18 April 2011

“You Are Here”

I recently saw another blogger knock off some map art from an Etsy shop.  She took 6 blocks of canvas painted on her map and then pulled them apart for an amazing effect.  So I lifted the idea but did it on a single canvas since all those little ones can add up!
Slowly but surely my sons room is becoming more than a dresser and a mattress on the floor.  Okay well the mattress is still on the floor but not for long!  Sorry baby, mommy promises to build you a bed soon =)  Ah who am I kidding?  He’s a ten yr. old boy (almost), he doesn’t care!

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I just bought my first projector.  It’s the cheapo Tracer you can get from the local hobby stores.  It’s affordable and does the job but it’s by no means an advanced piece of equipment if you know what I mean.  You have to use this in a completely dark space.  I mean not a speck of light shining through or you can’t see your image.  I tried it in a room with the shades drawn.  I tried it in the bathroom which has only a doorway but no windows.  Nope.  Here is where I ended up setting up my project.  In the master closet.  Oh yes, the things us crafters do! 
“Hello, my name is Sommer.  And I’m a closet tracer.

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But I have to say other than this little inconvenience it did a great job.  You’ll need a book or board to stabilize the projector.  It’s a little wonky on the carpet and your image doesn’t sit strait.  The pencil marks are light intentionally so if you don’t already wear glasses click the image for a closer look.

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The boy’s room will be tan, black, grey and white.  So I used my free sample of Vintage Grey from Valspar for this project.  Lovin it!

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I will say hind site is 20/20.  I wasn’t sure which would be the more simple route.  To paint it all grey and trace then fill in the white areas.  Or to trace then paint the grey around all the white areas.  Well at first it was totally indifferent.  But when it came time to paint AROUND all those microscopic islands I realized, the first path would have been easier. 
I’m sad to say while doing this part my son was playing the roll of foreman and informed me “Mom you just painted over an island!”.  Damn tsunami’s!
Then as I was cutting in the polar caps and they started getting smaller and smaller we chalked that one off to global warming.  So is it a perfect “to scale” map?  Um, no.  But it’s damn close and we both love it and had a great time making it. 

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~Sommer

I link up to all these Rockin Parties!

25 comments:

Sweet Little Smoothie said...

It looks fantastic!! My husband loves maps - I might have to do this for him. Thanks for sharing :)

Amanda said...

Looks amazing! I just don't know I'd have the patience to trace it all out, you've done a fab job!

Tammy @ Type A said...

looks awesome!

Cassie Bustamante said...

that looks amazing sommer! love the color you used!

Jana said...

Looks amazing! Thanks for linking up over at Giggles, Glitz & Glam!

Andrea . Charcoal and Crayons said...

It looks great! I love that gray colour too.

Becky@OrganizingMadeFun said...

I did a VERY similar map in my son's room...only I did a decal on the wall:

http://organizingmadefun.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-boys-closetclose-up-and-organized.html

I guess our boys both like maps!

Becky B.
www.organizingmadefun.com
Organizing Made Fun

Big D and Me said...

I love your wall map - I use a tracer too for all sorts of projects
Jennifer
www.bigdandme.com

Sarah said...

Oh, I love this! For my in-law's who love to travel, maybe a similar map painted on corkboard with fancy little pins to mark where they've been and where they still want to go?

Unknown said...

I love maps in kids room!

I am having a giveaway on my blog. $40 store credit from Urban Walls to get any decal of your choice. They have amazing decals for every room! just leave me a comment telling me which is your fav decal to win.
http://houseonashwelllane.blogspot.com/2011/04/40-store-credit-from-urban-walls-to-get.html

Holly said...

That's so cool! My son is a map fanatic and he would love this.
Thanks for joining the party!

Tammy @ Type A said...

love it! thanks for partying with me! xx

Sew Can Do said...

My son would love this and I really think I need to get a tracer now! Thanks for linking to Craftastic Monday:)

I'd love if you stopped by & entered my new CRI-Kits Gel Pens Giveaway - the odds are great: http://sewcando.blogspot.com/2011/04/review-giveaway-cri-kits-gel-pens.html

Full Circle Creations said...

Great job!

Kara said...

This is great!! I love how clean it looks...I'm sure your son is so thankful for it too! It came out wonderful!

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

Very clever idea. I'm thinking of all the possibilities.

Aisling said...

I did the world map from the Spy Kids Logo direct onto one of my kids wall once! I know what you mean about all the fiddly bits!

Kath said...

wow this looks hard. you did a really good job. saw you on house of hepworths.

new follower!
kathryn
www.thedragonsfairytail.blogspot.com

Mel said...

This is fabulous!

Anonymous said...

About the time he gets a bed frame, he'll want it on the floor. Or maybe one day he'll talk about how cool his folks were b/c he had a mattress on the floor. Enjoyed reading your quips and post. Also read your profile comments. Enjoyed the reading. And, what a unique spelling for your name. I'm here by way of Brambleberry's Time Traveler Thursday link. Thanks, Jenn

Megan Gunyan said...

Looks FABULOUS! You did an amazing job! We can blame global warming for pretty much anything these days. :)-

Sachiko said...

Fantastic! I love your color choice too!

Ashlee Marie said...

It's just lovely! I love it! I'm featuring it today on Topsy Turvy Tuesday's! Thanks for linking up!

Charlotte said...

Great idea! I'm adding this to my ideas to keep in mind. My kids would love some map artwork.

Michell @ Girl In Air said...

I LOVE it! I have the same map painted in my entry and I also used a projector..

Gotta LOVE the projector:-)

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