Photo Tile Instructions

[angleigh]

Can you believe it's almost September already? Then my next thought is can you believe it's almost Christmas time? That means gifts! If your like me your always trying to figure out what kind of special gift to give to the grandparents, teachers, close friends etc. Well I saw this come up on another site a few weeks ago and it reminded me that last year around this time I started seeing different version of these tiles pop up and I thought they would be perfect for a gift or for yourself (like mine are) and the best thing they are SO easy to make.

Here are the basic instructions:

You will need:
Tile: These can be found at any major hardware store. I found mine at Home Depot, they have several different colors, styles and sizes (12x12, 6x6, 8x8 and 8x10). The best thing though they are cheap! I got mine for .63 a piece

Mod Podge
Spray Sealer
Paint Brush


I created a 8x8 layout. Obviously I made the photo a large portion of the layout since I wanted to make that the main object. I then resized my layout and printed it out at 7.55x7.55 (I wanted to have some of the tan tile show around the layout). To print out the layout I used 110lb white cardstock. I was afraid if I used my regular matte photo paper when I put the mod podge on the back it would wrinkle to much, so I printed the photo on something a little heavier. I then used my paint brush to spread the mod podge onto the tile. I did this a small portion at a time so that as I went along I could smooth out the photo. Once that dried I then sprayed the top of the tile with 2 coats of spray sealer (following the instruction on the can), Make sure not to touch it while the sealer is drying because you will leave fingerprints.

That's it...very simple. I created the whole thing, layout and all, in under an hour. The things that take the longest is creating the layout and patiently waiting for the glue/sealer to dry.

A couple of pointers that I learned: some instructions I read said to put a coat of mod podge on top of the layout before the sealer. When I tried that my colors ran and the layout started to bubble up. When I left out that step and just sprayed the top with the sealer they turned out perfect.

While you are putting on your mod podge and smoothing out the layout make sure you dont' get any extra mod podge on top of the layout. It does dry clear, but you can still see it.

Photo Tile #1 (http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1410&limit=recent)
Photo Tile #2 (http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1409&limit=recent)

Have fun! And I would love to see what you come up with

[mom2maddy]

Thanks, Angie! Great idea! It's never too soon to start thinking about Christmas gifts. I'm "creatively" challenged and any help I can get is appreciated. I'll definitely be trying this. Yours turned out great!

Paula ;)

[DeeZee]

These are great! I know another think I'm going to try now .... and I've always been terrified of "real" (i.e. not digital) crafts, but I'm starting to dip my toes into the water LOL

[angleigh]

Another cute gift idea would be if you made coasters for grandparents. You could take the smallest size tile they have, add some of your favorite photos from the year. Maybe put a grunge border around the photo or add some brush work. It would be really cute if you used the new Fancy Shmancy date stamps and put the month on the photo. The only additional steps would be you would have to add a sealent that was water proof (i'm sure you can find this at Michaels or the hardware store) that way your photo/layout wouldn't get ruined. Then after it was all done add the felt cirlces on the bottom.

[DeeZee]

So does anyone know what sealant you would use for something like that? What a great idea! (though the thought of someone putting their glass on my precious layouts.... )

[angleigh]

I know Krylon (along with several other companies) makes a waterproof sealer. I would check in the paint section of your local craft store, that's where I found the clear acrylic sealer that i got for mine.

[CindyJW]

Wow, I love those photo tiles! And now that I've seen your example in the gallery, I'm really going to have to try this. These are sooooooooooo cute!

Thanks for telling us how to do these!

[jomi]

Thank you so much for this!! I'm definetely gonna give this a try!! Your tiles look stunning!!

[pat]

Wow, I'm impressed. Thanks for sharing this with us. It's such a terrific idea especially for the Holidays!!

[pspringmann]

These are so cool! Thanks for sharing!

[lisahoo]

I've seen these tiles out in AZ -- usually they had a southwestern scene of some sort on them -- I was in HEAVEN when I found one of a Georgia O'Keeffe print!!

But I never thought to do one myself -- the grandparents would ADORE this!

You are so CLEVER, Angie!!

[Tiffbrady]

Thanks for the info. I've been trying to brainstorm great gift ideas that I could do digital.

[DianneRigdon]

Okay so I love this idea? But I don't really have a place to keep these and sadly enough, no grandparents to give them to, so I want to make some for me. I was thinking of a way to hang them on the wall, and it just sounded like too much fuss. So I thought of those paper mache shapes that you can buy at the craft stores? The ones that hang? You can get heart shapes and circles and squares. I can't remember the size - but I think they are around five or six inches. That would be cool, eh? And you could substitute the brown cord that comes with it for some fabulous ribbon and/or other fibers that match the layout you are hanging. Coolness, eh? I think I might do this. Would be a great spot on the wall! Fun ideas.

[angleigh]

I know exactly what your talking about Dianne..and those would be cute, especially with ribbon to match. Plus like you said much easeir to hang, which I'm still trying to figure out how to do with the tiles. I thought maybe I would try using plate hangers (you know the kind that go onto the back and have the metal hooks to hold it) but not sure if the tiles are to heavy for them.

Another idea I had for the coaster size tiles, due ATC style layouts and attach them to the tiles then you could display them on your desk or in your scrapping room.

[amtad]

Angie, THANK YOU!! I'm ready to head to the store right now ... too bad it's 10PM!! Love this and I'm going to get strated soon for Christmas gifts ... and think of the possabilities ... a wedding keepsake gift, a baby gift ... so many ideas in my head right now ... I'll be up all night thinking this through!

Thanks a-lot :).

[andrea31419]

Thank goodness I found this place, this is exactly what I've been looking for. Does anyone know if you can use transfer paper to transfer images to tiles? If so, what type?

Andrea

[missusking]

Your tile looks awesome...what a fantastic idea! You've got my wheels a'turning! Does anyone know anything that will occupy a 1, 2 & 4 year old for say, three hours, while I can work uniterrupted???

I thought I'd left my modgepodge/sealer days behind me with the tole painting phase!

Thanks for such inspiration!

Mandy

[kinderschulemom]

I've done these with a photo transfer, and they turned out super. Make a colour photocopy of your photo or layout. (Remember if there is text, or if you want it to look just like your original picture, you'll need to make a mirror image copy.) I cut mine out with deckle-edged scissors to make the edges irregular, and a little smaller than the actual tile.

Put Mod Podge on the tile, and on the face of your photocopy, and stick the photocopy onto the tile, face down. Wait until the next day, then you get to do the magic part! Rub the paper off the tile with a damp cloth! I'll try to find a photo of them later.

Oh, and for the bottom I used cork coasters from the dollar store, glued on with tacky glue. Looks very professional!

Cindy

[DeeZee]

Oh please share how these looked with the transfer! I didn't know you could use modge podge that way!

Does it make any difference what kind of tile you use (i.e., the surface texture)?

[Candylouu]

Thanks so much! I was just thinking about these the other day and wondering about the directions. I, like many, am starting to think about Christmas... these will be wonderful! I am even thinking that they would make a great recipe holder if I add a clothes pin! Anyway, a big thanks!!!

[lisacohen]

Thanks for the instructions... I am going to have to try something like this for holiday gifts this year. So creative!! I love seeing LOs in other incarnations!!

[ms. scrappy pants]

Candy, that's a great idea for the recipe card holder with an added clothes pin.... great idea!!

Angie thanks so much for starting this thread and sharing this wonderful idea. I came on to ask if anyone had come up with a way to hang thse tiles on the wall... but I see from previous posts that some have tried, but to no success? Hmmmm.... wondering if anyone has come up with anything yet?

Did the paper mache shapes work yet?

hmmmmm... so many possibilities... I'm working on the hanging ideas now!!!

[angleigh]

You know when I was at Michaels I saw they had a hanger for plates that went on the wall. It looked like it might work for these also. You might want to check someplace like that.

[scrapworking]

So, I take it the tile you're using is the "ceramic" tile? Not the "linoleum" tile. Correct?

Wondering if you could use a drill to put holes in it first...using the appropriate bit (concrete, masonry, etc.) and use nice-looking hanging material. Or maybe not holes all the way through the tile, but just 1/3 of the way in - a spot for the nail to slip into. Not sure about hot glue and picture hanging hardware...weight may be too much depending on the size of the tile. Anyway, just some random thoughts.

Beautiful tiles Angie! Thanks for the great instructions. I even see that one set is out for publication - congrats!!

Sharon

[ms. scrappy pants]

I really need to post a picture of this, but I did end up getting those plate hangers Angie, and they work great... I have 2 tiles hanging on the wall... beautifully. I'll take a picture and show you how they look tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion.

[angleigh]

Oh I can't wait to see what that looks like..please post a picture

[ms. scrappy pants]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y94/scrappylass/IMG_6432.jpg

oh, sorry that picture is so huge... I tried to make is smaller, but to no avail... oh well, at least you can really SEE it!!! ha ha ha! These are the tiles hung with 8" plate hangers from michaels. $1.99 each.

[angleigh]

those are adorable! Love how they look hung on the wall