How to Make a Custom Pushpin Map for Streets & Trips

Pushpins can be inserted into maps to make a travel plan or remember previous adventures.

Making your own pushpin map is a great way of either planning a future road trip, or illustrating your previous trips. Pushpin maps can even be re-used for each trip you take. Use a map of a local area with streets, or larger scale maps that cover entire countries or regions. Making a custom pushpin map is easy with items available from most craft stores.

Things You'll Need

• Map
• Cork board
• Adhesive
• Pushpins
• Heavy-duty scissors
• Rolling pin (optional)
• Heavy books (optional)
• String (optional)

Instructions

1. Measure the size of your map and visit a craft store. Purchase a cork board big enough to glue the map onto. It is better to buy too big than too small, as cork can easily be trimmed. Buy glue suitable for both wood and paper, as well as a box of pushpins in a range of colors.

2. Lay the cork board out on a table and spread the glue thinly over the surface. Carefully place the map on top and use a rolling pin to push any pockets of air out from underneath the board. Leave the glue to dry. Place some weighty books on the surface of the map to speed up the glue-drying process.

3. Trim the cork board to fit the edges of your map with heavy-duty scissors. Be careful not to cut into the map itself. Consider leaving 1 cm of space around the edges if you plan on framing or hanging the map at a later date.

4. Insert your pins. Use certain color pins to represent different locations on the map or stick to a single color. You can tie string around the pins to indicate a particular route or direction on the map.

References

• Wall Maps: World Travels

Resources

• Iapad: Suggested Pin Color System