DIY Map Canvas: Turn Your Travels into Wall Art

Turn a simple canvas into a personalized map art piece with Mod Podge! This easy DIY project makes a great home decor or gift idea.

Skills Required: Beginner. It helps to have experience with Mod Podge since maps are thinner and it can be difficult to avoid wrinkles.

I’ll be honest – I’m so old at this point . . . I’m old enough to remember “Trip Tiks” from AAA (Triple A). If you remember Trip Tiks too, perhaps you have fond memories of them as I do.

This was before most people had personal computers, just to set the stage.

Back in the day if you wanted to go on a trip (especially road trips in a car), you’d go to a local Triple A office. You’d meet with an advisor, and in return you’d get a paper map with your trip broken down in to multiple legs., the roads/routes to take (potential construction), gas stops and prices estimated in, a list of sites for stopping off at, etc.

And the maps were coated in highlighter. When you left, you would review your highlighted map with excited anticipation. Oh, the travels you were about to go on!

There’s nothing like holding a paper map in hand. Or displaying one, honestly. It’s pure nostalgia for me, and reminds me of the days I learned to drive. I absolutely love maps – and map crafts. They represent adventure.

If you love travel and a good road trip, this Mod Podge map canvas project is the perfect way to showcase your favorite destinations in a creative, stylish way!

Whether you want to highlight a dream vacation, commemorate a special trip, or celebrate your hometown, this easy craft turns an ordinary map into a meaningful piece of decor.

What makes this project so fun? It’s simple enough for beginners yet customizable to suit any space or style. With just a canvas, a map, and a little Mod Podge magic, you can create a piece that’s sleek and professional-looking – no special skills required!

Plus, the addition of painted wooden letters lets you personalize the artwork with a favorite quote, city name, date, or inspirational phrase.

It could be fantastic handmade gift for adventure-loving friends or family members. And because you can use any map – vintage, road atlas, or even a subway map – the possibilities are endless.

So grab your supplies, pick your favorite map, and get ready to create a piece of decor that’s as unique as your travel memories. I think you’re going to love this project!

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Map Canvas Wall Art

Learn how to make this unique canvas art with a map! It's easy to do, even if you've never crafted before.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Active Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Dry Time2 hours hrs

Total Time3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Yield: 1 canvas

Cost: $2

Equipment

• Paintbrush(es)
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Parchment paper
• Mini craft iron

Materials

• 1 Canvas(es) 9 x 12
• 1 Map you can typically find some in thrift stores – but Etsy and eBay are a great place to look too! I got a bundle of them for cheap
• Mod Podge Gloss
• 15 Wood letter(s) or saying of your choice

Instructions

• Cover the canvas with a medium layer of Mod Podge. Let dry and repeat. Be sure to get the sides.
  
• Cut the map to fit the canvas. Make sure to test the fit by folding over the sides. Leave excess on the sides for now.
  
• Place the map down on the canvas where you would like it to go. Smooth down. Place a piece of parchment paper on top. Heat the iron up to medium heat, then iron the map down onto the canvas.
  
• Using the scissors, trim the map around the canvas edges, being sure to leave enough to fold over the sides. Then trim squares out of the map at all four corners of the canvas.
  
• Fold the edges of the map over onto the sides of the canvas and crease. Place parchment paper down and iron the side. Do sides one at a time, then let the canvas cool.
  
• Seal the entire map on the canvas with Mod Podge. Let dry. If you find that the map wrinkles at all, wait until it dries to see how bad the wrinkles end up. To remove wrinkles, place parchment paper over the top of the Mod Podge and iron the map again on a low setting.
  
• Gather the wood letters you’d like to use for your saying. Test fit the letters on the front of the canvas, making sure that they fit.
  
• Paint the wood letters with the paint color of your choice. The method I use to paint wood letters: hold onto one half and paint the other side. Let dry. Then repeat, holding the painted side.
  
• Measure the canvas on both sides and make small pencil marks toward the back. Place a piece of painter’s tape across the middle of the canvas. You want the top of the painter’s tape to be right on the middle line. This will help you place your wood letters.
  
• Use the glue to attach one of the words to the canvas, right on top of the line you created with painter’s tape. Space the letters out equally and let dry. Remove the painter’s tape.
  
• Now that you have one word in place, you can glue down the remaining letters to align with the first word you glued. Let dry before displaying.
  

If you are looking for more wall art, check out these ways to Mod Podge a canvas! For more easy craft ideas along the same lines, check out these:

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