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You are here: Home / Maps / How To Make An Upcycled Map Leaf Wreath

How To Make An Upcycled Map Leaf Wreath

2nd October 2019 by Claire Armstrong 23 Comments

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AD | These project is in collaboration with Gorilla Glue, but all opinions are my own

Using Old Maps To Make A Lovely Autumn/Fall Wreath

As I sat outside the kiosk in my local park the other morning with my normal post-gym coffee, I was mesmerised by the autumn leaves swirling in the wind. This is when I got the idea for this map leaf wreath.

I love to upcycle old road maps, it’s great paper to craft with. Some of the old maps are printed on lovely woven linen-like paper. Also, the colours of old road maps are beautiful.

Vintage maps often have the roads marked in red. I’ve used these in the past to make repurposed map decorations and Christmas crackers. Old maps of more rural areas tend to be green.

I had quite a few rural green road maps in my stash and thought they would be perfect for a map leaf wreath. Not only was the colour right for the leaves, but all the lines on the vintage maps look like the fine veins you get on leaves.

The map leaf wreath was pretty straight forward to make, especially as I used Gorilla Mounting Tape Squares to stick the paper map leaves to the wreath.

As I’m a big fan of oak trees and acorns, I modelled my map leaves on oak tree leaves. I also made some upcycled acorns to compliment the oak map leaves.

DIY map paper leaf wreath

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What You Need To Make A Map Paper Leaf Wreath

  • Old road maps – look for ones with lots of green on them. You can normally pick up old maps from charity shops really cheaply. I find that elderly relatives are a good source for maps too.
  • Brown paper or an old brown paper bag.
  • Felting wool to make felt balls. Don’t worry if you don’t have any of this you can just buy some small felt balls.
  • Thin craft wire
  • Gorilla Super Glue Micro Precise
  • Gorilla Crystal Clear Mounting Tape Squares
  • Foam wreath ring
What you need to make a map leaf wreath for fall
Gorilla glue used

How To Make The Map Leaves and Acorns

Making The Acorns

1. If you are using ready made felt balls, skip this step. First make the acorn nut. To do this tear off the wool fleece into small clumps. Soak them briefly in warm slightly soapy water.
felt clumps

Next, roll the wet clumps of felt in your hands, until you get a roundish ball shape. Then leave the felt balls to dry. I made between 14-16 felt balls.

Making the felt balls

2. Next, make the stem and the acorn cup out of brown paper. Firstly cut the craft wire into approx 5 cm lengths. Next cut strips of brown paper about 5 mm wide and 10 cm long. Also, cut out brown paper semi-circles about 5 cm in length.

what you need to make paper acorns

Make the stem of the acorn by wrapping the craft wire with the strip of brown paper. Use a drop of Gorilla Super Glue Micro Precise to secure the paper strip at the end. Please hold for 10-45 seconds.

Next, wrap the semi-circle of brown paper around the bottom half of a felt ball and then fold and secure in place with another drop of Gorilla Super Glue Micro Precise.

Finish off the acorn by sticking the end of the wire stem into the felt ball.

I used Gorilla Super Glue Micro Precise for making the acorns as I only needed a tiny drop of glue each time. Also, the adhesive is fast drying.

brown paper and felt acorns.

Making the Map Paper Leaves

3. Draw an acorn leaf template or cut out and print the one I used here. Next, place the template on a green area of the old map and draw around it. With scissors cut out the leaves. I used 20 leaves for this paper leaf wreath.

Making map leaves

4. To make the map leaves more 3D, using a knife or the end of the scissors score the paper. Score down the centre spine of the leaf and then out to each edge. Then, gently bend the leaf along the score lines to give them a 3D look.

scoring the map leaves

4. Using a drop of Gorilla Super Glue Micro Precise on the top of the leaf stem, glue 2 leaves together. Make sure the leaves only overlap by about a third.

Twist two acorn stems together and then stick them to the top of the pair of leaves. You will only need a drop of the glue.

Map oak leaves and acorns

Assembling The Paper Leaf Wreath

6. Now that the map leaves and acorns have been made the paper leaf wreath is ready to be assembled.

Firstly, prepare the polystyrene ring by covering it in brown paper. Cut brown paper into strips about 5cm wide and wrap it around the ring using a couple of drops of glue to hold it in place. Please hold for 10-45 seconds.

covering the ring in brown paper

7. Once the wreath is covered in brown paper attach the map leaves using Gorilla Mounting Tape Squares.

The Gorilla Mounting Tape Squares are double-sided sticky pads. Remove one of the mounting tape squares from the backing and place it on top of the brown paper ring.

Next, remove the top film layer from the mounting tape square and stick one of the oak leaves to it. Carry on adding the map leaves at even intervals until the whole leaf wreath is covered.

making a map leaf wreath
map leaf paper wreath

All that is left to do now is to hang the map leaf wreath on the door.

If like me you love all things acorn, you should check out these upcycled acorn sweater pillows for fall or these cute felted acorn mini Christmas wreath.

upcycled map leaf wreath
Map leaf wreath door
Yield: Map leaf wreath with acorns

Map Leaf Wreath For Fall

Map Leaf Wreath For Fall

This gorgeous wreath is made with old road maps and brown paper. It would look fabulous on any front door for autumn.

Prep Time 1 hour
Active Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours
Estimated Cost $1

Materials

  • Old road maps
  • Brown paper
  • Felt balls or rough felt
  • Thin craft wire
  • Gorilla Super Glue Precise
  • Gorilla Glue Mounting Squares
  • Polystyrene wreath ring

Tools

  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. Make acorns from felt balls and brown paper
  2. Make stems for acorns with wire and brown paper
  3. Using a template draw around a leaf shape on the map paper
  4. Cut out the leaf shapes
  5. Stick 2 leaves and 2 acorns together with glue.
  6. Cover the wreath ring with brown paper.
  7. Mount the map oak leaves and acorns onto the wreath ring.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Gorilla 6067201 Tough & Clear Mounting Squares, 24 Count, Clear, 1 Pack
    Gorilla 6067201 Tough & Clear Mounting Squares, 24 Count, Clear, 1 Pack
  • GORILLA GLUE 4044700 Gorilla Super Glue Micro Precise Translucent
    GORILLA GLUE 4044700 Gorilla Super Glue Micro Precise Translucent
© Pillarboxblue

I’ve used another one of these foam rings to make a DIY yarn wreath for spring.

If you liked this post you might like some of my other fall and map crafts.

  • Colourful DIY Felted Acorn Wreath
  • Unique Fall Mason Jars
  • Repurposed Map Decorations
  • Map Luminary Bags

There are more paper wreath ideas here.

Filed Under: Crafts, Maps, Seasonal

Previous Post: « How To Make Handy Upcycled Hanging Bucket Storage
Next Post: How To Make Paper Stars Hanging Decoration From Wallpaper »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bliss

    21st October 2019 at 12:10 pm

    Love it! Now I know why I’ve been saving maps all these years waiting to be inspired to make something. Pinned.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      21st October 2019 at 8:34 pm

      Thank you so much ? I love to save old maps for crafting and DIY.

      Reply
  2. Kippi

    16th October 2019 at 12:02 pm

    I love this super clever craft for fall.
    Please share on my site at The You’re The Star blog hop.
    Happy fall,
    Kippi

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      17th October 2019 at 6:57 am

      Thank you and I I’ll.

      Reply
  3. Ann

    14th October 2019 at 7:38 pm

    Such a beautiful wreath and a great way to use old maps! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ’s.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      15th October 2019 at 6:19 am

      Thank you so much. I just love crafting with old maps.

      Reply
  4. Pamela Smith

    12th October 2019 at 11:58 pm

    I love making things with maps too! This is a great idea!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      13th October 2019 at 7:42 am

      Thank you, I just thought the colours were perfect for leaves.

      Reply
  5. Marie

    11th October 2019 at 2:31 pm

    Very cute Fall wreath idea, Claire! I always enjoy your unique map creations. Pinned

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      12th October 2019 at 5:11 pm

      Thank you, Marie. There will be plenty more map crafts to come.

      Reply
  6. Chas Greener

    10th October 2019 at 4:49 pm

    Love love love this Claire! Turned out fantastic and doesn’t just have to be for fall. Thanks for sharing with To Grandma’s House We Go I’ll be featuring you at the next one!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      11th October 2019 at 6:42 am

      Thank you so much, I agree it can be all year around.

      Reply
  7. Theresa

    9th October 2019 at 7:47 pm

    This is so cool! I’m definitely going to try this with the kids!
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      11th October 2019 at 6:44 am

      Thank you, have fun making it with them. I’m sure they will enjoy it. You could even get them to gather real leaves to use as a template.

      Reply
  8. Laura

    9th October 2019 at 12:54 am

    This is such an awesome craft idea! I love it! This would be a super adorable DIY gift for a travel lover!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      9th October 2019 at 7:24 pm

      Thank you so much. I’m a travel lover that’s why I love crafting with maps.

      Reply
  9. Julie

    8th October 2019 at 10:02 am

    This is a lovely way to use those old road map pages. It’s funny how an idea can come to you in unexpected places sometimes!!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      9th October 2019 at 7:25 pm

      Thank you, Julie. Creativity can strike at the strangest of times.

      Reply
  10. Linda at Mixed Kreations

    6th October 2019 at 8:01 pm

    What a absolutely adorable wreath! I love the leaves, and those acorn are so cute. You have a very creative imagination with your maps!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      7th October 2019 at 8:34 pm

      Thank you, I just love crafting with maps.

      Reply
  11. Michelle Leslie

    5th October 2019 at 10:56 am

    How I wish I could get into your head for a minute or two Claire. You always come up with the most beautiful ideas. Just love the way that this wreath turned out and those acorns <3 <3 <3

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      5th October 2019 at 7:40 pm

      Thank you, Michelle. There isn’t too much in my head except for a load of craft ideas trying to get out. The usual story though not enough hands or time and too many other real-life things to deal with first of all.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Beautiful Leaf Crafts Just In Time For Autumn – Shawnee KS Homes and Lifestyle says:
    14th October 2019 at 8:31 pm

    […] You can make leaves out of crepe paper and they look pretty cute and have a nice texture but there are also lots of other ways to make pretty leaves. For example, you could make them out of old maps. You can then use them to decorate your fall wreath. This is an idea which comes from pillarboxblue. […]

    Reply

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