DIY Heart Map Ornament, Brooch, Keyring and Tag
Map Ornament: Want to personalise a decoration or gift for someone special ? Then stick a map on it. You can use maps of where they are from, a favourite holiday or for a couple where they met.
Maps are my favourite way to personalise my crafts. Maps make things look fantastic. Not only that they can make the most mundane of objects all of a sudden a lot more interesting and even turn them into a conversation piece.
My easy map table mats and my very popular IKEA lamp map hacks are great examples of this.
Heart shaped maps only add the specialness of maps. I’ve made treat map hearts for valentines before. This time I decided that I would use the heart shape for some Christmas ornaments.
I was so pleased how my Christmas heart map ornament was turning out. I got a bit carried away with them and made some brooches, key rings and even Christmas tags out of them. They were so easy to do and added that extra something special to my Christmas decorations and gifts.
Who doesn’t like a Christmas gift that’s been personalised for them ?
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What you need to make a heart Map ornament etc
- Wooden heart shapes – These are really cheap to buy and come in a variety of shapes. You can easily get them on amazon or ebay.
I bought large ones with pre-drilled holes for may ornaments, keyrings and gift tags. For the brooches I used smaller hearts. - Keyring chains
- Self adhesive brooch pins
- Red Velvet Ribbon
- Decoupage glue – such as mod podge
- Paper scalpel and cutting mat.
- And of course maps. I save old maps and have quite a collection, I use out of date road maps and keep city maps from trips. If you don’t have any maps, or maps for the places you want you can either download. Remodelaholic has a some lovely printable vintage maps.
Another good source for maps is to use map wrapping paper. Cavallini have a really lovely range of vintage map wrapping papers from round the world and many cities in the US and worldwide.
You can of course just look up that special place on google maps and print out the map you want. That way you get to choose how much detail you want for your map.
What maps to use for your map ornament
How to make a Map ornament, brooch and keyring.
- Decide on what sized wooden heart you are going to use. Larger ones for the map ornament and keyring, smaller ones for the map brooch.
- Place your map on a cutting mat and then place the heart shape on top of the map where you want.
- Using your paper scalpel (x-acto) carefully cut round the heart.
- Paste both the heart and the map cut out with decoupage glue.
- Carefully stick down your map to the wooden heart.
- Apply a layer of decoupage glue or varnish to the top of the map to seal it. I applied at least 2 coats allowing them to dry in between.
Finishing off your map ornament, keyring, brooch or tag…
- For the map ornament you will need to stick a map to both sides of the wooden heart and attach the red velvet ribbon for hanging.
- For the map brooch, you will need only a map on the front. On the back of the heart attach the self adhesive brooch pin.
- For the map keyring, like with the map ornament a map on both sides and then attach a keyring chain.
- To use your map ornament as a gift tag, only stick a map on the front. Then you can write the recipient’s details on the back of the wooden map heart.
Ideas of Maps to Use
For the ornaments, you can use maps of where you have spent past Christmases. Up until the age of thirty, I spent most of my Christmas’s in Hong Kong. Then my family moved to Portugal but I live in the UK. I aim to have a heart map ornament for everywhere I’ve spent Christmas, which is Hong Kong, Portugal, Newcastle Upon-Tyne, and Staffordshire.
Another idea for a heart map is to have on one side a map of where you were born and on the other a map of where your husband or partner was born.
For the brooches you can use maps of your favourite places and cities. What maps would you use?
Calypso in the Country
Very cute idea! Our whole family loves maps so this would be a fun project!
Shelley
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, good luck with it.
Sharon@bluewillowhouse
Love your map ornaments, brooches, key rings and tags. Thanks for sharing at Snickerdoodle and I am featuring them at the party today.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much I look forward to seeing them.
Kim
Love these! If printing maps, what weight paper would you suggest using? Cardstock, regular printer paper, photo paper?
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, you don’t want the paper to be too heavy for this project so regular printer paper is fine.
creativejewishmom/sara
love these, so much fun any time! thanks for sharing on craft schooling sunday, great to reconnect in 2017!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much, glad craft schooling Sunday is back.
Julie
I love all these ideas, especially the brooches. I’ll be pinning this as I think I know a few people for whom this would be a great gift. I saved a few old road map books (now we are all sat navs these days a road map seems very old school doesn’t it?) and I’ve used it for some pictures and cards. Hopefully I’ll have the right pages left for some brooch making in the new year. Thanks
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I’m giving a few as gifts this year too.
Cristina at Ava's Alphabet
I just love these sweet little map ornaments. I have kept coming back to look at them all week. Pinned and sharing! Thank you for joining us at Family Joy Blog Link-Up Party.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, hope you make one for your tree.
Charlene Asay
These are cute. Thanks for sharing with us at Family Joy Blog Link Up Party this week.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you.
Liz
So sweet! I love the map ornament!!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you !
Coombe Mill - Fiona
So pretty and a lovely way to upcycle a plain wooden heart. Pinned!
Claire Armstrong
Thanks and thanks for the pin.
Angie ~ ambient wares
I love the versatility of this idea! Superb 🙂 Thanks for sharing it with us at Funtastic Friday!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you !
Helen at Pleasures of the NW
What a great idea – and a great way to commemorate a trip! Thanks for sharing at the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY party!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I keep the maps of the places I visit for crafts.
Amanda
Love this and love maps, we are addicted to travel, the only problem is I’d hate to cut up any of our maps… I’ll have to keep an eye out for second hand maps for sale! Thanks for sharing @practicalmum link up
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, you could always photocopy or scan and print your old maps.
SWAPNA
This is gorgeous! I love maps! Pls do share at #practicalmondays too!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you and thanks for the invite.
Cecilia MyThriftStoreAddiction
So clever and cute! Thanks for sharing @Vintage Charm!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you!
Kim Too Much Time on My Hands
These are just awesome! I absolutely love them. Great job
Claire Armstrong
Cheers and thank you!
Lindsey
What a cute idea! Thanks for sharing for the Home Matters Link Party.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you.
Katrin
Claire you’re so clever and your map style is so cool! I actually have the, how it looks, exact same wooden hearts that I want to change up a bit on the weekend, but with wrapping paper…. I love your idea of making key chains and brooches!!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Katrin. Look forward to seeing your wooden heart transformations.
Kari Wagner Hoban
These are adorable. I have seen lots of these on Etsy but they are really expensive.
Pinning!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, they are very easy and cheap to make.
Sarah Bell
I love this idea! I’m actually planning a bridal shower in January and theme is travel, these would be a perfect decoration for it! Thanks for sharing 🙂
#TADA!ThursdaysLinkParty
Sarah Bell
Trendy & Tidy
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, they would be great for your shower.
Julie Bagamary
GREAT idea. My daughter in Berlin would love this!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I’m sure she will.
Susan
As a military family that moves every couple of years, these map decorations would be a lovely way to chronicle our travels. Thanks for sharing at the #ThisIsHowWeRoll Link Party.
Claire Armstrong
That sounds like a really lovely idea.
Colleen
Just adorable…these would make great stocking stuffers!
Claire Armstrong
Thanks, I’ve made some for the stocking too.
Mary-the boondocks blog
Claire, I love your use of maps on everything. It has become y our trademark.
Claire Armstrong
Thanks Mary, yes I have a bit of a thing about maps and denim !
Name*
The map ideas, which are fabulous, could also be used in making your children’s school art projects, school papers, pictures etc. Great Idea!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. Yes I love to use old maps in so many crafts.