DIY project: Map frames

This project is one that I had really been looking forward to completing since Nick and I came back from all of our crazy travels this year. I was inspired by Pintrest posts that had pictures of people on their wedding day with a newspaper from that same day surrounding the picture. However, I modified it for travelling by putting maps from wherever we were when the picture in the frame was taken as the mat. 
It was also really important for me to get each place that was significant for us during our trip on the frame. This took a bit of collaging but I didn't want to forget about any of the places we have been!

I am so so so excited to continue adding to the pictures as we travel more- and I also find it is a really nice way to summarize a trip! When you get back from a big trip or even a small vacation, it is sometimes hard to get back into the groove of normal life, and sometimes I find it is also easy to forget all about where you just were! It is really important to me to bring the experiences that I have had into my everyday life; the lessons I learned, the friends I made etc., and this small craft project allows me to reminisce about it all while I'm completing it, and serves as a daily reminder to appreciate those experiences and draw from them daily. This was just a fun way for me to showcase the travels that we have done as a couple- and although we sort of have a mini shrine for our relationship, I really love having all those memories displayed in such a neat way! 

If you want a how-to for the project then keep reading!

Picture frame map craft!

How to:

It wasn't a very difficult project (although printing the pictures was kind of a hassle- I'll explain later), but it did get a little bit expensive with the picture frames so be aware of that!

What you need:
-ModgePodge
-Paint brush
-exacto knife
-ruler
-mats of your desired size
-picture frames
-maps- try to collect these while travelling but if not there is a really cool Map store in Halifax where you can send your best friend Dana who lives there to pick up the weird maps for you (like Australia and Botswana/Zimbabwe)- other more local maps you should be able to get at Chapters. 
-your favourite photos!

First things first you need to pick your frames and photos. For the frames I suggest going to Michael's- they always have sweet sales on and always have awesome coupons that if you pay enough attention, you can combine the two! As for pictures, pick your favourites, and get them printed anywhere- I do not suggest doing it online because sometimes they print funny- just go into the store and do all the aligning yourself, its less confusing. 

Once you've picked which pictures you want in which frames, cut up the maps so that the places that you want to showcase will be on the front of the mat. For some of the frames I cut out a whole bunch of places, and for others, there was only one place that mattered to me so I just stuck the mat on the map in the right spot and traced around it. Make sure you leave a bit of space so you can fold the map around the back of the mat for nice clean lines (also when you do this be sure to cut the corners so they fold nicely!).

Now you're ready to modge podge! I painted it onto the front of the mat, stuck the map on there, then flipped it over and put more modge podge on the back to stick the folded over bits down. Then I gave the whole mat (front and back!) another layer of the stuff to keep it from peeling, and give it a nice finish. 

Now just let 'em dry and put them in your frames! YOU'RE DONE! wahoo!

TIP- make sure you stick the maps on the mats the right way up considering your pictures, if they are landscape or portrait, otherwise your map will be sideways when your pictures are right side up (I may or may not have done that with the Botswana pictures...)

Now you can enjoy your travel shrine and continue to build it as you see the world!