Making a Fake Mosaic
So, recently our boss gave us a small budget to add some sparkle to the office. I decided to try to make a fake mosaic of one of the company logos.
Here's the process.
First I tried doing it on my computer. I knew it would be a big project, and I didn't want to waste my time in doing something that would be horrid. :-) Using Photoshop I set out a grid and a pattern for me to follow. I highly recommend this step.
Next I hijacked my nieces to help cut the square "tiles" from book covers.
Then I got to work.
Based on my photoshop mock-up I cut a board and painted with the background color. Then I began to lay a grid over the board using painter's tape and curling ribbon.
I raised the work table to a more comfortable height with books and hung the ribbon spool on a carpet broom to keep it running all over the place. I started in the center of the board and worked out from there.
One mistake I did make was not finding the center of the image before I made my grid or cut my board. My final mosaic was off center.
Using a print-out of my mosaic I began to place the grid of tiles into their spot. Numbering the columns on both the board and image helped speed the process along. I cut more pieces than was necessary to help pick and choose which tiles I wanted on the board.
My design had two parts: a clear grid pattern and two "swoshes" that weren't in the same pattern. I began to glue down the tiles. The edge tiles were a bit tricky and I only glued down the corner or edge I knew would remain on the final board.
Next I printed out a full sized version of my photoshop mock-up. I cut it out and used it as a stencil to know where to cut the excess off my edge tiles. Because the rest of my design was more freeform, I cut the ribbon grid away.
Next I trimmed the edges to create the round shape.
Then I used my full-sized template to pencil in some guiding edge dots for me to follow as I placed the blue and green swirls.
The lighter weight paper needs a bit of attention to make sure the tiles lay flat. The thicker paper (cardstock weight) worked fairly well.
Next I modge-podged the whole thing. Instead of brushing it on, I used a sponge brush and used a tapping motion to create a more bumpy finish. I edged the board with black duct tape.
And the finished result.
...all for about $10!
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