How to Make a License Plate Map

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably seen the DIY license plate map in progress. My mom and I started making it about 2 months ago, and it’s finally done. We made the 1^st license plate map back in 2008, but this time around we found a little short cut with that same awesome look! (Here’s the first post about the DIY license plate map and here’s a follow up post with license plate map tips and tricks.)

Instead of making the board ourselves, using a paper map to cut the plates, and tracing the outline of the map onto the board. We bought a map from World Market that already had the United States outlined on it… a giant time saver! The map costs 79.99 full price, but we used a 20% off coupon (sign up for emails)! We totally suggest this method if you’re in the market for a license plate map. So, here is what we started with:

Materials needed to make a license plate map

• License plates (Here’s a deal on a set of 50!)
• Map board
• Wax paper
• Tin snippers (We have 3 pairs of tin snippers: let cut, right cut, and straight cut. The straight cut are by far the easiest to work with!)
• Tape
• Nails
• Hammer
• Sharpie marker
  

How to Make a License Plate Map

Step 1- Buy a pre drawn map

This step will save you a lot of time, but if you can not find a pre made map, check out this tutorial to create the map from scratch.

Step 2- Trace states with wax paper

We started out license plate map with the North Dakota to Texas row. Next, we used wax paper to trace the state already outlined on the World Market map board. Then, tape the wax paper to the plate to determine how to cut the license plate. These pictures should help it make more sense. You do not need to cut out every edge perfectly since overlap is nice to not have the board showing in the background.

You can see the notes on the wax paper to either 1. cut or 2. n/c each side of the North Dakota.

Step 3- Cut states with tin snippers

The hardest part of making the map, is cutting the license plates, and there is no short cut for that. My mom did most of the cutting with her straight cut tin snippers. Some plates are easier than others, but cutting license plates is not easy.

Step 4- Nail the plates into place

We used small white nails to nail each state in its place. The white nails blend into the plates. We did paint a few tips of nails to match the specific color of the plate (blue for CA, black for TX).

Where do you find the plates?

This can be tricky and expensive. My mom has quite a collection these days. She started by buying a lot of 50 plates, usually on Amazon or ebay. You get one of each state and it’s something to work with. Then she buys a black Texas and a blue California. Then we start cutting the plates and nailing them into place to see where we need a block of color. We might  realize that let’s say, 5 states right next to each other are all white plates, we research to find a colored plate to break up the white. Here is one of her favorite license plate sites.

For example the 3 maps below show you how we work. The top map has a white Missouri, and we couldn’t have that. Notice in the middle map, we got a burgundy Missouri. Then, in the 3rd map pic, we got a new Iowa and Nebraska.

One reason the map takes so long to make is because we were always waiting on more license plates to show up, ha!

Can I buy a license plate map?

We often get emails about making and selling license plate maps. The problem is, they are expensive and time consuming to make! But, if you can not live with out a license plate map, we are selling this one for $2500! If you think that’s a lot, you could also buy one here for $3,900! We will also happily continue to answer questions and help you make your own. Email me at craftaway at gmail dot com if you are interested in buying a one of kind license plate map!

Psst… Here is the first DIY license plate map post and here are more tips and tricks to make your own map.