DIY: Framed Map Heart Cutouts

Most of us have Pinterest addictions. Once I knew we were buying a house I started pinning decorating ideas like crazy. Many of them being DIY projects. One that I really found cute was an idea to cutout hearts out of old maps and then frame them. Most the time the hearts were the place you met your spouse, got married and where you bought your first home. I decided I really liked the idea and wanted to try it out myself.


My hearts represent everywhere we have lived or traveled. I was actually really excited to do this because I plan to just keep adding hearts to it as we travel more. I designed my hearts using Photoshop. I used Google maps to get photos of the maps I needed. Then I would edit them into heart shapes and even play with the colors a bit.


Once I printed them all out I started cutting...

I ended up with a lot of hearts! It took some time to figure out what pattern I wanted to lay them out in.
I just eyeballed the entire thing. I taped them down once they looked even.


The Santa Barbara heart is my favorite...

I should mention that my living room is where my globes are and where I have some other maps framed. I am also doing a painting soon to hang over my couch that kinda also fits into the same theme. I love traveling and thought this project was perfect for my home. :)


There you can see it with nothing around it on the mantel. I have since added plants and vases around it. I can't seem to get it right so I keep moving things. (Photos to come later.) I am happy with the end result. It's just a simple modern looking piece of art. I had considered putting the hearts on a bright colored fabric or place bright colored hearts behind the maps to make them stand out more. I like the simplicity of it for now.

You can see my original PIN that inspired me to do this project HERE.
View all my posts of my home HERE.

The World in My Living Room

I made it back to Wyoming. I love being HOME again. It was only a little over 2 weeks, but it feels like I have been gone for much longer then that. My decorating wheels are turning and I can't wait to finish my rooms!! Our dining room and living room are missing art, accessories and furniture. I hate it!! While shopping at IKEA I saw this room display....

I am pretty much obsessed with traveling now and seeing the world! I thought to myself,"DUH! This is perfect for my HUGE blank wall over my couch!" The map sold at IKEA is not very colorful, so I am looking else where for a map with a bit more color. I have been looking online for some inspiration. Katie over at Julep Studios has a map in her home that she glued on some foam core board...
I really like her idea and it's more affordable then custom framing a map. I also love the wallpaper wall murals you can buy, but our ceilings are to low! Bummer!
Decor Pad

Camille Styles

Decor Pad

Little Nudge

House to Home
Now I just have to pick my map out!