Framing Maps in Antique Oval Picture Frames

Framing Maps in Antique Oval Picture Frames

A couple of months ago, I posted a photo on my Sadie Seasongoods Facebook page. It was a project I had worked on a year ago, before I had even started my blog. The response to me framing maps in oval picture frames was was overwhelmingly good. So, I knew I was onto something and decided to create new ones so that I could share it as a project tutorial here on my blog.

framing the vintage road maps

It’s not like this is a complicated project. Painting  oval picture frames and cutting out a snippet of antique maps to fit- not exactly quantum physics.

And I’m no stranger to upcycling oval frames. Remember these “Easter Eggs” that I made for my mantel?

Upcycling the vintage oval frames into Pysanky eggs for Easter mantel decorations

But, anyway. Something special seems to happen when you place a vintage road map in round picture frames that have been given a splashy makeover. The key to it all is finding both the perfect frames and state maps of your desired destination.

There’s ALWAYS a catch!

So, I started collecting the right vintage maps with oval frames I found at thrift and antiques stores.

This post contains affiliate links for your crafting convenience. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. All blue, bold, and underlined text is a clickable link, either to a product or to a related post.

Framing Maps for Map Wall Art

First, I selected a pretty basic oval frame that had a VERY unexciting snow scene inside.

antique oval picture frame

After the frame has been dismantled, I cleaned both sides of the glass and used the glass to trace on the vintage roadmap. I LOVE using the frame glass for this because I can see through it and capture exactly the right snippet.

vintage road map for framing

Then, I cut out the oval snippet of map to put inside my oval frame!

cutting out a section from a vintage map

Lastly, I spray painted the oval frame in a bright color that coordinated with my snippet of map. I opted not to distress the paint finish but I DID spray on a clear coat to protect the paint from chipping.

Then, I reassembled the entire frame and absolutely LOVED it.

oval picture frame for map wall decor

Framing Maps in Antique Oval Picture Frames

In our home, we have several framed maps of places we’ve lived in or vacationed to.

And I’m also a fan of framing maps in the more ornate oval picture frames. I love how a paint job brings out the details of the round picture frames, including cracks and imperfections.

map wall decor in oval frames

These framed maps are like creating portholes into your own personal history.

I can’t stop making them. As soon as I find more oval picture frames, I find more vintage road maps to showcase!

vintage road map in an antique oval frame

This map wall decor is perfect as office wall art, or wall decor for other rooms in your home, like a den, study, or living room. And having a personal connection to the locations on the map is simply divine.

framing maps for wall decor

So there you have it- ridiculously simple, and it looks impossibly sublime. On the wall, they look like portholes to your favorite places, without the tangled web of interstates.

In fact, they may just inspire a trip taking the back roads to a familiar destination.

Where would you hang this type of map wall art? And would you use vacation destination state maps or antique maps of places you’ve lived? There are just so many options.

All I know is, oval picture frames or round picture frames give this type of framed wall art even more panache!

Interested in more crafts with upcycled paper like this? Check out this collection for even more inspiration!

Recycled paper crafts

Craft on!

S

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map wall decor

framed maps in antique oval picture frames

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Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.

Comments

  1. cherylweltha says

    I love old maps and atlases and have several of my own! This will be a project on my to-do list for sure. Love the bright colors in maps and adding the pop of color on the frame makes it all come together wonderfully! Thanks, Cheryl

  2. Super cute idea, especially in a grouping with maps of important places. I’ll be keeping my eye out for little oval frames at yardsales and thrift shops!

  3. These oval framed maps are adorable! I can see why you had such a great response on Facebook! I’d love for you to share these at my Creative Ways Link Party that just went live last night! I hope to see you there!
    Blessings,
    Nici

  4. I love your oval frames! The paint choices look so cheerful with the old maps. Good job!

  5. I love this idea! I’ve been looking for some oval frames lately with no luck. Your frames so so pretty.

  6. This idea would be so perfect in my house. My husband loves maps. I love beautifying our abode. This would be the perfect unification of our loves. Pinning!

  7. Thank you so much for attending week 8 of #PureBlogLove and linking your fantastic blog post. These look really great! What a good idea for old maps. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for our party next week Thursday 8 PM EST- Sundays at midnight. Your post has been added to the #PureBlogLove Pinterest board for all to see 🙂 Have a great day!
    Nicole
    http://picnicnz.blogspot.co.nz/

  8. How I would absolutely love to find embossed oval frames. An oval frame is very hard to find here (Grand Junction, CO). I bought an oval frame at hardware store that was meant to show house #’s. Hey it was an affordable price so I grabbed it. Can spray paint it any color I want. I’ve been thinking about doing maps also. Don’t have vintage maps but would like to copy maps that show all places we’ve lived in 46 yrs.(next month).
    Since I get bored with same things on walls for any length of time I like to make new art and put “new” things on walls for interest. Just changed some out on gallery wall and putting new items we made where bees/skeps/hives have been since end of summer when I replaced beach stuff for bee’s stuff.
    Love how you featured your maps and those oval frames are wonderful. I’ll be on lookout for some now. I’ll be pinning this post so I don’t forget how you did your art Great post. Where did you get vintage maps you have?
    Happy weekend and Halloween

  9. There is something about this project that is so sophisticated and pretty. Really great idea.

  10. These are great! I love the colors you painted the frames, very nice!

  11. What a fabulous idea!!! I priced maps for my home office…they are expensive! I have frames and I have maps…I see a project coming. I love the idea of framing places that you have vacationed or lived. Lori from LL Farm

  12. dwellinginhappiness says

    Oh what a neat idea!! These would look just so neat all on a gallery wall of their own. Love those round colored frames! 🙂

  13. Great idea. I love all those frames!

  14. Love these! I travel all over the world and often keep my walking maps but never know what to do with them when I get home. This will be perfect. Thanks so much for sharing at the Make it Monday Party! Hope to see you again next week.

  15. dearwatsonblog says

    absolutely adorable! great gift idea.

  16. What a great idea! I have a road trip I took several times and TONS of memories there..Thanks for the idea to frame the map with the route. I love it.

  17. I do wish I was as creative as you. Every week you stop by with lovely ideas. Thanks again for sharing at #theWeekendSocial. Please link up again Thursday 9:00 PM EST. Pinned. http://www.theKitchenChopper.com

  18. These vintage maps are awesome! I love how you framed them, Sarah. Thanks for sharing at Think and Make Thursday!

  19. There is something extra special about oval frames. I always snatch them up at my local thrift store too. Love what you did with yours!

  20. These are so cute! I can not wait until I can make one!

  21. Cute, cute, cute……thanks for sharing.

  22. I love these. Recently I bought a box of vintage road maps. I think there may be over 100 in there! I will have to try this.

  23. These are the neatest things! Thank you so much for sharing at the (extra-long) #homematters linky party! A brand new party starts TOMORROW! We hope to see you then! 🙂

  24. Awesome idea! Love it! Thanks for sharing at the Show me Sat link party. Enjoy your week!

  25. Loooove!!!! I am in the process of making a “travel wall”, and these would be the perfect addition. Thanks for sharing!! I will certainly be doing this.

  26. Just popping in from the gallery wall link up. Okay, first of all I love maps. I have tons and tons every where and I was trying to figure out how to incorporate them in my home. Second, these colors are adorable and sound super cheap to make. This craft is right up my alley. Thanks for sharing, now I am inspired to craft away.

  27. This was just the post I was looking for as I just found an old Atlas that was mine as a child up the attic!! It is filled with maps and I was looking for projects to do with them!! thanks so much for the inspiration!!

    Hugs,
    Deb

  28. swatkins827 says

    Thanks for sharing on the DIY Wall Art Blog Hop! I am featuring your Framed Vintage Road Maps on a round up of some great, easy wall art from the blog hop. http://www.casawatkins.net/2015/07/8-easy-and-beautiful-diy-wall-art-ideas.html

  29. It would be so fun to add some of our favorite places to the wall in our home. What a great memory boost! The colored frames are so adaptable to personal taste, too. Love it! Pinned!
    PS I found you via the Show and Tell link party. I recently strted a link party of my own, I’d love it if you stopped by and shared with us! Have a great week. http://www.mybusybeehives.com/2017/04/bee-party-7.html

  30. Love this easy idea Sarah!

    • Sadie Seasongoods says

      Thanks, Becky…it’s so simple, but works so well! One of those “duh” projects. 😀

  31. What a great repurpose! The finished results are stunning!

  32. Somewhere in a bin behind several boxes under the porch, I have some oval frames. Possibly in my mother’s old trunk there might be several old atlases. I’m getting there! These are such nice reminders of fun travels. Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story, have a great weekend.

  33. amberlyonferguson2017 says

    Great Idea!

  34. Mary-The Boondocks Blog says

    Sarah I wanted to decoupage a trunk and went looking for maps the other day. To my horror I only had 2 left! Did you take the rest? 😉 Pinning so I know where my maps are!

  35. These are great! They would be a great addition in my coastal style home with maps of coastlines! Thanks so much for sharing at Celebrate Your Story!

  36. Found comment I left over 2 yrs. ago before our 46th. anniversary, we celebrated our 48th. this past end of Nov. Boy those years are ticking by much too quickly, making us older, lol.
    Still love your oval frames with maps. Have 2 frames I found at thrift store so will decide what color to paint them, maybe med. gray so maps will be showcased more. Want to highlight where we lived in MT and not sure where else yet, have lived a few different places in 48 yrs. Maybe Tucson where hubs and I met, he was in Air force. This is still great post, love frames with extra embellishments on them. Now if could find more oval frames.
    Have lovely Sunday and great new week.

    • Sadie Seasongoods says

      Oh my gosh, isn’t that wonderful!! I took new (and better) photos of them to revive the post. 🙂 Hopefully, my photog skills are improving with time. Happy Sunday to you, too!

  37. Very clever decor idea! I should make one each of Chicago and Las Vegas for our house, for the places we’ve lived! Pinned! #MerryMonday

  38. I adore maps and love the way you have them framed. Thank you so much for sharing your oval framed maps with us at Vintage Charm.

  39. I LOOOOOVE the idea of framing a fav destination! On the hunt for Maui as I type! Really cool outcome!

    I’ve featured you in this weekend’s DIY Salvaged Junk Projects. Thanks for linking up! 🙂

    • Sadie Seasongoods says

      Ooooh yes- you need to do Maui STAT!! It might be an interesting challenge to find a vintage map, though, haha! Not that it has to be vintage, but you know me. 😉 Thank you SO much, as always- I’ll be there in a few hours to link up!

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