Big, Inexpensive Wall Art — Works For Me
A picture is worth 1000 words, right. So . . . I guess we’re up to 4000 words already. It was easier to show than tell this project. I wanted a world map and a map of the USA hung in our office. But I can see that this technique would work really well for other applications too! More on that later.
What we did here was purchase a 4 x 8 sheet of foam insulation from the hardware store. It was about $10.00. (My husband did the shopping so I don’t have the exact amount–he deals in round numbers!) Then we bought a big dropcloth (it’s actually quite lovely — looks like linen) and a can of spray adhesive. Those two items came to about $15.00 total.
He laid the maps out on the foam board, and cut the board around each with a good 4 or 5 inch border. Then he sprayed adhesive on the boards, and wrapped them with pieces of dropcloth which he had cut to fit. Then he just centered the maps onto the wrapped board, and attached them with brass pushpins. I’d like the antique brass pins, not shiny, but shiny is what we had, so that’s what’s on there.
Then he just screwed the wrapped foam boards to the wall, using long screws, and washers so that the screw wouldn’t go down into the foam. Since the whole thing is so lightweight it doesn’t need to hang on the wall studs or anything – just wherever you want it on the wall. He cut circles of dropcloth fabric and glued them over the washers to cover up the shiny steel.
This really didn’t take him very long at all, and I LOVE how it looks. Especially for maps it is excellent, since we can easily push marking pins in wherever we like. However, the linen look drop cloth makes a beautiful mat, and this would work really well to mount a poster for display. What I’d REALLY like to do now is wrap a big piece of foam board in a beautiful fabric remnant as a wall hanging. I’d also like to do one with burlap and make a huge bulletin board. I’m thinking if I put one on my son’s wall it would act as sound proofing too–electric guitar practice can get loud!
I have a long skinny piece of board left, and also some of the dropcloth – - enough to make a wrapped sign board about 4 ft. by 6 inches. When I think of where I’d like a sign to go, and what I’d like it to say I’ll get busy with that!
This worked for me. For more works-for-me Wednesday ideas visit We Are That Family.
Love this!
What a cool idea. I’ve always wanted a map on the wall and that sounds much better than buying a big fancy one. I also like the idea of using a foam board as a bulletin board in my son’s room. Thanks for the tips!
Very smart decorating idea.
I have a suggestion for the Misc piece you have left and the retro material. I have seen it done with clay and sounds like it will work for your application as well.
Make a message center/ prayer board. Both work the same just different placings..
Message Center would be putting a “business card” with each person’s name on it on the board spaced out, and put notes or messages to each underneath.
Prayer board would be putting “business cards” up saying Home, Family, Church, and Answered. You then put notes up on any prayer requests that have been made of each of you. A great reminder to kids on who needs prayer for what.
_____________________________________________
| |
| [H] [F] [C] [A] |
|_____________________________________________|
This is supposed to be up/down but did sideways so you see what I mean. Then each card would run almost from edge to edge and plenty of room for requests..
That is a wonderful idea! I will have to keep this in mind for future reference. =)
Wonderful finds here! Also, I made an interesting discovery. Here’s an excerpt from an article I wrote about it this month…
DÉCOR TIPS & QUIPS from AlphabetPIX.com
Bring Out The YOU In Your Home Decor!
Bill Blass said, “Style is primarily a matter of instinct.” Decorating takes on a new meaning for each individual. Different tastes in decor mean different furniture, artwork and color palettes. So what is the rule of thumb for making your place zing if it’s not a certain style, pattern, or color?
Bring out the Y-O-U!
Make a statement and let your personality shine through! Add your zing to make it pop. Hang something personal on the wall with a few well-chosen accents-bold and beautiful. The trend for decor is becoming more and more personalized.
Whatever you want to say while decorating, say it with your own individual style. Put it out there for the world to see and don’t look back. Express yourself! When people enter your home they’ll shoot you a complementary smile, knowing it looks and feels sooooo perfectly like you. And no one can do YOU better.
by T. Miller
Décor Tips & Quips from AlphabetPIX
http://www.alphabetpix.com
Take your individual decorating style to a whole new level of personalization, and discover a new way of looking at the world around you – Create your own Personalized Name Art with Photos That Look Like Letters!
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Way cool idea. I have two large maps I want to hang in my son’s room, and the price for custom frames was pushing $200 each.
Like it!!!
I also bought laminated maps from rainbow resources and my husband put wood trim around them. Everyone loves them. I do like the looks of your maps. Where do you find the ones like you have?