Love Map

So my fiance and I celebrated our fifth "us day" as we call them, a few weeks ago. We know it is silly with our wedding coming up in the next calendar year but we still chose to honor the day he asked me out.

This year I decided, as usual, to make him something. Instead of following my usual routine of sewing or crafting something using paper, I chose to challenge myself. My archenemy when it comes to the world of crafting is painting. Still, I knew that my fiance would appreciate the effort I put into the idea.

In case I have not mentioned it, my fiance and I LOVE maps. Old, new, political, geological, does not matter. We have a wide variety in our home. What we did not posses was a map of the university that we both attended and the surrounding town. So I decided to try and create a new map and in a rather unique way.

I picked up a canvas from the local arts &crafts store - I think it was a 16x20 or something. Next, I printed out a map of our university from their website on 8.5x11 paper. I trimmed the map down to its bare edges and then went to the local paper/copy store and had them enlarge it to fit the canvas. Unfortunately, I was so pre-occupied with trying to hide all this from the fiance that I forgot to take pictures.

I did try originally to trace the outline of the University on to parchment paper and then use an iron to transfer the design to the back of the piece of canvas. Sadly, unlike Pinterest had suggested, this did not work. So instead, I taped the map to the back of the canvas and shined our corner lamp on its back. From there I created an outline of the main streets through the campus.

I then added the university's basic logo to the corner.

 I then used a pencil to write in the names of the buildings. I chose to write in their names so I could pick and choose which buildings to include - like ones where we took a class together, where our departments were located or where a special event had taken place.

 When I was done adding the university buildings, I then added some details to the surrounding area because many of our memories were located off campus as well..

 I then tried to steady my hand and actually write with a paint brush on the canvas but that was a tad difficult.

 So I invested in some of these great paint pens! They are just like regulars pens but dispense paint! They made the rest of the map so much easier.

 Including writing over areas where I had painted bodies of water, local stores or forested areas - even the Canadian border.

When my fiance opened his gift on our anniversary, he thought "its really cool and very unique." He knows my painting skills are not as good as his but appreciated the effort. The painted map now hangs in his home office for people to see when they come visit. He would like me to fill in more areas over time and include some other buildings on the map but it was a great start.