Having a party and want to include a map in your invitations to help ensure your guests arrive on time and safely? While GPS (Global Positioning System) systems and online sites like Yahoo! Maps, Google Maps, and MapQuest make getting from point A to point B a breeze, including an elegant, uncluttered map not only provides an appreciated convenience, but is also a perfect compliment to your invitations. They can be custom ordered or you can make them yourself.
Here is one method for creating your own map for two locations such as a wedding ceremony and reception:
With the addresses of the wedding and reception, go to Yahoo! Maps and enter the ceremony address as point A and the reception address as point B. Click Go. Make sure your map is centered the way you want it. Click Printable Version. Click Map Only in the new open window. Right click the map and click on save picture as. Save the map to your computer. Open PowerPoint and clear out a slide to work on. Go to Insert>picture>from File and select the map you saved. Trace the key parts of the map you want on your map. On the bottom toolbar, click on AutoShapes>Lines>Freeform. Now you have your tracing tool. Adjust the thickness of the line by clicking on the icon Line Style (the icon with the lines with different thicknesses). A two-and-one-quarter-point line works well. Start at the edge of the map outline and trace the outline of the map until you need to curve then click your mouse. Continue to trace until you need to curve again then click the mouse. You can click as many times as needed for a more accurate trace. Trace important streets using the same Freeform line and a slightly thinner point Line Style (1 point for major streets and three-quarter point for smaller streets). When you're done, delete the original map picture by clicking on it and pressing the delete key. You can change colors by clicking on Font Color. Add shapes by using AutoShapes and text by using the text box. You can also add clip art by going to Insert>Picture>Clip Art.
For an area map of the party location, try this method:
Go to Google Maps. Type the address of the party location. Click on Map. To enlarge the map so that it fills your computer screen press the F11 key. Use the + or - option to zoom in or out. Simultaneously press the Ctrl (control) and Print Screen keys, then Copy and Paste into a Word document. Using the Crop tool, crop in on the map. Print the map and trace the key parts you want with a Sharpie. Scan the map and make it a layer in Adobe Photoshop. Trace and color whatever portion you want colored in another layer and delete the first layer. Print on white vellum, card stock, theme-coordinating paper, or coordinating colored paper that's at least one fourth inch larger on all four sides. Add additional flair using craft scissors or decorative corner punches.
For those who are less technical, here's a fast and simple way:
Go to Google Maps. Type the address of the party location. Click on Map. To enlarge the map so that it fills your computer screen press the F11 key. Use the + or - option to zoom in or out. Simultaneously press the Ctrl (control) and Print Screen keys, then Copy and Paste into a Word document. Using the Crop tool, crop in on the map. Right click the map and click on save picture as. Save the map to your computer. Open PowerPoint or your desktop publishing program Go to Insert>picture>from File (the picture being the map you saved). Add a text box and type directions or any other information. Print on white vellum, card stock, theme-coordinating paper, or coordinating colored paper that's at least one quarter inch larger on all four sides. Add additional flair using craft scissors or decorative corner punches.
For those who prefer to cut and paste, here is the least technical way:
Go to MapQuest.com. Type the address of the party location. Click Get a Map. Use the + or -slide bar on the left side of the map to zoom in or out. Click Print Cut out the portion of the map you need and tape it to a blank sheet of paper for making copies. Cut out your copied maps and affix them to white vellum, card stock, theme-coordinating paper, or coordinating colored paper that's at least one quarter inch larger on all four sides. Add additional flair using craft scissors or decorative corner punches.
If you didn't include the directions to your party in a text box on your map, type them out and print them on white vellum, card stock, theme-coordinating paper, or coordinating colored paper. Here, too, you can add additional flair using craft scissors or decorative corner punches.
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