DIY Map Coasters

Do you remember when vacation travels included an actual map? Did you know they still make maps? Those maps make awesome vacation souvenirs. DIY Map Coasters.

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs {Handmade Gifts}; Thoughtful gift tutorial for Christmas, Grandparent's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Mothers & Fathers Day. TrishSutton.com

If I am remembering correctly the last time I used an actual paper map was in 2002. While on a roadtrip with one of my closest friends. She was the co-pilot and official map reader on our several day adventure and I was the driver. I do remember getting lost once and I remember that my co-pilot’s voice changed octaves, unlike my current GPS.

For just a few dollars you can buy one of those folded “old fashion” maps that expand into a large piece of paper which takes up the entire windshield of a car. I ordered a map off of Amazon to create DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs. (Of course, printing a paper map would serve the same purpose.) However, the actual base of the coaster didn’t cost me a penny

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs {Handmade Gifts}; Thoughtful gift tutorial for Christmas, Grandparent's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Mothers & Fathers Day. TrishSutton.com

In the past year we have had the floors in our house replaced twice. Believe me we did not plan it that way ten months ago. Nonetheless, we collected MANY floor samples over the past several months from a range of flooring stores. The samples are various floor types; several of them were wood laminate samples.  Rather than throw them away after our latest renovation I created DIY Map Coasters with the wood laminate samples. The coasters double as reminders of special memories from our favorite places, including our recent summer travels.

The wood laminate samples we had were rectangle; no worries, I had a simple fix. My husband and his chop saw! He cut a couple inches off each laminate sample to make them into squares. Rather than paint the edges of each square and just cover the top with the map I decided to wrap my coasters like a canvas print.

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs {Handmade Gifts}; Thoughtful gift tutorial for Christmas, Grandparent's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Mothers & Fathers Day. TrishSutton.com

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs

SUPPLIES
Wood Laminate Samples
(from Home Depot or any flooring store)
Paper Map 
Spray Adhesive 
Mod Podge Glue 
Clear Acrylic Sealer 
Felt

ADDITIONAL
Saw, Pencil, Scissors, Paint Brush

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs {Handmade Gifts}; Thoughtful gift tutorial for Christmas, Grandparent's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Mothers & Fathers Day. TrishSutton.com

Lay the square over the city (or place) of choice then use a pencil to outline each square.

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs {Handmade Gifts}; Thoughtful gift tutorial for Christmas, Grandparent's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Mothers & Fathers Day. TrishSutton.com

Cut the square an inch to two inches larger than the outline then erase the pencil marks. 

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs {Handmade Gifts}; Thoughtful gift tutorial for Christmas, Grandparent's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Mothers & Fathers Day. TrishSutton.com

Spray a layer of spray adhesive over the top of the laminate then center and secure the paper map.

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs {Handmade Gifts}; Thoughtful gift tutorial for Christmas, Grandparent's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Mothers & Fathers Day. TrishSutton.com

Fold the edges of the map as if you are wrapping a gift. Add Mod Podge glue to each fold.

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs {Handmade Gifts}; Thoughtful gift tutorial for Christmas, Grandparent's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Mothers & Fathers Day. TrishSutton.com

Paint a layer of Mod Podge glue over both sides and the edges of each coaster. Allow plenty of dry time then paint another layer of Mod Podge glue over the tops and sides of coasters. Repeat a third time then allow the coasters to dry completely.

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs {Handmade Gifts}; Thoughtful gift tutorial for Christmas, Grandparent's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Mothers & Fathers Day. TrishSutton.com

Spray the tops and sides of each DIY Map Coaster with clear acrylic sealer. (It’s best to spray them outside then leave them on a piece of cardboard or something similar.) Allow dry time then repeat this step two more times.

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs {Handmade Gifts}; Thoughtful gift tutorial for Christmas, Grandparent's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Mothers & Fathers Day. TrishSutton.com

Once the handmade vacation souvenirs (or gifts) have dried completely add felt squares to the bottom of each one.

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs {Handmade Gifts}; Thoughtful gift tutorial for Christmas, Grandparent's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Mothers & Fathers Day. TrishSutton.com

These DIY Map Coasters make great souvenirs however they would make awesome gifts too. Grandparent’s Day is just around the corner! A coaster representing the places where grandchildren live would make for a meaningful gift.

If you know someone getting married a thoughtful gift representing the place they were engaged and the place they are getting married would be super unique. And then there is Christmas! Map Coasters would be a sweet gift for all occasions.

DIY Map Coasters Vacation Souvenirs {Handmade Gifts}; Thoughtful gift tutorial for Christmas, Grandparent's Day, Birthdays, Weddings, Mothers & Fathers Day. TrishSutton.com

Similar handmade gift tutorials by Trish

DIY CERAMIC TILE PHOTO COASTERS
DIY Ceramic Tile Photo Coasters

DIY WOOD BLOCK PHOTO CUBE

 


About Trish

When this sleep deprived self proclaimed tea addict is not creating content for this here blog, Trish can most often be found at the Soccer field or watching a football game. Trish is a passionate volunteer, contract accountant, avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys and will only eat Oreos in pairs. She has two boys born sixteen years apart and her favorite place in the world is by her husband's side - preferably in a football stadium, at Disneyland or in San Diego.