Materials:
- A three picture matted picture frame. Any size you want. (mine was a random size 4.5 x 6.5)
- Snap shot (if you dont have snap shot already on your computer I downloaded something called clipular which I love. Just click on it and it will take you to the website which gives you the directions on how to use it.)
- Paint.NET ( I am pretty sure any paint will work but that is what I used.)
- Microsoft Word
- Printer
-Paper (Any paper will do. I just used normal printer paper)
- Ball point pen
Directions:
Google Maps-
- Go to Google Maps and type in the address you want to display.
- Zoom out until you are able to see the whole state/country. (Sometimes a little part may be missing)
Clipular-
- By now your Clipular should be downloaded. It will be in the top right corner of your screen. Click on it and then click on scissors. Cover the area of the screen you want copied and click. It will be saved.
- Click on the Clipular symbol in your top right hand corner again and press the book. A new browser will appear. Click on the picture you just took. In the top right corner click on the magic wound called Create.
- First click on Effects and see which effect you want to add to your picture. If you don't like any then just hit cancel. I chose Singe.
- Next, go to stickers and click on the heart. Position the heart over the location pin from Google; however big or small you want it. Try not to cover the cities name if you want people to be able to read it. If your zoom was to far out for the city name to be on the picture, don't worry you can add it in.
- To add in the city name or location click on the Text. Choose the color and writing type and then adjust the text to the location and how big or small you would like it. You can play around with anything else in Clipular you would like.
- After you are dont with each thing make sure you hit save.
Save to Computer-
- After you are satisfied with the image right click on it and click on save as...( save to your pictures)
Paint.NET-
Now I did not like how light the outline was in my Country/States so I wanted to make it darker so people could see from farther away what it was so I went to paint.
- Open your picture up in Paint.
- Click on the Paint Brush and choose which color you would like by going to window and then scrawl down to color.
- When it is a straight line use Line. When it has a jagged edge use the Paint Brush.
Now here comes the tricky party.
- You must carefully outline the State/Country.
Make sure to stop every couple of seconds so it will save. Then if you mess up just click undo and it will only undo a little piece of it.
This took me the longest so take your time and be patient if you want it to look nice.
- After you are all done hit save.
Microsoft Word-
- Open Microsoft Word and click on Insert.
- Click on Picture and add the map.
The map will not be the correct size right off the bat. You have to adjust it.
This is where I had a little trouble and it took be a couple of prints before I could figure it out.
- Click on the picture to make sure if is in the category Picture Tools.
- In the left corner will be the size. If you try to put in the size of one (either W or H) it will change the other so you have to manually adjust it.
A little bigger is better than smaller.
- Write down that size it says in the top left corner.
- Print the picture and put it in the frame to see if you need to make it bigger or smaller.
- When you get it to the right size then use that same size for your other pictures.
Repeat with all other maps.
- Now make a new page in Word for your letters Met, Engaged, Married, and the dates if you want them.
- Choose the font that you would like and how big you would like the letters.
Ball Point Pen-
-Cut out the words and place the letters where you would like them on the mat.
- Trace over the letters firmly with a normal pen. (do not more paper until you are completely done with that word.
- Remove paper. There should be a mark left on the mat from where you traced. Use the normal pen to trace in the creases. Now go back over the word with a ball point pen. This time you will make the letters fatter and bigger with the ball point pen.
Make sure you go slow because you can not erase if you mess up. If you feel you have messed up just color it in more until you are satisfied.
Put together-
-Put the mat inside
- Cut out the maps and tape them to the mat.
-Put the back on and you are done!
Now hang on your wall and Admire your good work :)
