Magic Mosaics

Click for larger image
Have
fun with this simple, quick and versatile way of creating paper mosaic
pictures! You will need various different colours
of paper - you can use plain paper (as we have in all the examples),
wrapping paper, magazine paper, foil paper, textured paper ... in short,
any paper you think will create an interesting effect! You could also draw
and colour a design on a piece of plain paper to use in your mosaic.
Cut
the paper into strips about 1/2 inch wide, and then cut the strips so that
you have lots of little squares. Don't worry about being too accurate
since this adds to the effect.

Now
choose a background paper (we used construction paper) and plan your
design. You can make light pencil marks and make it as simple or
complicated as you like - but remember if you have any curves you will
have to cut your squares into smaller pieces to fit.
Now, here is the
magic part! You will need some spray mount glue - the kind which allows
you to reposition your pictures over and over again. Take your paper
outside or into a well ventilated room and give it a coat of spray mount
all over, or, if you are intending to only cover one part of the paper as
in the picture below, in the appropriate areas.

Now
you can just place your squares of paper down onto the backing paper -
and, if necessary, move them around until you are happy with their
placement. Little children can just throw their mosaic tiles at the
backing paper haphazardly and find that they stick like magic!
When
your picture is finished you may want to protect it by laminating it -
these make wonderful place mats! Note: The spray mount glue makes the
process so much easier and quicker and less sticky - but if you don't have
any to hand you can of course use white glue, spreading it to cover a
small area at a time.
Back to Kids Crafts
|