Advanced Technique Ideas using the Circle Grid Die

Advanced Techniques with the Circle Grid Die

Cecily

The new Circle Grid Die gets a work out in this layout joined by many other Mosaic Moments Circle Dies in various sizes. Tami said, “Play around with it” see what you come up with. Seeing as we’re all about the grid, what do you do with a circle? It certainly fits within the squares, but how do we go beyond the obvious? How do we do something “a bit more advanced?”

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

I’d searched the word ‘circle’ on Pinterest to see what would come up and what might inspire me. Some bold mid-century designs got me to consider using several different sizes and layering. Fortunately, we have several Mosaic Moments dies with varying sizes of circles so I’d have plenty to work with.

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

I began with a grid, a handful of circles cut using the Circle Grid Die, and several patterns to consider. I didn’t know what photos I’d be using yet, but I decided I’d like to try one of the bold colors from the new Summer Collection, Board Shorts. The bold blues, greens, and yellows looked promising.

 

Mosaic Moments Summer Collection Grid Paper with selections of patterned paper from American Crafts and Colorbok

Next, I pulled several colors from two paper packs with bold multicolor patterned papers, the American Crafts Color Splash and Colorbok Spray Paint cardstock.

 

Mosaic Moments Summer Collection: Board Shorts

Mosaic Moments Summer Collection Grid Paper and papers from Colorbok

Mosaic Moments Summer Collection Board Shorts and papers from American Crafts

We have several dies that I think of as work-horse dies. They cut multiples quickly. That’s how I’ll use the Circle Grid die for this layout. For this layout, it will also cut sections from this paper that will give me many different color patterns to use.

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments “Work-horse” Dies perfect for cutting multiples to work with.

 

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

You can see the variation of colors in the paper as the die covers them giving a wide variety of colors to use in my layout.

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die and several of the other MM Circle dies used in this layout.

I also cut several circles from the chipboard so that I can stack some circles for added depth to the layout. I’ve also used the tiny circles from the Circle Time die to do the same with the smallest circles. I cut two of the Circle Time in chipboard and one in patterned paper for a raised look layover on the patterned paper below.

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

 

My pattern has two sections of staggered 2×2 squares. In the rows with three 2×2’s I have placed photos and the top/bottom rows and the 1×2 flanking them, I’ve reserved for pattern work.

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

The center row 2×3, 2×4, 2×3 I planned on title and journaling, but instead, I liked using the Circle Time to connect the top to the bottom sections, and in each 2×3 section I’ve placed half circles from the Half-Circle Die set randomly.

The only photo I have not cut into or placed in a circle is the focal photo of Cecily. I like having one space that stands out as different, and I think it’s the right choice.

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die focal photo remains as a square on the grid.

TIP: When using layers of chipboard you may want to ink the edges to hide the edge or add a coordinating color so it blends in. On the larger Circles this is what I did, but on the Circle Time die I didn’t take the time to do that and I wish I had, it would have added depth like a shadow box does.

TIP: My title box became the large 4×4 in the lower left corner and I’ve cut three white cardstock circles from the Circle Center Frame Die set and used the die to center the title stack. The font used is Onyx.

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die Tip for centering

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die Continuing with the circles for the title

I know the big red blotch paper may seem too bold, but if you look closely, the red shows up in several of the other circles. Blues, greens, yellows, and purples in these color splash papers work to bring more interest and texture and a playful look.

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

 

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

Mosaic Moments Advanced Techniques: Circle Grid Die

The Circle Center Border Die was the right size for cutting my photos that are mounted. This lets me show off the color of the circle mats.

Now that I have ‘played around’ with the die, putting a layout together, I can see so many ways for using this new Circle Grid Die in the future. I’m sure you will too, can’t wait to see what you do!

Andrea Fisher