Personalised map heart print

Ok, so I know this isn’t technically hook, knit or stitch related but I really wanted to share this with you anyway!

Not that long ago, our friends decided to get married! With the wedding day impending, James (my boyfriend) and I were wracking our brains trying to figure out what we could get them. We didn’t want to conform to the ‘gift list’ they had created or get them the standard ‘we couldn’t think of anything’ gift voucher, we  wanted to give them something more personal, something that made them think of us everytime they saw it…

So, after some considerable thought and several days later, we came up with the idea of making them a personalised map heart print. Now I know what you are thinking, these are available everywhere(!), but by making it ourselves not only was it nice because we had taken the time and energy to make it together but it was also loads cheaper (bonus!)!

In our print we decided to use three map hearts. The one on the left is where the bride grew up, the one on the right the groom and the one in the middle where they met (which in this case was Paris – how romantic!). It was so simple to make and we were really chuffed with how it turned out and with the couple now wed, I can also report that the bride and groom loved it too (yay!).

To make a lovely map heart print like ours, all you need is:

– Cheap frame (we got ours from Wilkos for £4.99)
– A nice bit of card for the background
– Photocopied sections of map that relate to where the bride and groom grew up and where they met (this will save you cutting up and ruining expensive maps you may have purchased)
– Scraps of card which you can cut into heart shapes
– Glue (we used mod podge matt)
– Scissors!

1. Cut your cream card to size so that it fits neatly into your frame. This will provide a background for your map hearts so make sure you choose a colour that works well with your maps.

2. Draw and cut out three heart shapes around the sections of map you have chosen. Make sure all the hearts are the same shape and size by using a template to draw around – this makes it so much easier, trust me!

3. Mount your three map hearts onto the scrap bits of card and cut out so you end up with three map hearts backed with card.

4. Carefully measure out where you want each of your map hearts to go on the background you cut out earlier and then, stick them into place.

5. Give it time to dry and then pop it into your frame and you’re done! Now all you have to do is wrap it up nicely and remember to take it with you on the wedding day!!