TIP FOR LINING UP MOSAIC TILES

My first tip for spacing tiles, is to start in the upper left corner of a large piece of paper and cut it to size after you place your tiles. This is so much easier than cutting your paper to size and then trying to figure out the spacing needed. For a typical A2 card you need a 3x4 inch block of squares. How tightly you space them will determine how much of the card you cover.

Most people are surprised to hear that I usually just line my tiles up visually. I do usually get a couple a little crooked, like I did in the first example, but it doesn't seem to significantly affect the overall look. When I'm spacing tiles father apart, like I did in the second example, I do find it harder to keep the spaces even. I generally use a large post-it or post-it tape as a guide to keep the rows straight. I still just do the spacing visually. After the first row is completed, I line the post-it up along the edge to help me place the first tiles for each of the next rows and then move the post-it to help me complete each row.

For those of you who need more exactness, you'll need low-tack artist tape in the width you desire for spacing. You can make your own removable tape with strips of paper and 2-in-1 adhesive if you have troubles finding the artist tape. If you do quilling, you will find that quilling strips work nicely if you apply a 2-in-1 glue to one side and let it dry before using it as a guide.

Step 1: Place one strip of tape lined up with the top of your paper and one strip lined up with the left edge of your paper. This will create your border. Place your first tile so that it lines up, just barely touching the tape strips on the top and left side of the tile.
Step 2: Place a third strip of tape, vertically, to the right of the first tile. Place the next tile. This third strip of tape will be moved each time you place a tile.
Step 3: Move the third strip of tape to the right of the last tile and place the next. Repeat step 3 until the first row is complete.
Step 4: Once the row is completed, move the first piece of tape, creating the top border, to create the spacing between the completed row and the next row. Place your first tile in the next row.
Step 5: Set that third piece of tape to the right of the first tile in the row and place the next tile. Repeat step 5 until the row is complete.
Continue with steps 4 & 5 until all rows are complete. You can even use the tape to help space the cutting at the end to make sure that your lower and right borders are as perfect as your top and left.

If you're dying to try this and don't have any mosaic stickers, you can use glossy cardstock. Simply create your artwork and cut it into 1" squares. Just be sure to lay them out in order before you start adhering them to your paper.