LibrarianMom Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I'm hoping the Hive can help me think of neat things to do with a box of old maps. I've come into a bunch of old national geographic maps. Those that I thought would be useful to specific individuals I know have been given away. I know there must be neat things I could do with these maps so I haven't been able to bring myself to throw them out. I found some neat ideas like decoupaging a coffee table or old chair but I'm kind of out of those right now. So what cool things would you do with a bunch of free maps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Use them as wrapping paper? Laminate them as placemats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 If you don't have a coffee table or chair to decoupage, you could get those round/square or oval boxes (found in craft stores) and decoupage them... or a trunk. Use them for storage. Use to cover a journal to give to someone going on a trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 book covers. donate them to a school/daycare so THEY can decoupage them. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Acquaintances of mine used them as wallpaper. I'm not sure of the logistics behind this, though many links come up in a Google search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate in Arabia Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Acquaintances of mine used them as wallpaper. We did this in our basement/schoolroom/living room. We didn't do anything fancier than attaching the maps to the wall using whatever adhesive you generally use (tape, putty, whatever). We also had a stack of maps from Nat'l Geographic, and we generally tried to keep countries in their regions. Not the fanciest decorating style out there, but it's interesting and the kids occasionally look at a map here and there, so they're definitely getting much more eye traffic than they were folded, stacked and stored somewhere. You could make large jigsaw puzzles out of them? If you had two maps the same size you could glue them back to back and make a double-sided puzzle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Oooh, how fun! Use them in lapbooks, crafts, notebooking pages,covers for journals. My kids are making adventure boxes and maps would be great for decorating them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dooley Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 A friend of mine papered her spare bathroom with maps, it was awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 You could make large jigsaw puzzles out of them? If you had two maps the same size you could glue them back to back and make a double-sided puzzle? ooooh! i really like this idea!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennifersLost Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Oh, they are awesome for collages and art projects! If you don't use them, donate them to someone who will. (the other ideas are great, too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCoffeeChick Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I've seen the wallpaper idea done on some sort of home improvement show on TV (don't know which one :tongue_smilie:). It was really cool looking and is something I always wanted to do in the office/school room when we get a house of our own. They used wallpaper glue, hanging up the maps at different angles and overlapping alot. There was only one (or maybe two) walls done in the maps, with the other walls painted in a coordinating color. Also, I believe they aged the maps using teabags. Have fun finding ideas!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom3tn Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I was in a restaurant a few weeks ago... waiting for my girls to come out of the restroom... I looked up and the ceiling tiles were covered with old maps. It was beautiful :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Here's a link with a couple of photos of maps as wallpaper and explanation of how the painter did it. http://www.yankeemagazine.com/issues/2007-09/home/wallpaper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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