enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

maps on my mind.

Maps

Super inspired by these two pins. (Original sources : framed / hearts.) Not sure if it's because Paul and I are separated on a map or because shortly we'll be moving to a new city (Ventura, CA in early December!). Either way, I know I am going to need some DIY map decorations for our new place.

I would love to do a combination of both the images above and do a row of framed map hearts of places that mean a something to us. Right now, that would be Bethesda, Maryland (where we first lived together), Downtown Sacramento (where we're from and where we were married), Bora Bora (where we honeymooned) and Little Italy, San Diego (where we live now).

We're looking at about eight moves in the next fifteen years (remember, he's Navy), so this is certainly a project that could grow.

And related : I love this project idea. Paul and I are planning a road trip down the CA coast for when he gets back. It would be rad to stitch our course and frame it.

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25 responses to “maps on my mind.”

  1. Maryk Avatar
    Maryk

    Love these ideas, my husband is from Ireland and the heart framed map would be perfect for him in his office…..thanks for the great ideas

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  2. Frankie Avatar
    Frankie

    I love maps too. I’ve been hoarding maps from several vacations in a drawer in my room. Perhaps this would be a great thing to use them for. I can’t wait to see what you decide to do!

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  3. Nikki M Avatar
    Nikki M

    We too move around a lot because of my husband’s job so this would be a WONDERFUL display wall feature. Thank you for sharing all of your fantastic ideas!

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  4. desiree Avatar
    desiree

    These projects are so fun! Love the map ideas you pinned! Especially the tags 🙂

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  5. Cecilia Madden Avatar
    Cecilia Madden

    Love these! Especially the Martha Stewart one. My husband loves maps- he could study them all day and he never takes the same road twice, not even to the supermarket. I keep thinking of a map-related gift to make/buy for him that wouldn’t be too cheesy and this one would be perfect.

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  6. Molly Avatar
    Molly

    I’m loving maps right now too. My boyfriend & I just hung a US map in our house and put pins in every place weve been. Its fun to look at!

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  7. alison holcomb Avatar
    alison holcomb

    i’m a total map junkie too. i just bought vintage maps from etsy and hung them up to pin where i’ve been, but here’s a cute map i found on pinterest i’m quite obsessed with.. http://www.designlovefest.com/2011/06/where-do-you-wanna-go-next/
    love the martha stewart link:) can’t wait to see what you do!

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  8. teresita Avatar
    teresita

    beautiful projects!! we have an enormous Nat Geo world map as wallpaper in the boys room, we learn something from it everyday. It was such a good investment! Good luck with your move!

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  9. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    I love this idea! I saw the same thing on Pinterest not too long ago and actually just ordered some maps off of Amazon yesterday to make the heart pictures! My boyfriend and I are from different states, and this is going to look great in our entryway! We’re also obsessed with maps and always picking up globes and maps (we have them all over our apartment) to decorate with. Thanks for even more inspiration!

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  10. Lourdes A. Avatar
    Lourdes A.

    Love the heart maps! What a fabulous idea.

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  11. Michelle Bazeley Avatar
    Michelle Bazeley

    I love the stitched road map idea! Thanks for sharing

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  12. sally Avatar
    sally

    Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your Grandma as she meets the medical obstacles ahead.
    Tell GrandMama that we wish her strenght to meet every challenge and courage to carry on.
    Getting trough life’s toughest times ; WE CARRY EACH OTHER.

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  13. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    that is so awesome he always takes a different route. wow!!

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  14. krugthethinker Avatar
    krugthethinker

    I love love love maps, and I have those same ones marked on Pinterest! There was this great store near our house in Oakland where I used to get all kinds of maps (and all kinds of other goodies!) for 25 cents! Maybe you can stop by when you are in Berkeley for your workshop–it’s called the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse: http://creativereuse.org/ It is a total creative wonderland! Incidentally, I so wish I could come to your workshop! We just moved away from the Bay area a few months ago to Pasadena. If you ever do one in the LA area, I’m there! 🙂

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  15. jennie Avatar
    jennie

    have you seen this? found it on pinterest…i love this wall! http://runninglawyer.blogspot.com/2011/07/home-project-map-wall.html?showComment=1311096994111#c1296700412550791488

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  16. Sarah Bosma Avatar
    Sarah Bosma

    I LOVE this map idea!! I’m definitely going to do it for our home!

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  17. Beth I Avatar
    Beth I

    I just found a bunch of maps and road maps in my school’s trash. I love the heart idea.

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  18. Mo Avatar
    Mo

    I love, love, looooove the maps in hearts! Such a great idea!

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  19. Krystal Avatar
    Krystal

    love this.

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  20. Skye Avatar
    Skye

    I love travel and maps. These are great! I really need to put some map art in my home!

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  21. Kirsten Avatar
    Kirsten

    Oh I love the maps idea. As an American teacher in international schools, we move around alot. It seems like a perfect way to remember where I’m FROM (bay area!!) and where I’ve lived in Europe.

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  22. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    We lived in Ventura for about four years. It is one of the few towns in California that I love. It is an old town with its own culture and older culture and buildings and parks and so on. Unlike so many California villages that were just built on some vacant land with no culture or history. Enjoy your time there.

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  23. mer Avatar
    mer

    ok… so i saw the raddest map in the anthology magazine yesterday and had to share! it’s a scratch off world map: http://henryroad.com/kids-scratchmap.html
    also, i’m signed up for your workshop and i’m super excited! it’s going to be the perfect weekend getaway for me 🙂 see you soon!

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  24. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    so happy youll be in the class!! See you soon!

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  25. LindseyBee Avatar
    LindseyBee

    Just saw this post about your map decorations–maps make the Best decorations & conversation pieces. You can even get them custom style–like of all the places you’ve lived/been/etc.–good luck on the move! Anthropologies sells those little stitch maps, but I’m sure you could come up with a larger version yourself!

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