Why do I love Mosaic Grid Scrapping you ask? Let me show and tell you about a few of my reasons.

The Grid Paper is a base to build on, a framework to hold your photos, story and design. One hundred little squares that can be joined in a multitude of ways to create beautiful and unique scrapbook pages.

While getting many photos on a page is one feature of the grid system with its many patterns to choose from that I love, what sets it apart from a full photo album is the ability to include “The Story” with each layout or the series of layouts that document those events.

Going beyond the pictures and adding words to create a story and a theme that brings to life your pictures with your added words and special touches is another thing I love about the Mosaic Grid System.

I can customize each page with additional design elements and embellishments to complete the story. I would like each page to be like looking into your favorite children’s story and see the words brought to life in the pictures. You can add with restraint or with great flourish.

For my layout today I’m using a few of my favorites, something new and something old and retired.

The Diamond Ring Die, the new Scallop Circle 3×3 Die Set, and the Mat and Photo Petticoat Die Set are the dies.

Paper is from Echo Park’s Welcome Baby Girl Mega Pack and presented on White Mosaic Moments Grid paper.

The subject in this layout is my newest granddaughter, Jubilee. She arrived in February, a chunky bundle of Joy weighing in at 10# 8 oz. This page is the first photos on her first two days and will likely be the opening page in an album of layouts all about her.

I wanted to feature the Diamond Ring die, a 2×2 square die that I love. It reminds me of a quilt I made years ago. I thought it would be perfect to use to create a baby quilt background. I cut each 2×2 tile in white to blend into the background of the White 12×12 Mosaic Moments grid paper.

Then I cut two tiles from each of 6 different papers from the Echo Park mega collection, Welcome Home Baby Girl. These double-sided pattern papers give lots of options for filling the spaces. The scale of the 6×6 paper pack is perfect for using in the grid paper format, preserving the patterns in our 1” spaces, and perfect for this quilt pattern.

I chose to adhere directly to the grid each die frame piece. Yes, that means in the top left corner the trademark info shows through on one of the sections intended to be exposed.

TIP: To solve that cosmetic problem I merely added a section in white to fill it in. It will hardly be noticed.

Additionally, I wanted a bit of lace to frame out my center photo block and another favorite die of mine, albeit, retired, the Mat & Photo Petticoat Die Set, was just the right touch. I cut five strips of the 1×5 die to use to do that task. One full strip and a single lace scallop section will cover edge to edge of the framed section.

A new die that I’ve tried out for the first time is the new scallop circle frame 3×3 die. Perfect to frame four photos in the center of this mostly squares Pattern #392. I’ve actually reserved one square for the details, but still kept with the white scallop edging of the circle as in the other sections.

To create that framed section I cut a 6×6 square and added each of the Scallop Circle 3×3 Die frames into the corners of this mat. It leaves a center 1/8” space visible just as it would be if I’d adhered the photos directly to the grid, but this time, I wanted to elevate the section above the grid so that the lace would overlap the outside borders and create a slight shadow. Several strips of foam mounting tape were placed on the backside around the edges and the center. This gives a nice elevation to the section with support. You can also opt to use several layers of cardstock instead of foam tape for a less expensive option.

The lace and scallops are perfect for a girly page, and quilts can convey many themes with the change of colors.

• We have several smaller dies that work in nicely as borders and spots that can be used on successive pages to carry a design theme to tie things together as you tell the story.

This Star Flower die set forms an open frame to the layout. Each piece is backed with watercolor papers while the word blocks are created as digital scrapbook elements in a photo-less layout. Bible Journaling for Scrappers.

In another application the Canterbury Die Set made with parchment panels and tiles colored on the reverse side with Zig markers.  Stained Glass.

• 2×2 dies to fill or create a page an often create a larger design element in your layouts.  

The Looped 2×2 Set is a versatile die that I’ve used to piece together a half page Ombre design to accompany the hot air balloons.  Hot Air Balloons.

• Our 4×6 Oval Frame Set comes with flowers that can paired with the 8 Petals die set for a combination of flowers in a 1” square as well as free standing flowers to be arranged around the oval frame.

With a few extra touches of Pearl Drops and swirls to dress up the oval frame and grid and another look is achieved. Libby.

So, while I do love how many photos the Grid Paper can accommodate, it is the many, varied looks that can be achieved by a little personalization with many of the simplest die sets in the Mosaic Moments Grid System for my scrapbook pages and telling my stories.

Andrea Fisher