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Craft Tutorials | Adult Crafts | Home Decor Projects | Decorative Framed Map

Decorative Framed Map

Author by Amanda Davis on March 21, 2010 Updated on July 18, 2019

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I’ve seen some pretty cool looking frames around the blog world lately. Taking an old frame and turning it into something new is something I love to do, creating fun wall art. I have noticed that a lot of crafters are using vinyl lettering to dress up their projects. Those vinyl letters are truly awesome, but I didn’t have any… so I improvised. I used several items from around the house in order to make my own letters. Here’s how to make your own.

Be sure to check out all of my home decor projects.

Decorative Framed Map

an old cheap 8×10 frame, missing the glass
page out of a road atlas
a strip of burlap
a brown paper grocery bag
thick piece of cardboard
scissors
craft knife
black paint

ruler
pen
glue stick
white craft glue
font file (or type your own letters in Word, I used the “Angelina” font)
 

Measure the inside of the frame, then cut your cardboard just slightly smaller than that (by about a centimeter). Decide where you want your map positioned, then use a glue stick to attach the cardboard to the back of it.

Turn it over and smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles, making sure your map surface is nice and flat. Turn it back over and glue the excess map to the back of the cardboard.

 

Paint the frame with a coat or two of black acrylic craft paint and let it dry.

When dry, spray it with an acrylic sealer, gloss or matte, whatever you prefer. You can even use a little bit of white glue mixed with water to add a coat of sealant.

 

In order to make the letters, paint a section of the brown grocery bag with black paint. Print out the font file and use a black sharpie marker to trace around the letters, making them bigger.

Next, position it over the top of the black section of the bag and trace around the letters using a pen.

The indentations will carry through to the bag. Carefully cut the letters out, use a craft knife to get the center of the letters “a” and “o”.

 
Cut a 7″x2″ strip of brown paper bag and a 6″ x 2″ strip of burlap. Trim the burlap to fit onto the bag strip, pull a bit of the threads out to tatter it a bit. Set at least one long burlap thread aside. Line the bag strip with white craft glue and smooth it with your finger. Attach the burlap to the bag strip. Spread white craft glue onto the back of the letter “v” and press onto the burlap. Repeat for all the letters. Attach the completed strip to the map with white craft glue.
 
Insert the completed map into the frame. Tie one of the spare burlap threads into a small bow. Trim the ends and glue to the bottom right corner of the frame.
 
© Copyright Amanda Formaro
 
 
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Decorative Framed Map

Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

  • an old cheap 8x10 frame missing the glass
  • page out of a road atlas
  • a strip of burlap
  • a brown paper grocery bag
  • thick piece of cardboard
  • scissors
  • craft knife
  • black paint
  • ruler
  • pen
  • glue stick
  • white craft glue
  • font file or type your own letters in Word, I used the "Angelina" font

Instructions

  • Measure the inside of the frame, then cut your cardboard just slightly smaller than that (by about a centimeter). Decide where you want your map positioned, then use a glue stick to attach the cardboard to the back of it. Turn it over and smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles, making sure your map surface is nice and flat. Turn it back over and glue the excess map to the back of the cardboard.
  • Paint the frame with a coat or two of black acrylic craft paint and let it dry. When dry, spray it with an acrylic sealer, gloss or matte, whatever you prefer. You can even use a little bit of white glue mixed with water to add a coat of sealant.
  • In order to make the letters, paint a section of the brown grocery bag with black paint. Print out the font file and use a black sharpie marker to trace around the letters, making them bigger. Next, position it over the top of the black section of the bag and trace around the letters using a pen. The indentations will carry through to the bag. Carefully cut the letters out, use a craft knife to get the center of the letters "a" and "o".
  • Cut a 7"x2" strip of brown paper bag and a 6" x 2" strip of burlap. Trim the burlap to fit onto the bag strip, pull a bit of the threads out to tatter it a bit. Set at least one long burlap thread aside. Line the bag strip with white craft glue and smooth it with your finger. Attach the burlap to the bag strip. Spread white craft glue onto the back of the letter "v" and press onto the burlap. Repeat for all the letters. Attach the completed strip to the map with white craft glue.
  • Insert the completed map into the frame. Tie one of the spare burlap threads into a small bow. Trim the ends and glue to the bottom right corner of the frame.

To see other great craft projects from this week, visit the following Craft Carnivals that I am participating in (see the McLinky below)!

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Amanda Davis
Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.
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Filed Under: Home Decor Projects Tagged With: adult, adult craft ideas, adult crafts, adults, crafts, crafts for adults, frugal, map, recycle crafts, rustic, wall art

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Comments

  1. Anu@My Dream Canvas says

    April 2, 2011 at 11:56 am

    Lovely blog, hope to see you at My Dream Canvas!

    Reply
  2. Jessica Hills says

    March 28, 2010 at 6:25 am

    This gives me so many ideas! I love doing things with maps! Thanks so much for linking to Favorite Things Friday!

    Reply
  3. Laura says

    March 27, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    This looks so great. I'd love to try it!

    I'm featuring a necklace tutorial and giveaway. I'd love it if you stopped by my blog!

    Reply
  4. Anne says

    March 27, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    That looks great! I love the idea of using maps to decorate.

    Reply
  5. Jenn Miyamoto says

    March 27, 2010 at 4:39 am

    Wow! What a great way to dress up that frame! I love the whole map idea!
    Jenn

    Reply
  6. Amanda says

    March 27, 2010 at 2:28 am

    Thanks everyone!

    Reply
  7. Heather says

    March 26, 2010 at 3:18 pm

    Very cute and creative, I love it! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  8. Andy Porter says

    March 26, 2010 at 1:02 pm

    That's cute! I like the idea of having maps for decoration. I like the vacation embellishment!

    Thanks for linking to CC!

    Reply
  9. Lori says

    March 26, 2010 at 12:56 am

    This turned out great!

    Thanks for joining Get Your Craft on Thursday. Please join me next week for another great party. Don’t forget to stop by and enter my giveaway. I’ll announce the winner at next weeks party!

    Reply
  10. Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden says

    March 26, 2010 at 12:11 am

    You're so creative. I love the idea of preserving a vacation memory this way!

    Thanks for linking up to Make it Yours day at My Backyard Eden!

    Reply
  11. Amanda says

    March 25, 2010 at 11:59 pm

    Thank you CC! You are so sweet to say all of that ;) My friend adored those ornaments, and I loved making them!

    Thanks to everyone for your wonderful comments! :)

    Reply
  12. fawnda says

    March 25, 2010 at 6:39 pm

    I love this! We are thinking of doing a travel themed room… I will have to keep this in mind! :)

    Reply
  13. Lanie Ree says

    March 25, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    This is so cute! My husband is a little bit obsessed with maps. I see this in our future…

    Thank you for linking this to A Little Craft Therapy with Life in the Pitts.

    Reply
  14. FrouFrouBritches says

    March 24, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    What a great idea! That is really cute! I don't have cricut so I don't have vinyl letters either. Great way to use what ya got!

    Reply
  15. Melissa says

    March 24, 2010 at 8:00 pm

    The burlap label makes it!! Very cute…

    Reply
  16. Sherry says

    March 24, 2010 at 7:41 pm

    What a neat idea! Love it.
    Win Rachael Ray bake ware at my blog.
    Thanks!

    Reply
  17. Creative Decor by Brooke says

    March 24, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    I love how simple that is. You could do one for every vacation you go on and hang them in and office or somewhere. Love it!
    Brooke

    Reply
  18. Stephanie Lynn says

    March 23, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    What a fabulous idea! Love it!

    Reply
  19. Whimsical Creations says

    March 23, 2010 at 6:56 pm

    What a cute idea!

    Reply
  20. Bonnie @ House of Grace says

    March 23, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    Hi, following you from Frugal Family. Thanks for sharing. I am your newest follower. I can't wait to see what else you do.
    Bonnie
    http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  21. Alison says

    March 23, 2010 at 5:43 am

    What a great idea!!

    Reply
  22. Kim says

    March 23, 2010 at 1:23 am

    This is so cute – I love maps!

    Reply
  23. creative gal says

    March 21, 2010 at 6:30 pm

    I love it!!

    Reply
  24. Deeba PAB says

    March 21, 2010 at 3:57 pm

    Love it! Really do and as you say, yes indeed, the possibilities are immense!

    Reply
  25. Megan says

    March 21, 2010 at 3:07 pm

    Very cool! I can imagine the possibility's

    Reply
  26. CC says

    March 21, 2010 at 4:54 am

    It's beautiful Amanda. I love it and I've been looking at some of your other craft ideas and older posts..great goodness!!! You are so talented. Everything you create is just as sweet and pretty as can be. In one of your older posts,I was looking at the North Woods Christmas ornaments you made for your friend. This is my dil's favorite look. She would love,love,love these. I thought of her when I saw them.
    I didn't mean to write a novel to you..I just wanted you to know how much I'm liking your crafts and your pretty blog. Thanks for sharing with all of us.

    Reply

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