decorative tiles! {a tutorial}

I'm such a big believer in capturing memories as they're made (i.e. creating photo albums, digital scrapbooks, tribute books, life stories, etc.) that I have yet to fully appreciate Heritage Makers used a different way:  CRAFTING!  

But I'm starting to...

Crafting is very popular, and if you go to the Template Gallery at Heritage Makers, you can see examples of how people use Heritage Makers for crafting--just type in "blocks," "banner," "tiles," "clock," or "advent."  (I'm sure there are others I haven't thought of, too!)

I did my first craft project using Heritage Makers about a year ago.  I was going to be at a Heritage Makers booth at a very large event with some other Heritage Makers consultants.  We decided to make some giveaway prizes for the new clients we'd be meeting.  And so, I was first introduced to Decorative Tiles, the Heritage Makers way!

You may have seen decorative tiles in homes before.  Here's one I made with Heritage Makers that I have now sitting in my kitchen:

All you really need to make a decorative tile is:

• a tile (your desired size)
• a print from Heritage Makers (use an individual scrapbook page)
• a stand of some kind to display your finished product (available at craft stores or framing stores)

You can always create things from scratch in Heritage Makers, but I most often use templates for tiles.  Either way, you can personalize anything at all.  

In the template gallery, you'll see templates like this:

and like this

They are both made on 12x12s, but you would then cut apart the one with 4 on it.  The bigger 12x12 can be put on a 13x13 tile.  For the smaller ones, I have seen 6x6 squares put on 6.5x6.5" tiles (ONLY available at Lowe's, for some reason), and 5.5x5.5 squares put on 6x6 tiles.  I know some people make smaller ones, 4 inches, but I'm not sure if the paper is 4 inches or the tiles are.  At any rate, you want the paper a little smaller than the tile, no matter what you're using.  It gives you a little border, as you can see in my first photo above, and then you don't have to mess with having the edges meet perfectly.

For the 6x6 tiles, each one comes out to less than $2 (tiles included), so they make really lovely little gifts.  The 12x12 individual scrapbook pages can also be framed instead of placed on a tile if you prefer.  Also a very nice gift or home decor item for yourself.

So let's get started!

STEP 1:  THE TILES
Go buy your tiles at a home improvement store.  I suggest doing this first so that you know what sizes are available to you and then you will know exactly what you want your Heritage Makers decor to be.  Don't worry too much about the color of the tile--most of it will be covered.

STEP 2:  CREATING THE DECOR
As with all Heritage Makers products, you can either design something from scratch or use a template (something someone else has already designed).  

When you receive it in the mail (a happy day!!), cut the pages into squares as needed.

These are just some of the tiles I've made.  They're not in the template gallery, but I can transfer them from my account to yours--just ask.  

2023 UPDATE:  Heritage Makers became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there. Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever.  

Using Forever's Artisan program for digital scrapbooking, you can make items similar to those shown here.  This video tutorial shows you how to craft with high-quality scrapbook pages, and this one shows you how to use Artisan to create something unique and then print at home (for instances in which you need thinner paper, sticker paper, etc.)  You can see just a few examples of crafting I've done using Artisan here.

STEP 3:  ADHESIVE
There are a few different ways you can adhere the scrap pages to the tiles.  I actually just use double-sided tape!  You can also use a spray adhesive.  I've heard of some people who use a Xyron.  I know of others who use Mod-Podge, and they also coat the top with Mod-Podge as well.

STEP 4:  FINISH UP and ENJOY!
Once your page is adhered to the tile (and dried, if necessary), you can put it up on a stand, or wrap it up for gift-giving.  I just use clear cellophane bags and ribbons.

Makes a fun, beautiful, personal gift, and really great home decor.