(More) Map Wall Art

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I loved the framed maps I had hanging at our old house.

  If I hadn't spotted this amazing atlas book at Goodwill for $2.49, I probably would have gone ahead and hung the same framed maps in the new house.

The atlas is over 50 years old and full of vibrant color pictures.  I just had to use them in some way at our new house!  I admit, I felt a teensy bit guilty cutting pages out of the book.  I was very careful though and the book can still be enjoyed on our coffee table.

I found 3 clearance 16x20 frames from Hobby Lobby for $10 each and spray painted them white.  They were probably on clearance because the glass broke in every single frame while I was taking them apart!  Oh well, good thing I hadn't planned on using the glass anyway.

I picked 3 of my favorite maps from the book.  Then I purchased a charcoal gray mat board for $7.99 (also from Hobby Lobby) that I was able to cut down to the correct sizes.  I used some Mod Podge and coated each mat and the back of each map, before the glue had totally dried I placed the pictures on the mat and gave it another good coat of the Mod Podge. 

I'll admit, at first I thought the project was going to be a complete disaster!  The maps looked like they were puckering and would not stick at all.  After they dried though, the puckers flattened out and because of the Mod Podge coat on the entire picture, they look like I bought them that way!  At least I think they do.  :)

It's very important to put a coat of Mod Podge on the mat and the back of the picture first...trust me, I learned the hard way! (see those few little puckers at the bottom?)  lol  Thank goodness for Pinterest, I was able to stop and get some tips so I didn't mess things up too much.  The puckers give it character.

The wall behind our couch is large and was very empty!  The 3 pictures filled it nicely and came it a total of $50, including atlas, mats, frames, spray paint and Mod Podge.  Tomorrow I will show what I did using the index pages of the atlas.  ;)