How To Mount and Frame a Large Map

In keeping with the Boston theme today….how about I show you how I framed that big map of Boston Harbor??

If you don’t want to frame your map:  cut your insulation to the exact dimensions of the map (see Step 1 below) and then paint the edges and a bit of the front. DO NOT USE SPRAY PAINT TO PAINT YOUR INSULATION. I read in the tutorial at Sugar Bee Crafts that spray paint causes the insulation to disentegrate. Brush on craft or wall paint in your desired color. After the paint has dried, continue to Step 2 below.

If you want to frame your map with corner molding:
painting the edges first is not necessary.
1)  Cut the insulation to the exact size of the map. To do this, measure and mark the insulation, then use the T-square as a guide and SCORE the insulation with the utility blade. Next run the blade along the score mark again, firmly and making sure the blade is all the way through the insulation, pushing the blade against the T-square as you go to make a nice straight line..
2)  Unroll your map and roll it up the opposite way so it does not curl anymore. You may have to roll your map one way and then the other a few times to knock the curl out of it. Ideally your map will be almost flat before mounting.
3)  Spray the insulation with adhesive in a well ventilated area (preferably outside on a non-windy day). Wear a mask when spraying – spray adhesive is stinky and not good for you to breathe in!
4)  With your helper, carefully lay the map onto the insulation, starting with one edge and then smoothing over. The adhesive is forgiving – you can lift up the map to reposition, but beware that you may create wrinkles in doing so. I tried to do my first map by myself and it was very cumbersome, resulting in quite a few wrinkles on the map, and inappropriate language on my part. 🙂
5)  Use a brayer or a silicone spatula to gently push air bubbles to the sides, working from the center out.

After I mounted my map I decided to trim off some of the text at the bottom. This is what happens when you don’t score first:

And with scoring, and then sinking the blade all the way through the insulation for one deep cut:

So, score first!

To add a frame to your map:
*Note:  I used the less expensive polystyrene molding the first time I made a frame with corner trim. DO NOT USE polystyrene corner molding to make a frame! – it’s flimsy and hard to cut miters perfectly. Buy the more expensive wood corner molding and your 45s will come out so much better.
1)  Measure the sides of your map and cut corner molding accordingly.
2)  Paint the trim. I used black spray paint for this step.
3)  Use Gorilla Glue or an epoxy to attach the frame pieces to your map.
4)  Use painter’s tape to hold the corner molding in place until the glue dries.

5)  Optional:  after my map was all framed, I taped off the molding and adding a bit of gold the inside edge with a paint pen for an extra little detail.

Attach hanging hardware:
This is a really professional frame job right here folks.
Since the insulation is very lightweight even with the frame on, I simply used two dots of hot glue with a triangular picture hook, as hanging hardware (triangular hooks are widely available at hardware stores and even the grocery store!). If you don’t have one of those hangers handy, you can also use a paper clip!! (Measure the spots where you will put the dab of glue first, so they are the same distance from the top of your map.)  When the glue dried, I simply measured and banged nails into the wall, and hung the map, easy peasy.

I think the map blended in too much in my blah living room, but imagine it on a deep dark delicious charcoal basement wall!

No sneak peeks…..I’ll show you the big reveal next week for the wrap up of the One Room Challenge!

Happy Halloween all you witches and goblins!