Day 3 of the Daisy Yellow Creative Queue Challenge find us (me) tackling a two-fer: Doing something with some laying about supply items I never made a point of using -AND- actually creating something from my Pinterest Artsy Craftsy DIY board. I found these map paper covered letters on Urban Outfitters and saved them to my board, thinking I’d rather make some myself *even though they are honestly not that expensive, considering, and they seem a bit nicer than homemade, what with their fabric (linen?) covered sides, but … I needed a project and this was one I could quickly & easily do with on-hand stuff.
Map covered letter supplies - all on hand
I was going to use some smaller letters that spelled “CITY” that I’d been promising my kid for like two years I’d cover with city skyline images for his room – but suddenly I couldn’t find them (even though they’d been hovering in my periphery for what seemed like weeks) so I pulled my backup A and Z italics letters from a bin of “I’ll Get to This Eventually” stuff – they are just plain Kraft paper / hollow mache type letters you can find at any craft shop, or even WalMart. Since they were bare, I decided to paint the edges, and used regular craft paint in “Antique White” to replicate the linen hue on the UO letters.
painting the edges of letters
oops, forgot the inside of the a
don't forget to get paint on yourself!
After the edges were painted & dry (like, no time at all – that craft paint dries so fast) I took my map paper pages – just some random pages I had in my stash, from cutting up an old highway driving atlas – and did a dry fit to check my placement on the letter. Here’s where you could make it really personal by using maps of areas that mean something to you, I just used what I had handy. I chose the map that said “Akron” for the “a” letter, but turns out once I glued it down I noticed it also included the town in Ohio where I was born, so that was a cool bonus! Anyway, I glued it down just using a layer of Mod Podge, but use your fave adhesive, just be sure to get a nice thin even coat, and RIGHT UP TO THOSE EDGES! then lay your paper on top of the letter, or the letter glue side down onto the (wrong) side of the paper – whichever way works for you. I used a full page sheet – just be sure to use something large enough to cover the entire letter surface.
brushing on thin layer of Mod Podge
adhering map paper to letter
I didn’t get a picture of this part – but I used a paper towel and burnished the paper onto the front of the letter – really rub it good to get any bubbles or wrinkles out, but also to really stick the paper down to the edges – since I am cutting away the excess paper after, I wanted to seal the edges down real well. You could always position your letter on the paper and trace around it, then cut out the shape and glue it down – I just did it this way. Cuz I like to make things difficult, I guess 
cut around edges of letter
You can use scissors or a craft knife to cut away the excess paper from the edges. I used scissors, partly cuz I find it easier, partly cuz my craft knife was dull (and ripping the paper) and mostly cuz my craft knife just hates me. We don’t get along real well.
rasping off any edge remnants
I used a flexible sponge type nail file to sand/rasp off any leftover paper overhang all around the edges – it also gives a distressed look to the piece depending on how hard or much you have at it. That sponge filer is GREAT for getting into small edges and areas and it’s real easy on your hands and fingers. I usually get them at the dollar or discount store – with the acrylic nail supplies. Best sanding block I’ve ever found.
Now to add some dimension and aging with walnut ink. You can use any ink pad or markers or whatever your chosen method of inking edges you normally use. I just figured the walnut ink would be easiest to apply and I knew I wanted a nice dark color.
distressing the edges with walnut ink
Be sure to get the inner edges too, if you use letters like A or O or E or whatever. I sprayed my walnut ink on a paper towel and rubbed it in all around the edges – then did a second layer, applying the ink with a clean makeup sponge wedge. That actually worked better than the p-towel but I didn’t think of it til after, so. TIP! Use a sponge wedge 
partly inked edges
Proud Project Parent!
After I inked the edges I realized I’d need to put another coat of the Antique White paint on the solid edges to clean it up a little bit, and also on the letter backs since I didn’t paint those while I was working with them (though if you wanted you could certainly map cover both sides). I only got the “a” finished yesterday, so I am finishing the “z” tonight, and once my husband is up to it (he has oral surgery tomorrow, yipes!) I am going to have him figure out a way to mount these very lightweight letters onto something sturdy – a woodblock, maybe even a nice heavy secondhand hardback with a nice linen cover – and turn them into bookends! Will update when the pair are totally complete 
Enjoy your crafty creativity, everyone!
~ gem ~
