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.

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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


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.
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.

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.

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.


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.

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.

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.

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.

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.


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.



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.
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
- Make acorns from felt balls and brown paper
- Make stems for acorns with wire and brown paper
- Using a template draw around a leaf shape on the map paper
- Cut out the leaf shapes
- Stick 2 leaves and 2 acorns together with glue.
- Cover the wreath ring with brown paper.
- Mount the map oak leaves and acorns onto the wreath ring.
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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.
There are more paper wreath ideas here.
Bliss
Love it! Now I know why I’ve been saving maps all these years waiting to be inspired to make something. Pinned.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much ? I love to save old maps for crafting and DIY.
Kippi
I love this super clever craft for fall.
Please share on my site at The You’re The Star blog hop.
Happy fall,
Kippi
Claire Armstrong
Thank you and I I’ll.
Ann
Such a beautiful wreath and a great way to use old maps! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ’s.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much. I just love crafting with old maps.
Pamela Smith
I love making things with maps too! This is a great idea!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I just thought the colours were perfect for leaves.
Marie
Very cute Fall wreath idea, Claire! I always enjoy your unique map creations. Pinned
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Marie. There will be plenty more map crafts to come.
Chas Greener
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!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much, I agree it can be all year around.
Theresa
This is so cool! I’m definitely going to try this with the kids!
Thanks!
Claire Armstrong
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.
Laura
This is such an awesome craft idea! I love it! This would be a super adorable DIY gift for a travel lover!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much. I’m a travel lover that’s why I love crafting with maps.
Julie
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!!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Julie. Creativity can strike at the strangest of times.
Linda at Mixed Kreations
What a absolutely adorable wreath! I love the leaves, and those acorn are so cute. You have a very creative imagination with your maps!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I just love crafting with maps.
Michelle Leslie
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
Claire Armstrong
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.