I was scrolling through Pinterest a few months ago and saw a headline: “30 DIY Projects Using Maps,” and was immediately inspired. I never even looked at those projects because so many of my own ideas started flying through my head, and from that moment, I was on a mission.
Turns out that old maps and atlases are really, really hard to come by. I scoured every thrift store in town- nada. I know I probably could’ve found something on eBay, but I was weary that I would end up spending money on garbage. So, I diverted to old books. I picked up a couple old novels at Goodwill and got to work. Here is what I came up with:
Lampshade:
I started off by taking the old shade that I’ve been dying to replace off of my lamp. This was a perfect way to change it up without having to dish out a pile of money. I tore out some pages and started plastering them on with Mod Podge. I couldn’t be more satisfied with the end result (the pictures do not do it justice!).
Room Decor
I used the same Mod Podge plastering method to cover these old canvases that just didn’t match my decor. They were a little boring with just the pages, so I decided to handwrite some of my favorite quotes with a black paint pen. I found the Atticus quote as well as many other wise words in Linds’ article (read it here). Okay, next step: practice my cursive!
Bookmarks
This DIY is probably my favorite of the bunch because they are gorgeous and so unique. I just cut cardstock into rectangles and you guessed it- Mod Podged on the pages. I also punched a hole and strung through some twine, but that is totally optional. This is your chance to get really creative- write a quote, draw something, highlight your favorite word or phrase on the page, or just leave it blank. 
Gift Tags
These involve the same process as making the bookmarks, you just cut the cardstock into a slightly different shape. You can make them any shape you like, but I love the look of these because they have a vintage vibe. Your gift wrapping skills are about to advance to a whole new level!
There you have it! I had so much fun making these. Some other ideas include picture frames, Christmas tree ornaments, phone cases, vases, notebooks or journals, you could even decoupage desk or dresser drawers!
One piece of advice: at least take a quick glance at the books before you buy them. I grabbed the first books I saw at the thrift store without reading what they were actually about. Now I have a lampshade full of obscenities…whoops!
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Happy crafting!
Let us know what you think!