitple sketches of ideas of PEEPS® voting. They reviewed and refined the ideas I came up with. Another round of discussions and sketches ensued and a final drawing was approved.

Once this step was completed I needed to estimate to number of PEEPS® needed. I did some rough measurements of the sizes of the objects I would create and then came up with some numbers. I submitted these to Just Born and they shipped out boxes and boxes and boxes of PEEPS®!

Now construction of the project could begin. I started with flag backdrop. I used matted frames and glued the PEEPS® to them in a stars and stripes pattern. Next I created the "Big PEEP". I created a form in the shape of a PEEP out of foamboard and screening. It was covered with plaster then painted yellow. The form was then covered in yellow PEEPS® chicks; a giant PEEP made of PEEPS®!

The base of the project was built of wood, foamboard and screening. I created a hill where a voting booth would be located and a pathway leading to it where the individual PEEPS® would line up to vote. The base and hills were covered on cloth and painted green. The pathway was paved with TEENEE BEANEE® Jelly Beans. I created the voting booth and voting signs from foamboard.

Now that all of the individual components of the project were complete I could bring it all together. The big PEEP and voting booth were placed on the base. PEEPS® were added along the path and in the voting booth. The trees were added to the hillside and green jelly beans were filled in as landscape.

The project was now complete. Just Born® was very pleased with the final project ... as was I. Not only does it look great, but it smells great too. The banana, lime and watermelon jelly beans as well as the vanilla and strawberry hearts really add a scent of sweet success to the project!