Tonight, we tackled #50 on my “101 in 1001” list: Start a newlywed map.
We’ve been talking about doing this for several weeks now, but as with pretty much everything I do, I had to research it to death. What size map should we get, what color map, what frame would we use, what color map tacks? We debated, we procrastinated, and then… we finally pulled the trigger.
Then, we had all of the supplies, and all we had to do was actually make the thing. And tonight, we decided it would be our after-dinner project. We are thrilled with how it turned out! I just want to keep going into our den to look at it.
The gist is… you mount a map on foam core, frame it, and then stick tacks into all of the cities you’ve traveled to together. Of course, you display it on your wall. I love maps as art anyway, so I’m happy to put a map up in our house. The tacks marking our travels really just add a personal touch to it.
Here is our final supply list as well as costs:
– 36″x 24″ world map (executive version) from Mapcenter.com = $12.99
– 1 box medium map tacks (black) from Mapcenter.com = $4.79
– 36″x 24″ piece of foam core = $7.50 (with 50% off coupon at Michaels)
– 36″x 24″ black frame, glass removed = $27 (on sale, 55% off at Michaels)
– Elmer’s spray adhesive = $3 (with 40% off coupon at Michaels)
Total cost for this project, including shipping, tax, etc. was approximately $60-65.
Note: For the foam core, I could not find a piece that was 36″x 24″. All of the ones I found were 30″x 20″, which is obviously way too small. What I did find, though, was that the foam core trifold display boards (the ones with the big board in the middle with two smaller boards that fold out on the sides) had a 36″x 24″ piece as the middle part, so I bought one of those and then we cut the side panels off.
For more information and instructions, be sure to visit Jordan’s detailed post.
Obviously there are a lot of options for you to make this map your own–varying types of maps and colors, different map tacks, and endless frame options. Have fun with it!
Also, after we have kids, we plan to use a different color map tack to mark the places we’ve gone as a family. I think our kids will probably get a kick out of being able to see all the places they’ve been. We hope to still take trips as a couple (and leave the kids at home!), so we’ll keep the black tacks for marking those solo trips as well.
It’s nice to think about starting this now, and having the map stick around in our family for a long, long time. So I guess it’s best to not really call it a “newlywed map.” I think “family travel map” is a better fit.
Go forth… travel… and start your own maps! :)
18 Responses to The World is Ours
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About
I'm Heather. I'm 33 and have been married to Michael for seven years. Together, we have two beautiful little girls we love more than anything, and a miniature dachshund who drives us crazy. I'm a full-time working mom who has very little time for my own "stuff" these days, like home improvement, cooking/baking, cake decorating, and photography. Despite the team not making the playoffs since 1999, I'm STILL a Buffalo Bills fan, which I think speaks to my loyalty AND sense of humor. I can't wait to pick up the pace with travel again some day... you know, when we're done being ruled by tiny fists. Welcome to my blog.
What a cool idea! We haven’t been too many places yet because of my job, but I’d love to do something like that.
Absolutely love this! Ours would have very few tacks, though :( Need to get working on that!
my hubby would LOVE this, although we probably would have to use some different colors, as his job in the military has taken him to ALOT of countries that I will probably never see (and i’m ok with that) :-D.
I love this! We bought a map ages & ages ago with the intention of doing this too but using 3 colours of pins; 1 for me, 1 for him & 1 for where we have gone / go together.
This has inspired me to get on with it! We did also get a magnetic one with arrows but not quite the same as a foam map with pins.
Gaynor–We thought about doing the three colors of pins like you describe (and we’d have many more places marked off if we had done that!), but we ultimately decided to just stick with the places we go together. Hopefully, by the time we’re old and gray, we’ll have plenty of map tacks! :)
But yes, you can essentially do whatever you want with it! I also read over at one of Jordan’s posts that couples sometimes use one color for the places they’ve been, and one color for places they dream of going. Obviously, once they complete a trip, they can change the color of the tack that marks one of their destinations.
I think that’s a pretty cool idea, too, but our problem is that we’d have way too many “dream destination” tacks. :)
Really cute idea! We haven’t traveled that much either, but I bet this would inspire us to travel. Maybe we’ll give this a shot :)
It’s nice to see a finished one. We have a map and pins. My husband is building a shadow box for our map out of some antique looking wood. It should look nice when it’s finished…one day :)
Love this idea!!! We love to travel a lot so this will be great for us!
Love it. We travel so much that it would be really fun. I think I’d have to do it from when we started dating, though, b/c we did more travel then :)
This is such a great idea! My husband has been itching to put art up on the walls, and im sure he will LOVE this idea. Thanks Again!
What an awesome idea. We have traveled a few places together, but we have gone back to the same places a couple of different times so that would limit our tacks. :)
And Megan, I instantly thought of you whe I saw this post (just throwing that out there incase you come back to check these comments…?). :)
So cool I do Google Maps with our travels but this is awesome, I might make them for our siblings for Christmas presents! I just bought a great vinyl decal that would look great with them. It says If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far go together.
This is an awesome idea. Jake and I must do make one!
One thing you could try instead of the foam core would be to get some cork tiles from either a craft store or lowes/depot. Looks nice!
Hi Heather! I love your blog from RTTA to now! My husband & I plan on doing this map project too, but I have a question (kind of trivial…lol). The black map tacks look great on the map, we definitely want those….but what colour do you think would look good for the family map tacks?? I cannot decide! What colour do you plan on using for your family trip map tack? Thank you!!
Do you recommend laminating the map? Love this idea!
Anonymous–Our map is not laminated, but you certainly could laminate it if you want to. Personally, I like how our map is not glossy/shiny. I would think that a “plastic” look would take away from it as art. But that is just my opinion!
Despite leaving a comment on this post almost 2 years ago, we only just got round to making our map!
We did go with the 3 pin colours so we wouldnt exclude my husbands travel while in the Air Force and I totally love our map, its making want to visit the continents with no pins though!
1st Anniversary {Paper} Travel Map