Here there be dragons: How to save $177.36 on a wood mounted map.

I am not a crafting genius or even a person that goes out looking for 'projects,' but when my husband came home after seeing a wood mounted map somewhere and mentions he would like to own one, but google prices them around $197.36, part of me wonders if I can make one myself.  So was this project born.  We have a rather expensive map of historic Bavaria we brought home from Germany a few years ago that I have yet to do anything with, this might be a good option but not as the guinea pig.  I found a $5 map on ebay: a double globe reprint from a 1700's original on parchment looking paper to try this crazy experiment on.

I've never 'mod podged' anything in my life but this seemed like a good time to start.  Now to find a base.  The map was 20x24" approximately, I wanted a wooden base but didn't want to spend a fortune, I own no wood working tools fancier than a hammer, and haven't a clue when it comes to such things.  Perusing a big box hardware store website for ideas, I ran across something called 'car siding' which seemed like it might work, as it was tongue and groove and comes in a variety of sizes.  I went to the local hardware store and they cut me 5 pieces that were two feet long and each was 4" wide after connecting the tongue and groove.  A little wood glue and I had my base, but it was raw, fresh pine, not exactly a great base for an old map.

A little more googling and I found a method to 'age' wood using vinegar and steel wool, but either I was too impatient or didn't do it right because I didn't have much luck with it; the vinegar mixture probably just needs to age a bit, something I was not patient enough to wait for.  Instead I found some old stain in the basement labeled 'dark walnut' and did a light coat of that, perfect!  My boards looked as old as my map.  The map was slightly too large so I trimmed off the excess but it looked a little tacky and uneven, what about singeing the edges?  I took a candle (the kind you use on birthday cakes) and held the flame to the poster edges, blowing out the flame if it got a little too frisky.  It gave me a very authentic and interesting looking edge.  I mod-podged the map onto the base and then applied another coat on top.  Once dry, I put two layers of polycrylic over that and attached a couple picture frame hangers on the back, voila!  There are a few wrinkles, but that adds to the character and interest of the piece (or so I tell myself, perhaps my mod-podging needs some work), but overall I'm very happy with it.  Now to find someone to pay me $200 for it!

Update: Most of the wrinkles actually work themselves out as the map dries, I am very happy with the finished product.  I even risked our 'expensive' map in a similar process.  I tried the steel wool/vinegar combination again (after it sat for a week or more) and it was much better, it gave the pine an almost reddish tinge, but I still like it in combination with the walnut stain (versus either alone).  Definitely an interesting project.