Map Canvas Art is Easy to Make (No Skills Required!)

This unique hand lettered map canvas art is an easy and budget friendly way to decor a wall – plus you can customize with any words you like!

I’m currently working on my soon-to-be baby boy’s nursery. Since we are going with a loose theme of vintage camping decor, I wanted to incorporate some maps.

Map Canvas Art

This hand lettered map canvas idea fits the bill! I came up with an easy way to hand letter on a canvas covered with the maps and, even if you don’t consider yourself good at lettering, this method should work for you!

Here’s what you need:

• Canvas
• Maps or scrapbook paper
• Paintbrush
• Super Matte Mod Podge – any Mod Podge formula will do
• Chalk, crayon, or graphite
• Sharpie
• Scissors

The first step is to cover your canvas using maps or scrapbook paper. I used the Ultra Matte Chalk Mod Podge and loved the finish it gave!

Apply a medium layer of Mod Podge to the canvas and smooth the map down on top. With maps and thinner papers, it really helps to use a brayer.

When you’re decoupaging on canvas, it also helps to turn the canvas over and smooth from the inside. Since canvas gives a little bit, placing it face down on a hard surface (covered, of course) really helps.

Once you’re done applying the paper and smoothing, let dry for 15 – 20 minutes before applying a top coat.

Make sure to wrap your paper around the edges of the canvas for a finished look.

Now it’s time to plan out your lettering. You can use a free printable you find online, or freehand something.

I tried out a few different ways to write my phrase and practiced until I liked how it looked. But this would easily work just as well with a print out.

Now it’s time for the interesting part. Flip over your paper. As you can see, I drew mine on an old worksheet of my daughters. I save all of her papers and use them for scrap paper – just a free little tip!

Pressing down very hard with a dark crayon, color all of the areas that have writing on the other side.

I should have used a black crayon for this step, but it still worked out fine. You could also use graphite or even chalk if your canvas is covered in a dark colored paper or paint.

Tape your paper to the canvas and trace over the letters, pressing very hard with a pen or pencil. You may want to go over each letter a few times.

When you lift the paper up, the crayon will have transferred onto the map canvas. It’s very light, but just enough to see to trace it with a Sharpie!

Trace over everything with either your Sharpie or a paint pen. Wipe away any excess crayon with a damp cloth.

Now your hand lettered masterpiece is ready to hang! Everyone will be so impressed with your hand lettering skills, you don’t need to tell them that you cheated!

Of course you can customize this project with a variety of different papers, book pages or even just a painted canvas to fit the space you are decorating!

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For more easy craft ideas along the same lines, check out these other posts:

• DIY Map Wall Art with Vintage Style
• Vintage Map Decoupage Letter with Scrapbook Paper
• Camping Crafts to Rock Your Campsite
• Adult Coloring Pages: 10 Unique Ways to Use Them
• Map Crafts with Mod Podge You’ll Have to Try!

And be sure to pop over to my blog, Homemade Ginger where I love to share ways to make your life more beautiful without spending a lot of money. If you are looking for more wall art, check out these ways to Mod Podge a canvas!