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How To… Paint A World Map Mural (DIY)

20 May 2011 20 Comments

Welcome back to this week’s How To! We have a fabulous “DIY World Map Mural” from the wonderful Rachel over at Quirky Momma showing us “how” this week. I lover her mural, as it is sleek, neat and cool. This would look great both in a home with or without kids. Use some magnetic paint first and you could REALLY make this mural interactive – add magnetic markers to show where you have been, “pin photos” or show family and friends that live far away. Brilliant idea. You do “need” and overhead project – maybe you can borrow one from school or work.

Rachel is a wonderful lady – she is open, friendly and helpful. She has great ideas. Rachel’s blog – Quirky Momma – is a fabulously fun blog full of fun learning activities for kids. As with all my guest posters – her blog really is worth a look. You will find all sorts of inspirational ideas. So if you like today, do go and visit!

Over to Rachel to show us how she made her own World Map Mural:

As a former Social Studies Teacher, I love geography and I want to instill a global-mindset into my preschoolers minds. We recently moved and are having fun transforming the new house into a home – i.e. we are swamped with reconstruction projects. I wanted to liven up the blah wall that was left after we opened up the office area to become a eat-in kitchen, and wanted to imprint to the world into my kids minds. We are so small compare to the scope of global issues. I want to help my kids realize there is a big world out there, with big needs. The world is bigger than the neighborhood, town, country we live in. Large maps are expensive or tacky. Map mural to the rescue!!!

What we needed to create our mural:

An overhead projector [or a project that connects to a PC/ laptop - borrow one from school or from work]
An image of the world
Plastic Wrap
Permanent marker
Paint [use magnetic paint to make the mural interactive]
Paint Brushes
2 hours of kids-hands-off drying time (easier said than done)

To make the mural I printed off a picture of the world [or find one for your PC, if you have a project that connects to a PC]. Then I put the plastic wrap over the picture and traced the world with my marker. This meant that I didn’t have to buy transparency paper – I’m a tightwad. Project your image onto the wall and fill it in. This is super easy!

world map mural before

This is what our kitchen area looked like when we moved in and you can see the progression of the mural to completion. I like my new kitchen!!!

Where did we get our inspiration?
Michelle, from Girl in Air, has a fun crafty blog – check her out!

This DIY World Map Mural would of course look FABULOUS in a class room too! Why not have a go? I am dying to…

Don’t forget to go and visit Rachel too!

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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20 Comments »

Zoe said:

This would be so cool for the postcard swap! Love it!

# 20 May 2011 at 6:16 am

mamimadeit said:

Great idea! And so cool too! Magnetic paint is a fabulous idea!

# 20 May 2011 at 7:35 am

Leovi said:

You have been great, I already knew that method.

# 20 May 2011 at 9:22 am

Red Ted Art (author) said:

I already know which wall I want it on in our house… now just to tell The Englishman!!!!

(And yes Zoe, PERFECT for an international postcard swap!!)

# 20 May 2011 at 10:33 am

maryanne @ mama smiles said:

Rachel has awesome ideas, I’ve been reading her blog for a long time!

This map is amazing, wonder if I could convince DH to let me do it…

# 20 May 2011 at 1:56 pm

Anna @ The Imagination Tree said:

It’s beautiful! And so ridiculously NEAT!! No way I could paint that steadily, but up for the challenge! Modern Parents Messy Kids shared a fabulous giraffe like this on a baby’s nursery wall. Gorgeous ideas out there!

# 20 May 2011 at 8:34 pm

creativejewishmom/sara said:

wonderful idea, I’ve been really wanting to use an overhead projector for some mural projects too! thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday, and for reminding me to look into the overhead projector idea!

# 23 May 2011 at 1:58 am

northernmum said:

awesome as always – i have no chance!

how does one crack america?

# 24 May 2011 at 9:18 pm

@mummiafelice said:

This is just fantastic! Love it!

# 26 May 2011 at 8:49 am

Liz Burton said:

This looks incredible! There’s no way I could do anything like that though without wobbling all over the place.

LOVE the idea of marking off places you’ve visited – although for us homies it may have to be a UK map!

Great idea x

# 26 May 2011 at 10:35 am

Kimberlee said:

I love how you suggest magnetic paint. What a great way to make a map interactive for kiddos! Visiting from Fireflies and Jelly Beans link-up.
~ Kimberlee at The Spunky Diva

# 26 May 2011 at 3:45 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Aaah thank you! And lovely to “Meet” you via fireflies and jelly beans! Hooray for link ups!

# 26 May 2011 at 5:19 pm

Amanda said:

Such a cool idea, Ive a freind just having her kitchen redone, looking for ideas, with magnetic paint, cant wait to tell her!

# 26 May 2011 at 7:26 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Oh yes, this would be PERFECT! I want one in my kitchen!!

# 26 May 2011 at 7:51 pm

Bernadette - Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas said:

I love the idea of these large wall murals – the husband would never go for it! Maybe once I get back to the classroom – the brain is already formulating a plan,

thank you for linking up this idea to the Sunday Showcase – don’t forget to stop by for tomorrow night’s linky party!

Bernadette
http://momto2poshlildivas.blogspo

# 27 May 2011 at 11:05 pm

Michelle Willow said:

Coming back after a week and this still looks awesome!

# 28 May 2011 at 4:26 am

emma said:

Oh my goodness, this is fantastic. I have been wanting an large world map for our walls and was about to buy a canvas print from ikea for $150 but this is so much better!!!!

# 28 May 2011 at 6:23 am

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Oh how perfect!! Hope you do make one and send us some pictures!!!

# 28 May 2011 at 6:27 am