Decoupaged Travel Memories Box

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Finished keepsake box with and old world Paris Monuments map decoupaged to each panel. The map is off white parchment paper look with peach, pink, light blue and green accents. The monuments are line art drawn in black. The finished keepsake box is photographed on a wood table with a metal Eiffel Tower souvenir on top and greenery in the background.

This beautiful keepsake box is easy to make using a paper map and Mod Podge!

Make this beautiful memento box for yourself or as a gift for the travel lover in your life. The box unfinished wood box I chose is 12″ x 9″ x 3.35″ (link in the supplies list), but any size box will work. This decorative box is perfect for holding photos and small keepsakes from your travels or places you plan to visit.

Below are all the details to make this fun decoupaged keepsake box.

Supplies

  • A wooden box
  • A paper map (here’s a link to the map of Paris used in this tutorial)
  • Mod Podge
  • Large and small paintbrushes
  • Scissors
  • A ruler
  • A pencil
  • A precision knife (X-Acto knife)
  • A squeegee (an old credit card will work too)
  • Polyurethane (optional)

How to Make a Decoupaged Travel Memories Box

STEP 1:

Cut your paper map slightly larger than the panel you’re working on.

Then apply Mod Podge to your box, coating thoroughly from edge to edge, before applying your paper map panel.

Tip: Use your box as a guide to trace the panels of your box with a pencil on the back of the map. Cut a little larger for easier placement.

Shown is a wood box with the top coated completely with Mod Podge and a piece of a Paris map cut to size ready to be applied.

STEP 2:

Use a squeegee to get out any bubbles and smooth the paper map to your box. Work from the center out.

Using a squeegee to smooth out bubbles after using Mod Podge and a paper map panel to the top of a wood box.

STEP 3:

Trim away any excess paper overhanging the edges with an X-Acto or precision knife.

Tip: To make things easier, turn your box upside down and use it as a straight edge when trimming.

Photo of the box flipped over and used as a straight edge to cut away excess paper map that is overhanging the edge of the box.

STEP 4:

Finish all of the sides.

Photo of one of the edges being finished by decoupaging the map to the side of the lid. Below your can see the tools used in this projects, scissors, a ruler, a pencil and an X-Acto knife.

STEP 5:

Give your box a top coat of polyurethane or coat the entire box with a thin layer of Mod Podge to protect the art!

As a recommended last step, coat your finished decoupaged box with General Finished top coat. Here I'm using Flat, or use any polyurethane. You could also coat the art with a thin layer of Mod Podge.
Finished keepsake box with and old world Paris Monuments map decoupaged to each panel. The map is off white parchment paper look with peach, pink, light blue and green accents. The monuments are line art drawn in black. The finished box is on a wood table with books and greenery in the background and a small metal Eiffel Tower keepsake to the side. Pin this image to your Pinterest craft boards to come back to this easy DIY project later!

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