How Do I?

Simple Steps to creating Mosaic Moments pages

How do you create a photo mosaic using your own photos? Watch our video for simple tips to success.

..... A look Inside Designing Photo Mosaics and More by Tami Potter

Adding Comments

I've had a few questions about how to add comments to our "Life.in.Lists." posts.

If you are on the "main" view of the blog (the one that shows multiple posts) at the bottom of each post you will see a comments link like this:

You will need to click on the word comments - that link will take you to the single post view.

Once you are on the single post view, at the bottom of the page - after all the current comments - you will see a few buttons that ask you to sign in via typepad, facebook, twitter and more. (see image below.)

Click on one of the buttons to sign up for a free typepad account or use your current account credentials to sign in with facebook, twitter, etc.

Once you sign in you will see...

Example:

Add your List or comments in this box.

 

Thank you for participating!

 

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Count and Cut - How to use your Mosaic Moments Mat

How do you unlock the system? Use your Mosaic Moments Cutting Mat to COUNT & CUT - it's that simple! 

To explain, first lets look at a finished page detail. Note that each photo square is sized to one inch. Between each square there is an eighth inch gap.

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If you want to cut a photo to cover 5 squares (like the shells in the page above) You need to count 5 squares and 4 gaps on your mat.

The Mosaic Moments Cutting Mat is printed with a coordinating system. Thick lines are printed at one inch marks. Thinner lines are printed every eighth inch.

click on image to see larger view:

 
This is how you would count 5 squares and 4 gaps on your mat.

So, when you want to cut photos to cover more then one square the rule is you will always have one less gap then you will squares.

cover 1 square width = 1 inch

cover 2 square width = 2 1/8 inches (count 2 thick lines and 1 thin line.)

cover 3 square width = 3 2/8 inches (count 3 thick lines and 2 thin lines.)

ETC.
 

To explain, first lets look at a finished page detail. Note that each photo square is sized to one inch. Between each square there is an eighth inch gap.

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If you want to cut a photo to cover 5 squares (like the shells in the page above) You need to count 5 squares and 4 gaps on your mat.

The Mosaic Moments Cutting Mat is printed with a coordinating system. Thick lines are printed at one inch marks. Thinner lines are printed every eighth inch.

click on image to see larger view:

 
This is how you would count 5 squares and 4 gaps on your mat.

So, when you want to cut photos to cover more then one square the rule is you will always have one less gap then you will squares.

cover 1 square width = 1 inch

cover 2 square width = 2 1/8 inches (count 2 thick lines and 1 thin line.)

cover 3 square width = 3 2/8 inches (count 3 thick lines and 2 thin lines.)

ETC.
 

How do I make a Mini-book using RTC Grid Paper?

Janine shared this great project - making a mini-book - using our Mosaic Moments 4x6 RTC grid paper.  with you a new grid paper called Mosaic Moments RTC (Ready to Cut) Grid paper. (You can see more detail about the Mosaic Moments RTC line on Tami's blog.)

 

With a few score lines and one simple cuts you too can create this project in an afternoon.

 

I’m going to show you the scoring and cutting on a White 4x6 RTC grid paper then finish the project with the Brick 4x6 RTC grid paper.

 

       

Here you can see that I have scored on the four inch and eight inch lines, then rotated the grid paper and scored on the six inch line. I then cut two of the 4x6 grids on the six inch score line and left one scored. This is the only cut you need to make to create this mini album.

Now on to folding, adding the front and back covers then adhere the pages together. You will need to make crisp folds with a bone folder.

 

 4x6 RTC paper here.

 

 

In the next photo you will see where I applied the adhesive.

You will need two 4 ½ x 6 pieces of paper for the covers and two 4x6 pieces of paper for the inside unless you use card-stock or double-sided paper. Score on the 4 1/2 side, 1/2 from the left side for the front and 1/2 from the right for the back cover. Be sure to check that your pattern paper is in the correct position if it has words or a specific direction it needs to be facing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I left the tops of my pages open to accommodate tags for journaling or more photos.

You will now adhere the 4x6 papers, one to the front inside and one to the back inside.

To make the spine cover you will need a 3 ¼ x 6 piece of coordinating paper, ribbon or other spine embellishments. Score on the 3 ¼ side at 1 ½ and the 1 ¾.

 

  

Now that the album is assembled you will need to decorate the inside covers and pages. I used the Clearly Love Seals stamp set to carry out the Love theme for this project.

 

I'll be sneaking around and taking photos of my son and husband over the next few weeks before Valentine's Day arrives to add to these cute mini albums.

 

 

 

Supplies used: Mosaic Moments RTC Grid Paper, Clearly Love Seals stamps, McGill punches, Tsukineko Ink, Making Memories mini heart brads and photo corners, Cloud9Design Be Loved pattern paper by Fiskars, and ribbon.

Enjoy!

Janine

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Mini-Book Created by Tami:

I found some wonderful paper and sticky embellishments from Basic Grey (one of my favorite decorative paper companies) and I knew it had a "Project for Cole" written all over it. One of the embellishments had the quote, written above, by Albert Einstein on it - a perfect place to begin!

I made a little 8 page book, inspired by Janine's project above, for Cole and he fell in LOVE with it. "He placed his claim immediately - it is his book." I decided I'd better take a few pictures before he "loves it to pieces." (though it has been holding out amazingly well so far.)
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front cover

page 1 - Imagination - love this quote. Cole is ages 3 & 4 in this little book - I wanted to celebrate him at this very imaginative age.
Page 2 - Children love to see their name - so I dedicated one full page to "COLE"
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pages 3-4 - playing is the foundation for imagination.
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Page 5 - Imagination is simple - just stop and let your mind wander.
page 6 - A good imagination is always better with support from those you love.
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page 7 - sliding down the tongue of a whale... great props are wonderful for assisting the imagination.
Page 8 - Cole's list - to remember the things he likes to do at age 3-4.

SEE another mini-book here.

Can I buy the Quick Glance Cutting Guide?

In Designing Photo Mosaics and More (page 93) there is a permission to copy the Mosaic Moments Quick Glance Cutting Guide onto a transparency for personal use. For those of you who do not have easy access to a copier The QGCG is now availble to purchase in the tools section at SNAPNCROP.com.

How do I clean my Mosaic Moments Mat?

It is easiest to clean the "goo" off of your mat immediately after use. The longer the adhesive residue is left the more aggressive the adhesive becomes.

What to use:

• Goo Gone cleaner (Where to find Goo Gone)
• paper towels

I squirt a little Goo Gone on my mat and let it sit for a few seconds before rubbing in a circular motion until all adhesive has been dissolved. Then, I use a second paper towel to dry the mat.

PLEASE NOTE: Do not use solvents or abrasive products on your mat. They may damage the printed surface.

Why should I use a Mat and Knife to cut my photos?

Our Mosaic Moments cutting mat and a craft knife is actually faster & friendlier, for cutting photos into one inch squares, then using a square punch.

In my step by step instructions, (book page 14) step one is to apply Herma Dotto removable adhesive - I recommend four lines of the adhesive because you want to get a little glue on every inch of your photo. The adhesive will keep your photo in place on your mat and allow you to (step two) quickly cut the photo.

Faster: Instead of thinking of cutting each individual square - think about cutting strips.

After applying adhesive, place your photo on the Mosaic Moments self healing mat (lining it up with the grid lines.) Cut one inch strips in one direction, turn your mat, and cut one inch strips in the other. Using this method cutting is quick and easy.

Friendlier: When you finish cutting, your photo will be sectioned into one inch squares that are temporarily stuck to the mat - each piece remains in its proper order - ready to be transferred to the grid paper.

Before cutting, you are able to see where cuts will be made and make adjustments to avoid cutting through faces. (See our Mosaic Moments Quick Glance Grid Guide - page 93)

After cutting the photos, I slide a Lil chizler between my photo and the mat to lift pieces and then (step three) mount them on the paper. (The adhesive is all ready on the back of the photo - just check to make sure you have enough coverage on each piece and stick it down.)

Organizing Photos on Pages

Mosaic Moments Grid Paper is the ultimate scrapbook page organizer.

The key is the simple grid system printed on every sheet of Mosaic Moments paper. Once you master the system you unlock the key to making fast and fabulous page layouts every time!

The following images are a few ideas for how you might choose to fit a few photos together using a 12x12 format. I made the pink squares transparent so you can see the number of squares and gaps covered. (for simple count and cut directions, see count and cut - how to use you mosaic Moments mat.)

Once they are cut to size, arrange elements on your page lining them up with the grid lines (so the lines do not show.)

After you have placed your largest photos use the remaining space to add titles, journaling, and embellishments.

The great thing about organizational systems is they have been figured out for you. They offer success when you follow a few simple guidelines.  Using the Mosaic Moments page layout system guarantees success.

For additional page layout ideas visit our Mosaic Moments Page Pattern blog.

Happy Scrappin!

Print journaling on a paper tile

We all love the Page Kits.  They are quick and easy right out the box and allow for your own personal style should you choose.  How do you get your computer to print the journaling or a title on a Paper Tile?  Here is how I do it - it is quick and easy and requires very little computer know how.

First, in MicroSoft Word create a Text Box the size of your paper Tile.  Here is a handy Tile Sizing Guide for your Text Box Size.  Now you can quickly size your Text Box to the exact size of your Paper Tile.

2 1/8 = 2.125  (2 Squares)

3 2/8 = 3.250 (3 Squares)

4 3/8 = 4.375  (4 Squares)

5 4/8 = 5.50  (5 Squares)

6 5/8 = 6.625  (6 Squares)

7 6/8 = 7.750  (7 Squares)

8 7/8 = 8.875  (8 Squares)

My Paper Tile is 2 squares by 3 squares.  I created a Text Box in Word and sized it 2.125 x 3.250.  I typed in my journaling and printed it off on regular printer paper.

 

I use a repositionable adhesive to adhere my Paper Tile directly over the printing.  Make sure the top edge of your Paper Tile is securely adhered so it will not get caught or damaged in your printer.  Place the printer paper back into your printer and print again. (Make sure you set your Text Box for no lines around the outside edge of your Text Box)

Now line up the Paper Tile on your grid paper and you have custom printing on your Tile!

 

Wild about White

Is it possible that WHITE could be your favorite grid paper color? 

Now, it is not only possible but very likely!  Thanks to our newest discovery, Walnut Tintz and Ink by Fiber Scraps, you can quickly create a handmade, custom grid paper that suits your photos and your mood.

Here are a few tips to make it easy:

• place your grid paper on a large sheet of scrap paper to protect your surface
• tap the applicator tip on scrap paper to get it fully loaded

• "paint" stripes across the page running off the side of the paper onto your scrap paper.
• "splats" are created by tapping the applicator onto the paper until the desired size is achieved

• let the paper dry upside down to minimize curling - I like to weight the corners with the tintz bottles (it dries very quickly!)
• if needed, you can roll the paper in the opposite direction to flatten paper (it will curl slightly)
• make sure you do not tint the paper so heavily that you can no longer see the grid lines
• use the tintz to ink the edges of your paper tiles, tags and Cornerstone backgrounds.
• experiment and have fun!

 We would love to see what creative uses you discover.  Tell us or send photos to contactsnc@msn.com.

Happy creating!

Adhere Cornerstones

Cornerstones are laser cut paper embellishments that add color, interest and texture to your layout or paper crafting project.

Cornerstones can have small areas to apply adhesive so what is the best way? We vote for Hermafix Dotto Repositionable Dots.  The dots roll on to even the smallest areas without leaving excess globs, strings or glop. 

If you do not have dots in your crop bag, please put them on your shopping list.  They are also an essential part of the mosaic process.  If you have found a different brand that you love, that's fine too.  Just remember - Dots Rule!