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Craft Tutorials | Adult Crafts | Crafts for Seniors | Road Map Birdhouses

Road Map Birdhouses

Author by Amanda Davis on April 8, 2013 Updated on December 6, 2020

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Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

 

When I go to the flea market during the warm months, I’m always looking for old maps to use in craft projects and home decor projects. Last fall I picked up a few state road maps, but each time I tried to use them in a project they just weren’t the right fit.

Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

 

inspiration for Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

However, when I saw and saved this map birdhouse project from Midwest Living on to my inspiration pinboard, I knew exactly what to do. Midwest Living instructs that you match your paint colors to the colors within your maps. That was brilliant advice, positively brilliant!

Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaroRoad maps are actually not as fun to use in projects as I had originally hoped. The roads and highways aren’t quite as glamourous as vintage maps are, hence why I was having trouble working them into a project.

Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

I bought 3 small wooden birdhouses from the craft store and opened up the maps I had to really look and see what colors they held.

Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

I decided on blue, yellow and green which matched with the lakes, cities and land masses. I used DecoArt’s Americana paints in Winter Blue, Mustard Seed, and Hauser Light Green. I also used DecoArt’s Americana Decoupage to apply the maps.

Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

First, I painted each birdhouse so they had plenty of time to dry while I worked on the maps.

Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

To make the templates, I just placed paper onto the face of the birdhouse and and traced with a pen.

Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

I used the templates I made to cut out the map pieces. Note that I made sure that I cut out map pieces with the colors of the birdhouses. For example, for the green birdhouse I used a piece of the map with a large national park area. After cutting them out I trimmed them to make sure there was wood visible along the edges. To prep the paper, I painted a layer of decoupage onto the back of each map piece and let them dry.

Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

While the maps were drying, I sanded all the edges of the birdhouses to expose the wood underneath. I prepped the surface of the birdhouses by painting the section to be decoupaged with decoupage medium. Then I applied the map to the surface and pressed out all the air. It’s important to be patient and let the decoupage dry completely, several hours, before applying the final finish coat. Bubbles occur when the final coat is applied because the paper underneath has not had a chance to dry and stick completely.

Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

Toby liked watching me. He’s a good mascot.

Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

I hope you like them! I’m really happy with how they turned out. In fact, the green birdhouse didn’t last more than a day. My daughter saw it and snagged it for her apartment. :)

Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

Road Map Birdhouses from CraftsbyAmanda.com @amandaformaro

 

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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: Crafts for Seniors, Decoupage Crafts for Adults, DIY Gift ideas, Home Decor Projects, Recycled Crafts for Adults Tagged With: adult, adult craft ideas, adult crafts, adults, birdhouses, crafts for adults, decoupage, home decor, map, maps, recycle, recycle crafts, recycled, recycled crafts

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Comments

  1. Karen Williams says

    May 20, 2024 at 3:59 pm

    I made one immediately. I knew the vintage map would come in handy someday.

    Reply
  2. Lori Hartman says

    April 28, 2017 at 8:19 am

    I loved these birdhouses. You did such a beautiful job. Do you get the blank birdhouses only at craft stores? Thanks for sharing your idea – this was wonderful.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 28, 2017 at 10:22 am

      Thanks Lori! Sometimes Walmart carries them too. You can find them online as well :)

      Reply
  3. Ann says

    March 23, 2014 at 2:34 pm

    I loved this project and made one using the Knoxville, TN map. I am just noticing that you applied the decoupage medium to the roofs of the bird houses also. Is that correct? I only applied the medium to the areas where I applied the map. Can I go back now and apply the medium to the roof?
    Thanks so much,
    Ann

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      March 24, 2014 at 6:25 am

      Hi Ann. Decoupage medium is also a sealer, which is why I applied it to the roof as well. It will give your project that added layer of protection, but it is optional. To answer your question though, yes you can go ahead and go back and do it now :) So glad you enjoyed the project!

      Reply
  4. amber whitehead says

    November 21, 2013 at 3:33 pm

    Love them . I want to make some for Christmas gifts for my Dad and grandmothers gardens. Would I have to seal them with something special for that?

    Reply
  5. nita says

    June 14, 2013 at 9:18 am

    Love the birdhouses I just got new license plates and had thought to use old ones for roof on birdhouse – how perfect with the maps!

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      June 15, 2013 at 6:23 am

      Thanks Nita! I’ve always like the birdhouses with the license plate rooves, they are cool!

      Reply
  6. Marie says

    April 15, 2013 at 7:28 pm

    These are so cute!! I love maps. I need to start making more with them!

    Reply
  7. Penny Heflin says

    April 14, 2013 at 7:42 am

    Your birdhouses are darling, so clever, thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 14, 2013 at 9:47 am

      Thank you Penny, I’m so glad you like them!

      Reply
  8. Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says

    April 13, 2013 at 7:36 pm

    Love these! I’ve always liked vintage road maps. They’re so colorful and interesting. Great way to use them in this project!

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 14, 2013 at 9:47 am

      Thank you Lana! I appreciate that, maps are one of my favorite ways to dress something up!

      Reply
  9. Crafty Gardener says

    April 13, 2013 at 2:09 pm

    Great idea using the maps to cover birdhouses. I’ve used old maps to wrap gifts or make notebook covers.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 14, 2013 at 9:49 am

      Thanks! I love working with maps, they are so interesting looking and full of character.

      Reply
  10. Maria says

    April 12, 2013 at 9:06 am

    These are so fun!

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 14, 2013 at 9:50 am

      Thank you Maria!

      Reply
  11. Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says

    April 12, 2013 at 9:05 am

    Awesome! I love maps, and love to display ones from our travels in different ways – thanks!

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 14, 2013 at 9:51 am

      Thanks Brenda, yes maps are a really fun way to create keepsakes too!

      Reply
  12. Angie @ Big Bear's Wife says

    April 12, 2013 at 8:32 am

    ahhh that green one is my favorite!!

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 14, 2013 at 9:51 am

      Thank you Angie! I think the blue one is my favorite :)

      Reply
  13. Esh says

    April 11, 2013 at 3:23 am

    This is very nice idea.. I love it.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 14, 2013 at 9:52 am

      Thanks Esh, that’s very nice of you!

      Reply
  14. June says

    April 10, 2013 at 1:02 pm

    I have like you saved maps for craft use
    Would be good to get loads of other uses…………………?
    I covered a lampshade

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 14, 2013 at 9:53 am

      lamp shades are lovely done with maps :)

      Reply
  15. Cookie 17 says

    April 9, 2013 at 10:08 pm

    i have lot little bird houses thank’s for great ideas,,Tops again Cookie 17

    Reply
  16. Becky says

    April 9, 2013 at 2:34 pm

    I love this!

    Reply
  17. Jodi says

    April 9, 2013 at 11:52 am

    Soooooooooooo super cute! LOVE THEM!

    Reply
  18. Geri Johnson says

    April 8, 2013 at 11:03 pm

    Hi! I love your little map birdhouses! The turned out so cute! I need to make some map birdhouses to add to my collection. I have a bunch that I’ve made that sit up on a shelf in my kitchen. I’ve decorated them with wrapping paper, fabric, beads, lace, ribbons, buttons, paint, glitter, napkins, pearls – you name it I’ve probably put it on a birdhouse! :D”

    If you have a minute you can see my collection starting here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3801212942291&set=a.3801211942266.2149012.1036342162&type=3&theater

    My Aunt Joan saw my birdhouses & she said she wanted one so I made her 3 new ones so she could have/start her own collection & you can see them starting here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3954174606237&set=a.3954171886169.2152706.1036342162&type=3&theater

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 10, 2013 at 6:22 am

      A wonderful collection Geri, thank you so much for sharing it!

      Reply

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