Making art and maps out of old license plates.

Acquiring, planning, cutting, assembling and finishing a license plate map project can be tiring and exhilarating. Plus, it can give you some major hand callouses!

Trust me: If you have a full-time job, purchasing a map is a good idea, even though they can be pricey! Having created over 100 license plate pieces of all sizes and shapes, I have honed my process. However, if you DO plan on embarking on your own license plate project, here's what you will need for sure:

- Heavy duty tin snips
- Saw
- Measuring tape
- Computer software to create layout
- Printer
- Heavy duty tape to use for stencils
- Wood (pine works well)
- Stain and paint (water-based)

Oh yes, and:

- Tons of old, well-worn License plates!

View my website (link at bottom of the page) to see more of this signature piece.

Michigan license plates from the past 70 years combine to form a huge image of our nation's flag. This piece measures about 12' x 6'!

Thought I'd reveal what it takes to create a custom piece!

1) Reference Art. In this case my client (also known as my sister!) wanted something made out of license plates that both tied in to her nursery bedding, and paid homage to three states near and dear to her heart: Alabama, Michigan and Virginia.

2) Making the Plan. I sketched out some ideas and then drew them in an illustration program to scale.

3) Compiling the Plates. Through various sources (online, personal collection, friends) I got ahold of the plates to be used. I wanted bold, simple plates that fit in with the color palette of the nursery.

4) Cutting the pieces. Like usual, with some time, patience and dexterity, the individual pieces for this project began to emerge.

5) Assemble and Enjoy. The finished piece was a lovely addition to my client's decor. She loved it! These plates will live on for who knows how long now instead of joining countless others in the trash heap.

Hope you liked seeing the timeline of this fun project! IMPORTANT: View photos of this sample project here: http://licenseplateartandmaps.blogspot.com/2010/04/process-bird-and-flowers-license-plate.html

Here is a photo of a recent project. Also, I slipped in one of me at work on an Alabama map as an inset!