Map of Our Love

INSTRUCTIONS

1. So before we create anything, it’s up to you to think about what special memories you have had with your partner that you would like to commemorate. If you need some help, here are a few ideas that you can sift through:
   
        • Your first kiss
        • Where you first knew you loved them
        • Where you said “I love you”
        • Engagement spot
        • Where you met their family
        • First date
        • Favorite date
        • Favorite dinner spot
        • Fun vacation together
        • Where a funny memory happened
        • Every other memory that has made your relationship what it is today
   
   Think of the little moments that made you fall deeper in love. Gather seven to twelve memories you want to plot on the map. Create a simple visual for each memory—lips for the first kiss, a fork and knife for your favorite dinner spot . . . you get the gist.
    

2. Now that we have done all the prep work, let the mapmaking commence! The map should measure somewhere between a standard sheet of printer paper or bigger. In fact, the bigger the better! Holding your paper horizontally, pour a cup of dry rice directly on top of your paper. The rice will create random and various clumps of all different sizes. I know it sounds weird, but with the black pen, outline the larger segments of rice to create “continents,” and add some smaller rice pieces to create “islands.” Yes, I realize this map is not accurate to the world map, but this is a map of your love, not a map of the world!
    

3. Once everything is outlined and you like how your little fantasy world is looking, remove the rice and pour a cup of coffee or tea directly on top of the map. Or if you don’t want to waste your precious beverages, you can also generously apply tan/brown watercolor all over the map. Embrace any sort of ink smearing—it adds that “old pirate map” vibe we’re aiming for. Dry your map, either in an oven preheated to 250°F (120°C), while checking on it every 10 minutes until it is dry, or with a blow-dryer. Feel free to go over any areas where the lines smudged or disappeared more than you'd like with the pen you used earlier.
    

4. Now, using the memories that we brainstormed earlier, begin adding your symbols all around the map. Underneath each of them, write a title that references the memory in question, such as “Kiss Island” to indicate when you shared your first kiss in Hawaii or “The Love Cafe” to indicate when you said “I love you” for the first time while in a coffee shop. Do this all around your pretty little map, and feel free to add other old map designs such as mountains, trees, sea monsters, etc. in any of the negative spaces.
    

5. Write in a big pirate-y font, “Map of Our Love,” as well as a little compass wherever you can squeeze it. Either rip or burn the edges for that ever-so-classic pirate map feel, wrap it up like a little scroll and tie it with a piece of twine. You can even add a red wax seal to keep the twine connected if you really want to go above and beyond, but that is totally up to you. Present this to your partner and brace yourself for the waterworks. They’ll be weeping like a baby, relishing every special moment you’ve shared and marveling at just how much they love you. Ahoy, matey! We’ve found the treasure!

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