How to make a unique tile picture for less than $3!

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by yngla
 

introHow to make a unique tile picture for less than $3!

Want to make a unique piece of art to decorate your empty walls? Or to make the perfect gift for the grandparents or in-laws?

Here is a simple way to make this modern and minimalistic design using just tiles, tissue paper and a laser printer.

It is time to amaze your friends...
How to make a unique tile picture for less than $3!
 
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step 1Getting started

You will need:

1. Nice photo
2. Computer
3. Nine pieces of 10x10cm tiles
4. Five sheets of printer paper
5. Five strips of 10x20cm tissue paper
6. Double sided adhesive
7. Printer
8. Exacto knife
9. Decoupage glue
10. Paintbrush
Getting started
tiles.jpgcontents.jpg
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286 comments
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Sep 4, 2010. 3:58 PMPlatino says:
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Sep 4, 2010. 4:07 PMPlatino says:
Oh nvm xD 0.5cm :P, great tutorial :) i needed something cool for my room
Aug 27, 2010. 11:52 PMdiannem46 says:
The Tissue paper I found was slightly shiny on one side so was able to iron the shiny side (just around the very edges)to the computer paper....it stayed there long enough to print....also tried ironing it(tissue)to freezer paper....works well to BUT don't use too hot iron wont be able to get it off......The picture I saved off the internet...D
Red Poppy.JPG
Aug 29, 2010. 8:15 PMdiannem46 says:
Printer.....inkjet...Canon ip1000
Aug 28, 2010. 12:29 AMdiannem46 says:
Linda Matthews Demonstrates: Printing on Tissue Paper.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUT2OTqCkzs ALSO Print on Tissue Paper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzKJJTiP-pU&feature=related
Aug 28, 2010. 12:03 AMdiannem46 says:
I used Spray Adhesive to attach the pics to the tiles....did a coat of spray Clear acrylic paint before sticking the pictures to the tiles and 4 coats before I glued them to the board..(used Sellys Aquadhere to glue the tiles to the board...Must say Thankyou to Yngla for the instructions...I can feel another larger one happening soon...:-)
Aug 27, 2010. 11:25 PMdiannem46 says:
http://tilemage.50webs.com/ Forgot to say...it is Freeware...D
Aug 27, 2010. 11:24 PMdiannem46 says:
Hi ..i found this program to help....TileMage Image Splitter...http://tilemage.50webs.com/... :-)
Aug 25, 2010. 4:15 PMtanveerhj says:
Good idea. Can't we use colour photo to do this? Or we can only do this in black and white?
Aug 25, 2010. 4:38 PMKenishaa says:
Hey. Will the pictures that we seperated supposed to be the size of the tile itself?
Nov 29, 2009. 7:39 PMemily.f512 says:
 I  love this project :) But is it for the amateur? OK, I have my pic, I downloaded gimp, I got the pic to 300mmx300mm. I went to the gimp help site to work on the grid. I changed the grid to 30mmx30mm but nothing happened and now I am wondering what I am to do if I finally get the grid right, how do I break the pic into the pieces of grid.....help! I really really want to make this for a Christmas present.
Nov 29, 2009. 8:28 PMemily.f512 says:
 Got the grid right, it's 100cmx100cm LOL Now what?
Dec 1, 2009. 9:13 AMemily.f512 says:
 I am going to try to cut and paste each square to a new file and try printing. Thanks for the help. 
Dec 9, 2009. 7:10 PMNatasha Dee says:
I tried this; I found that some of the edges were to white to see, blending it in with the backround and making it difficult to cut. I used the pencil tool on the smallest setting and drew straight lines (tutorial on gimp website) instead of the grid. That way, when I copied and pasted into a new file, I could see the edges of the squares.
Dec 10, 2009. 8:33 AMemily.f512 says:
 I did it by printing the whole picture on a larger piece of tissue paper and cutting it into squares after it was printed out. It worked great!
Aug 25, 2010. 2:54 PMKenishaa says:
Did this work? Likee did it come out just as great?
Aug 23, 2010. 2:06 PMKenishaa says:
on gimp i cant seem to get the grid. can someone help me?
Jul 23, 2010. 10:10 PMpsyche81 says:
I cant find decopatch glue here in Dubai, what other alternative can I use? for laminating effect or sealer, I found sealers for paintings here would that do?
May 30, 2009. 2:29 PMbhamp62 says:
I have actually been trying to make coaster from pics for several days now. I found this site looking for help on this project. I am using transfer paper for t-shirts with an iron. All I get it a mess. I am actually following the directions from a magazine article. I really want to give these as a gift any ideas???
Jul 15, 2010. 2:12 PMyellowcatt says:
The iron on tee shirt material should work well for this, the ink is bonded into the heat activated material so it should be waterproof, though I would be inclined to give the finished tiles a coat of clear varnish to be on the safe side. Where I think you are going wrong is in ironing it on. You would have to treat the material differently to applying it to a tee shirt. Rather than ironing it on to a tile I would heat the tiles in an oven to the correct temp - around 90C, then apply the transfer material . To keep it flat while it cools I think I would use a fabric bag filled with fine dry sand - this would ensure even pressure while it cooled. Not sure about the best varnish to use, for a durable result you could get them coated at a car bodywork shop using a two part gloss coat as used fot the top coat on metallic paint jobs.
Jun 10, 2009. 7:36 AMshawnee says:
Hello . I fount this waterslide decal paper works so good it works with color or black and white photos. i bought it on ebay.
Jul 4, 2010. 11:25 PMwild_hemlock says:
Beautiful... Will definitely be trying this. But with an inkjet, since that's what I have. Question: Did anyone try the iron-transfer method? How'd that work?
Jan 28, 2010. 9:46 AMeman1415 says:
Here is the version that I made using the Rasterbator and some 6x6 tiles.  Found an old picture frame at the salvage yard and glued the tiles to the glass to create the floating effect.
IMG_1091.JPGIMG_1089.JPG
May 15, 2010. 4:54 PMnoelle_tan says:

mine had wrinkles and air bubbles (friend liked it anyways).
how'd you get your tissue to stick smoothly?

Feb 14, 2010. 4:39 AMporcupinemamma says:
Really cool!
May 7, 2010. 8:36 PMeileenes1973 says:
If you are having trouble with tissue paper, just use regular copy paper.  This whole project will work fine with regular paper, it just might show a little bit, but if you cut the paper the same size as the tile, it won't be a problem, especially if you use a high gloss varnish at the end. 
Dec 20, 2009. 7:44 PMpackerfan12 says:
 how did you get the tape off without ripping the tissue paper? every time i've tried it ripped
Apr 23, 2010. 1:49 PMBonifaceJ says:
Just make your tissue paper bigger, center your print so it's not in the taped area, then cut off the part with tape.  I had a hard time with this too.
Mar 18, 2010. 8:46 AManniemagz says:
does it have to be in black and white?  or will color work too?
May 2, 2009. 10:57 AMartist without a medium says:
I took your instructions and then applied it to this
HPIM2447.JPG
Dec 20, 2009. 5:04 PMscuttlebutts says:
did you do it on wood? that's very nice!
Dec 27, 2009. 1:10 AMartist without a medium says:
Actually used cork ( Recycled old cork placematts)  back does have woodblock for hanging on screws. Thx for asking.
Feb 14, 2010. 4:40 AMporcupinemamma says:
Very nice indeed!
Feb 14, 2010. 8:41 AMartist without a medium says:
thank you. This was the last thing I've gotten to do in quite a while but one of my favorites.
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