In the past year I’ve become a fan of Pinterest, the popular content sharing site that allows you to “pin” photos on a virtual bulletin board. You can check out my pinterest page to view travel-related images I’ve collected over this year, plus some of my own photography.
I especially love collecting travel craft ideas and wanted to share a few of them here.
I’ll start with two Christmas-themed travel projects — this first one I actually did last year. It’s a travel-inspried Christmas tree featuring international ornaments I picked up at World Market. I got them on sale for a few bucks each and then jerry-rigged that globe to the very top. I’m so pleased with how it turned out.
This second Xmas-themed idea came to me during my final days in New Zealand last May. I spotted these luggage tags in the gift shop of the Te Papa Museum in Wellington and thought they’d make great ornaments. Perhaps next year I’ll craft my own luggage tags from around the world and hang them on another travel-inspired Christmas tree…
While I haven’t had an opportunity to actually get crafty in 2013, it’s something I look forward to once I become more settled in the States. Here are a few ideas that have caught my (p)interest…
What a sweet way to remember a road trip route!
This might test my crafting capabilities, but the final outcome sure is adorable.
What a great way to store postcards, ticket stubs, brochures, and maps from a trip.
This is a pricey globe, but I think it’d be fun (and cheaper) to make your own as a DIY project with chalkboard paint.
Fellow travel blogger Angie Away designed these coasters using photos from her Moroccan trip. She also used Shutterfly’s Home Decor section to make plates and pillows from her travel images.
So it’s not a craft project, but I love the graphics and text on this National Parks poster. It brings back warm memories of traveling out West with my family each summer of my childhood. Would love to hang this in my future apartment / house one day.
On a similar note, these sketches of international cities are cute.
I’m a sucker for geographically inspired jewelry. This necklace of California — in a shiny turquoise color, no less — has me weak in the knees.
Similarly, I dig these state rings.
Map art is my favorite kind of art.
I’ll wrap up with four samples of map crafts that I love… starting with this collage from my former condo in Los Angeles. I purchased the black and white map art from this Etsy seller and then spray-painted an old frame from Ikea as a border. I got loads of compliments on it and look forward to hanging it once again whenever (and wherever) I settle down.
This is simple yet classic. Frame maps of areas that have special significance to you and then group them in a visually pleasing cluster.
Or take things a step further and map out an entire wall! I spotted this on my favorite design blog (YoungHouseLove) and immediately flagged it. What a great idea for a kids’ room.
Last year I saw similar map letters at World Market but they were quite pricey. I think you can purchase the cardboard (or wood) letters at a place like Michael’s and then spray glue or decoupage the map cut-outs. I’d love to do this with the word EXPLORE and hang it over my desk in a future home office someday.
Hope you’ve been “pinspired” by these pinterest ideas! Are there any craft projects you’re looking forward to tackling in 2014?
