Map Themed Missions Banquet

 Our church's theme for this year is Inside Out.  As soon as the theme came out, I knew a really neat way to help visualize the theme for the banquet could be maps, and a giant window looking from the inside "Out" to the world.  It was so fun to find many different, inexpensive ways to incorporate maps, and travel, and missions.  We only had a $100 budget for decorating for over 200 people, so that was a fun challenge, but a challenge nonetheless.  I could NOT have done it without hours and hours of volunteer help from church members and also some donations- like the GORGEOUS map runners that we made from wrapping paper purchased at TJ Maxx, and also all of the globes were generously forced (I mean donated) from people's homes.  Also, we had a great albeit grumpy carpenter make the frame for our giant map and it looked awesome!

Now, I will break down a little bit of what we did, in case anyone is hoping to decorate for something similar!

 Each table's decor was made up of a black tablecloth, the gold table runner found at TJ Maxx, placemats designed to match the giant map at the front of the room and our theme "Inside Out," Glass bottles that we found 50 of at a garage sale for $5 and spray painted black and gold, baby's breath spray painted gold and handmade map paper roses were placed into the black bottle vases, while a simple white taper candle was cut to fit into the gold bottles.  The taper candles were actually emergency candles found in packs of 8 at the dollar tree.  They burned up pretty fast, but they helped us to stay in budget, so I was glad we could make them work.  To complete the table, the centerpieces were globes of various sizes and colors which really helped add to the unique look.

Our paper rose template is found here: paper rose tutorial

 We had some vintage-y suitcases that we decoupaged with maps for the front centerpiece, an easy and fun project that can really spruce up old suitcases! Just make sure you put the maps on facing the top (handle) of the suitcase.

The giant map we pieced together from 60 standard size pages of paper- thanks to my husband having some program that figured out how to print our iStock photo that big. The quality was pretty good for something that big, but this did turn out to be our biggest headache, because the pieces didn't match up very well so it took a few hours to get them all laid out and not have too many discrepancies and then our double sided tape failed us and our map fell apart....I think maybe 3 times.  We finally did get it sturdy enough to turn over thanks to glue sticks and the patience of many friends and then we were able to turn it over and tape it with masking tape.  It could have been a MAJOR fail- but praise the Lord it came together.  Oh especially, because my dog ran out into the garage and walked right onto it and then because I freaked out, so did he and come to find out the map was sort of a slip and slide to his doggy feet, and I could picture him shredding all of North and South America.  Thankfully there was only one visible scratch and I said if anyone pointed out any flaws that it qualified THEM to decorate for next year, so I didn't hear any complaints. :-)

 Map paper bunting was cut up from leftover map cardstock, which you can easily find at a nearby craft store (we got ours at Hobby Lobby) or you can find many free map printables online and on pinterest.  We hung ours on twine and secured with tape, and then also placed some white lights across the top for a nice lighting effect.

 We got pretty fortunate to have these beautiful old windows and old maps from a school remodel for our back wall.  The theme was written out on foam core board and then spray painted gold to match our theme.

 I am so happy how everything turned out, and it was really fun to see it all come together, seeing as so many of the ideas and work was done with friends...it truly was a group effort!