How To Make Unique Repurposed Wood Map Ornaments

Combine Old Road Maps and Scrap Wood To Make Map Ornaments

I couldn’t decide whether these upcycled map ornaments where mountains or trees. I think they can be either depending on which side you put on show.
 
 
The grey roadmap looks more like mountains and the green roadmap side more like trees. Originally, these map ornaments were going to be a Christmas decoration but actually, I think they will look good as a year-round decoration.
 
 
Like with many of my map upcycles these map decorations can be personalised by using maps of places that have meaning for you and your family. I used vintage road maps for this upcycle mainly because I love the colours of them and the way they look.
 
 
No need to just stick with roadmaps, these map ornaments would look great with any vintage map downloaded from the internet. Whether it is a map of European countries or US state maps.
 
 

 
 
 
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What you need to make upcycled wood map ornaments

• Scrap chunky bits of wood – I got this wood from my neighbours skip when they were having a loft conversion. You need thick chunky pieces of wood that when cut into triangles they would stand steady upright.
   
  You can make the map ornaments any size you like. I choose to make 3 map ornaments of different sizes ranging from approx 25cm to 18cm in height.

 
 

 
 
 

• Old vintage roadmaps – I often pick these up at thrift stores and flea markets for no more than a couple of quid. I also find that elderly relatives often have a stash of vintage roadmaps too, that they will happily part with.
   
  If you are looking for a roadmap of a particular place Ebay is also a good place to try. Or you can just download vintage maps.

 
 

 
 
 

• Mod Podge or other decoupage glue.

 

• Dark wood wax

 

• Pencil, ruler, saw and sandpaper

How To Make Upcycled Wood Map Ornaments

1. The first thing to do is to mark out a triangle onto the scrap piece of wood using a pencil and ruler. You can make this any size you prefer, just remember it will need to stand up on its own.

 
 

 
 
 

2. Next using your pencil marks as a guide saw out your triangle from the wood. If you have a jigsaw then brilliant. Unfortunately, I don’t have one. But they were pretty easy to saw by hand. (If a little wonky in places but that just adds the character!)

 
 

 
 
 

3. To give the repurposed map ornaments an even more vintage feel cover the sides and ends of the wooden triangles with dark wood wax. No need to cover the faces of the triangles as these will be decoupaged.

 
 

 
 
 

4. Next place the wooden triangle face down onto the back of map you are going to use and draw around it. Then cut out the map triangle shape.

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

5. Next cover both the face of the wooden triangle and the back of the cut map with Mod Podge. Then stick the map onto the wood, squeezing out air bubbles as you go. I stuck a map on both faces of each wooden triangle.

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

6. Finally, to seal and protect the maps apply a coat of Mod Podge over the top of the maps. Don’t worry about it apearing cloudy and white, the Mod Podge will dry clear.

 
 

 
 
As mentioned in the begining, for one side of the map ornaments I used a vintage road map that made the wooden triangles look more like mountains. As below.
 

 
 
 
For the other side I used a gorgeous vintage green roadmap wich makes the map ornaments look more like trees. I will turn them around to this side when putting out my Christmas decorations!
 
 

 
 
 
I also used some of the scrap wood from the skip to make my son a fun custom neon sign for his room.
 
 
Also check out all my other fabulous map home decor ideas.
 
 

 
Check out allfreeholidaycrafts.com for more recycled ornaments.