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Monday 4 August 2014

DIY vintage map letter writing set


 I love making stuff just for fun, but don't get to do it as much as I'd like. I feel so guilty making stuff for no reason, when I could be making stuff for the business. But lately I've been trying to squeeze in small one or two hour blocks of crafting time here and there, doing very small DIY projects. Today I made these little upcycled letter writing sets. Without meaning to they ended up being very travel themed - I think my longing for a holiday has drifted into my crafting!


All the components were gathered from car boot sales and charity shops - the only thing that wasn't was the envelope template I used (which I purchased on Etsy but you could just unfold an old envelope that's the right size and draw around that.) I bought a few notepads filled with this lovely old manilla paper that's all age-stained round the edges.  Whenever I visit my local Oxfam bookshop I ask if they have any old atlases - most charity shops won't sell the older ones as they are no longer geographically correct, so they give me them in exchange for a small donation!


 You can never have too much stationery right? I always find that I never have a notecard when I need one, so by making my own I always have a little stash on hand for emergencies. You could make these using any old papers - pretty wrapping paper, magazine pages, vintage annuals, sheet music, graph paper... the possibilities are endless!


 I made a bunch of these sets but wanted to give some away to you lovely lot (trying to declutter my studio and use up some craft supplies so I have an excuse to buy more!) Leave a comment below with your favourite holiday, or somewhere you'd love to visit, plus your email address, and I'll pick six people at random tomorrow to get a pack of six envelopes and six sheets of writing paper :)

37 comments:

  1. Monte Carlo ✈️ kerry1511@hotmail.com

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  2. That stationary looks great! Makes me want to dig out my old stamp collection :-) Favourite places to visit would be Mull, Skye and Iona. Take care.

    daftspaniel A=T gmail D0T com

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  3. These are great. I'm trying to save money for a little holiday in Amsterdam this autumn. Even if I don't win, you've totally inspired me to create my own stationary! ericanela@gmail.com :)

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  4. This stuff is beautiful! So gorgeous! I would love to visit anywhere in Scandinavia: the culture is fascinating! Hopefully I won't have to wait too long. Email marie_wheeldon@hotmail.com

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  5. I love these so much! I've been meaning to make some travel themed stationery so I can write letters to friends & family when I'm on holiday in Norfolk at the End of August. I'd love to go to Paris at Christmas time :) nikkimilesillustration@hotmail.co.uk

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  6. My favorite holiday is Christmas and I'd love to visit London one day. I love, love, love stationery and letter writing. Cheers! nicolea75@yahoo.com

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  7. I collect stamps and maps so this giveaway is right up my street.

    The best holiday I ever had was in Normandy, France. It was my family and I's last holiday with my grandpa before he died. I remember staying in a beautiful old cottage which had no TV but a lovely warm fire to sit next too. There was a cat who visited my sisters and I room at night. The lady who owned the cottage was so lovely. We went on so many country walks, visited the Bayeux Tapestry museum and the magnificent Saint-Michelle island. It was a magical holiday.

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  8. Love these writing sets! I would love to travel round Australia one day :)
    katyfletcher.kf@gmail.com x

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  9. I absolutely love anything travel themed, my biggest passions are art and travel and I have always wanted to see the world, all of it, no matter how long it takes.

    It's hard to pick a favourite holiday but travelling for eight months was one of the greatest things I ever did. I'm planning a trip to South America for next year and hope to see Peru in particular.

    I love your work and it would make my day if I could win a writing set!

    Love, Claire (claireleach3@hotmail.com) xx

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  10. Oh these are beautiful! I would love to win some! I would absolutely love love love to visit Iceland! It looks like such a beautiful and remote place - it is calling to me! Need to save up some pennies first so at the moment I just have the wanderlust! mrsvictoriahall@gmail.com

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  11. I had a truly beautiful trip to Gombren in Spain a couple of years ago. It is up in the Pre-Pyrenees & so peaceful!
    Beautiful writing sets Zoe - you have given me some inspiration for what to do with my old stamps!
    Lx

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  12. Gahhhh I love stationary!!!!
    Favourite place to visit... Santorini has been on my bucket list ever since I saw the film The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants!
    Just google that place. Absolute perfection!!!!!!
    endlesslyjustifying@gmail.com

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  13. These are so lovely! You shouldn't feel guilty about non biz crafting, it is what keeps your creativity flowing!!

    My fave holiday destination is Canada. It is just so beautiful.

    Claireabellemakes@gmail.com

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  14. these are gorgeous! love the photos too.

    I've never been on holiday before, but i would love more than anything to go to iceland! i would also love to go to berlin. my email is hello@cardboardcities.co.uk :)

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  15. I like to make my own letter sets to. Yours are really lovely. My favourite holiday was definitely Rome. Seeing the Colosseum, and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and Pieta was amazing. I would love to go back and see it clearly (I left my glasses at home so it was all a bit of a blur, doh!) rosetintedcrafting@gmail.com

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  16. These are really beautiful! My favourite holiday is definitely my recent solo trip to Fuerteventura where I fell completely in love with surfing, something I'm lucky enough to continue here at home too! courtenayhowe@hotmail.com

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  17. My favourite holiday was to Thailand two years ago. I downloaded an app that shows you things you posted '1 year ago', '2 years ago' etc. every day. It's showing me the photos from our trip now and it's making me want to go back so badly. nvenzke@gmail.com

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  18. These are so beautiful!
    You have no idea how much I would love to own one as I have extreme adoration for anything that has a map on it and all maps.
    I really want to visit Japan one day, my dad spent a year working there and his stories and photographs just make me want to go there to experience the culture and the history.
    My email is hopesmith281@gmail.com

    Inspiring work as always!

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  19. I would love to go to Portland... don't know why hahaha
    Love your art :) ikataplof@hotmail.com

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  20. I really want to visit America as I've never been because it's just been too expensive :( Thanks for this great opportunity! My email is eemlee at gmail dot com

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  21. These are wonderful :) I adore elephants and would love to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary for a month in Thailand :)

    themakingsoflealou@gmail.com

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  22. I'd absolutely love a trip to Madagascar! Lemurs are awesome!

    Gorgeous stationary!!

    rebeccahouse@live.co.uk

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  23. Absolutely fabulous and brilliant craft! You should do more stationary style items in your shop because you've definitely got an eye for it x

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  24. I know what you mean about holidays being on your mind particularly when there is none on he horizon! Best holiday was our honeymoon in New Zealand, probably on my mind as it is our anniversary tomorrow! Great idea for stationery. cjreeder@aol.com

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  25. Your stationary is gorgeous! As is all your stuff! Ooh, I think my favourite holiday destination is Italy. I went there for my honeymoon, and on many other holidays and can't wait to take my littlies too- some day! Teresa, shirleyrainbow@outlook.com

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  26. This is such a wonderful giveaway and you are a very talented lady. My favourite holiday would have to be going to Berlin when I was 12. It was amazing going to such a cultural country and experiencing it with ny parents who enjoyed it just as much. I hope to go again and explore the whole country someday soon

    katharine.elisa@gmail.com

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  27. Such a brilliant idea getting old atlas's and upcycling them to make envelopes!
    Lauren | OhHay Blogs!
    xxx

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  28. I'd go to San Diego to go visit my best friend whom I haven't seen in a couple of years.
    asnerio13@yahoo.com

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  29. Gorgeous Stationary Zoe, you should be super proud of yourself for making time to do non business crafting!
    Its not the most exotic destination in the world, but my fave place to go is Salcombe in Devon, My dad and his family started going there when he was small and whilst I was growing up we went there nearly every year, ( Mum and Dad even visited there a few weeks before I was born!) every time I go I am revisiting all my lovely childhood summer memories and making new ones with my great family and friends.
    jessica.heaton@msn.com

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  30. Lovely stationary Zoe :) good on you for taking some time out of work to do some craft of your own.
    I'd love to roam around the Netherlands...

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  31. I dream about going to Marfa, Texas, sleeping under the stars and seeing the Northern Lights. There's something so humbling and beautiful about being reminded how small we all are. That being said, your stationery sets are stunning and I promise they would be put to good use.

    ethelmanibo@gmail.com

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  32. Hope I'm not too late! I'm off to travel around SE Asia and New Zealand in Sept for 5 months - trip of a life time, I'd love these too keep in touch with all my family and friends out there, or even use in my travel scrap books :)
    Clare x

    crichards20@hotmail.co.uk

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  33. Scotland melinda.bretagne@gmail.com

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  34. What a great way to use old maps! My favourite holiday was in Crete with my boyfriend we stayed with his family and it was perfect!

    mhairi.oliver@hotmail.com

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  35. I'm absolutely crazy about these. Do you have any up for sale? If so, could you reply here or send me an email? filippa_lockwood@live.co.uk

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  36. These are fab and i love to up-cycle stuff. I would love to visit Japan so i could go shopping for Kawaii stuff, its a new phase i'm going through at the moment.

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    1. Forgot to add my email katielamb20@hotmail.co.uk

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