I create map and nautical chart pillows here at salt labs in Detroit, MI. It seems like a natural evolution for me to be making map pillows. Maps are part of my DNA. I almost can’t walk or drive anywhere without a mental map in my brain of the places I’m travelling to or from. I have to know the north, east, south and west of the place I’m in. In Michigan, one intuitively orients oneself by the surrounding bodies of water, our Great Lakes.
Over
the past year, I’ve been on the craft show circuit, first locally, then
regionally. I tended to prop my booth with all things map-related that
I’ve collected over the years – vintage globes, educational maps, etc.
For Chicago Renegade this fall, I needed a much more transportable
solution and I realized paper garlands would be the perfect prop – light
as the air that animates them.
Indirectly
my daughter, Micha, was the inspiration for creating my map paper
garlands. She and her buddy, Ben, were constantly making little oragami
creations that filled the nooks and crannies of our home. When she
returned home this summer, she taught me how to make the traditional
water balloon or “bomb”, as it’s called. We spent our evenings together
turning old maps into “globe” garlands.
At
Renegade, people loved them. Everyone wanted to buy my props. In the
end, though, what they really wanted was to know how to make them –
everyone loves to craft. So the least I can do is share this neat,
little DIY for creating your own garlanded world of little origami
"globes".
1. start with a square of map paper (I used 5-inch squares for my garlands)
2. fold both ways diagonally (called valley folds in origami)
3. fold horizontally, then vertically (called mountain folds)
4. bring folds together as shown, like a 3-D pyramid
5. then flatten into a triangle
6. take bottom right corner up to the top, press fold with finger
7. repeat fold on left corner to the top
8. flip over and repeat process on the other side
9. fold side points of diamond to center
10. flip over and repeat on the other side
11. use a thin, wooden stick (or your little finger) to open the center pockets, tuck (or even double tuck) each top flap well into each center pocket, pressing flat with finger
12. repeat on the reverse side, again tucking the top flaps into the center pockets
(notice how flat the flaps are in the pockets)
13. gently pull at the sides to expand into the balloon shape
14. blow into the end with a hole to inflate...et voilà !
15. now make 50 of these (just kidding!) – the number depends on the length of garland you want
16. string the globes along a natural hemp twine 8" to 9" apart, double knotting before and after each placement to keep the globe in place.
Happy DIY-ing!
PS: Here's an illustrated guide for quick reference:
28 comments:
love this! Very cute alternative to the triangle garland...
FIKS*D
Oh this is too cute :-) Might use that with kids at the next baking afternoon. Thanks for sharing it!
What a great ides...With todays changing world, google maps and gps I am always wandering what to do with old Atlases.
This is wonderful! Thank you so much for the clear photos illustrating each step of the tutorial. Time to hit the thrift stores for old Nat Geo maps!
This is the coolest garland idea I've seen! I'd love to try it. Thanks for sharing!
this is wonderful,thank you very much for sharinga business coach
Thanks for the loveIy comments.
As a postscript, I'd like to add a "thank you" to a fellow artist, Liz Kerner of Detroit's Carriage House Press, who also helped in the garland-making department. Thanks for your contribution, Liz!
Super cute! I would love to make these for my x-mas tree!
This is gorgeous & thank you ever so much for sharing such clear instructions!
So clever! Can display this year-round ;-)
Oh my gosh I love it! All of these garland projects on the blogosphere are making me so happy :)
I just made my own!
http://www.insideways.com/2011/11/diy-paperclip-garland.html
so GREAT!! fantastic tutorial!! can't wait to try this.
I would love to make these, the origami instructions are awesome but how are you attaching the globes to the string?
waywardmedic - Good question. A darning needle and twine perhaps? I will contact Robbi to ask. Thanks.
Thanks for your question, waywardmedic. A big darning needle might work but I used about a 4" piece of flexible green garden wire (don't remember the thickness, maybe 1.0 mm). I just fashioned a narrow hook or "eye" on one end for threading the twine. Balls of 1 mm natural hemp twine are found at local craft stores like Michaels.
Thanks Jan and Robbi for the information. I will definitely be making these.
This is a great idea, i love it!
adorable! I can't wait to try this!
tried it..almost go tit right..have trouble squeezing all the flaps in..but it did puff up like a balloon..yah!!! now to go dig up the old map box..
I think these would be really cute made out of wrapping paper scraps, too! Thanks for sharing your creation!
I've been making the balls from origami or sturdy wrapping paper and inflating them for my tree for years, but I never thought of a map garland, and now of course I must do that!
Love this!
Thank you for the tutorial...I can't wait to try it and hang it in my studio!!
Happy New Year!
All the best,
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art
Thanks so much for sharing! This will be great in my daughters room!
What a great project, will try!
Thank you all– hope you enjoy making the garland as much as I did with my daughter.
Thank you all– hope you enjoy making it as much as I did with my daughter.
Made a bunch of these this morning for my classroom (travel/geography theme this year). Can't wait to hang them!
Thank you for the GREAT tutorial!
Thank you for your kind comment, Ruthanne. I love your classroom theme!
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