Elisabeth Lecourt recycles old maps and turns them into beautiful dresses and shirts. I don’t imagine they’re wearable, but they’d look lovely on the wall nevertheless.
I’m starting to feel bad for maps. But at least there are plenty of efforts to reuse them creatively: here are a bunch we’ve highlighted in the past.
Elisabeth Lecourt | Les robes géographiques: (via Dresses made from old maps - Boing Boing)
Artist Ed Fairburn uses old maps as canvases for his large-scale portraits.
(spotted on Colossal here)
Find more map reuse examples in earlier Unconsumption posts here.
![More map reuse, via ps-imadethis, who decoupaged maps onto a tray, an old dinner plate, and the bottom of a leftover plastic food container.
How-to:
Cut your maps in circles, long strips, or simply cover the entire surface. Be sure to cut slits on the paper so it can easily bend around the curved edges, keeping lines flush against surface. Once the paper is in place, then grab your paint brush and go to work! I suggest 2-3 coats for the [Mod Podge]. Put on evenly, and wait until each layer is dry until slapping on another coat.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/3WoDjx8rimv5xzl0jYC6qnpao1_r1_400.jpg)
More map reuse, via ps-imadethis, who decoupaged maps onto a tray, an old dinner plate, and the bottom of a leftover plastic food container.
How-to:
Cut your maps in circles, long strips, or simply cover the entire surface. Be sure to cut slits on the paper so it can easily bend around the curved edges, keeping lines flush against surface. Once the paper is in place, then grab your paint brush and go to work! I suggest 2-3 coats for the [Mod Podge]. Put on evenly, and wait until each layer is dry until slapping on another coat.
Globe repurposed as clock, made by Rodney Trice, whose work we’ve featured several times on Unconsumption here.
Here’s another use for outdated maps: Use as window covering.
To make classic window shades (from maps or other material), a helpful tutorial can be found here. (via Martha Stewart)
See also: Earlier Unconsumption map-related posts here.
![An 80-square-foot scale model of Long Beach in California, USA, [with] high-rises, buildings, residential houses and retail shops [represented by] recycled scraps of plastic, wood and items salvaged from garage sales and thrift shops.
Full-Scale City Models Created From Local Salvaged Scraps [Pics] @PSFK](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxwn44Bc1e1qzv12bo1_400.jpg)
An 80-square-foot scale model of Long Beach in California, USA, [with] high-rises, buildings, residential houses and retail shops [represented by] recycled scraps of plastic, wood and items salvaged from garage sales and thrift shops.
Full-Scale City Models Created From Local Salvaged Scraps [Pics] @PSFK
Give new life to something old by rethinking it. This globe, once a neglected attic dweller, is now a unique centerpiece …
(via bhg.com)
Here’s an item to add to the global “Why didn’t I think of that?” file.
(via Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh)
Want other things-repurposed-as-lighting ideas? See earlier Unconsumption posts here.
![Peter Clark is an epically-talented collage artist who focuses much of his expertise on creating dog collage portraits. The workmanship evidenced in his pieces completely blows me away. Peter uses an extensive collection of found papers [such as postage stamps and maps] as his palette “which are colored, patterned or textured by their printed, written, or worn surfaces.” He uses this found media to “paint” his collages. And the results are completely stunning!
More photos and info: Peter Clark Dog Collages | Dog Milk](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx37wxODVs1qzv12bo1_400.jpg)
Peter Clark is an epically-talented collage artist who focuses much of his expertise on creating dog collage portraits. The workmanship evidenced in his pieces completely blows me away. Peter uses an extensive collection of found papers [such as postage stamps and maps] as his palette “which are colored, patterned or textured by their printed, written, or worn surfaces.” He uses this found media to “paint” his collages. And the results are completely stunning!
More photos and info: Peter Clark Dog Collages | Dog Milk
DIY project: Weave outdated maps into baskets.
Strips of newspaper also could be used.
For additional photos and a thorough tutorial by Jane Patrick, read Woven Map Basket @Craftzine.com blog.
For other map-repurposing ideas, scroll through this series of earlier Unconsumption posts.
An easy (and fun) way to reuse old maps is to use them as gift wrap.
(Photo via a Wooden Bee Pinterest board.)
DIY project: Fold old maps into origami globes.
Other sheets of paper, such as magazine, catalog, book, or old sheet music pages, also could be used.
For this project, 5” square pieces of maps were folded into globes, then strung on twine. If you’d prefer to leave your globes loose, you could display a bunch of them in bowls, or group them on trays and add other items to make centerpieces (great for travel-themed parties). What other uses could you find for them?
For the how-to-fold-‘em details — Robbi Lindeman’s excellent tutorial and photos — visit poppytalk’s blog.
For other map reuse ideas, check the Unconsumption map-post archive here.
