Paper Collage - A New Idea

Things are quiet so I decided to make a new paper collage from

some of the photographs I've taken.  To get started I created a grid

of 3 " x 3" squares on my computer and dropped the photos onto the grid.

Each photo was "cropped" to a certain size,  based on the particular

photo,  and placed on the grid on my computer so

I could determine which  photos  should be placed next to each other

based on their color.  I did a small "mock-up" first.

Then I created a "to scale" layout for each category, based upon 

the size... 3" x 3",  3" x 12,  6" x 6" or 3" x 9"

and then printed all the enlarged color photographs.

I found this great device,  a Fiskars Card Making Bypass Paper Trimmer-9"

at the local Michaels store which would allow

me to cut each shape to a precise measurement.

Since some of the photos  needed to be over 6"  in one direction,

 I had to use my 6" wooden ruler in addition to the paper cutter to

get those 9" x 6" sizes.  

I did have some 3" x 12" shapes which meant

I had to cut that photo  in two  3" x 6" pieces and then carefully glue

 them together, as I did with this photo along the lower left edge.

I'll tell a little story about this bridge:

Fort Knox Penobscot Narrows Bridge is located in 
Prospect Maine  I took this photo 9/23/2008. 
This State Historic Site was constructed in the mid-1800’s.
  It is the tallest bridge observatory in the world.  
The elevator takes you up 420’ for a 360 degree view 
of the Penobscot Bay area.

As you might imagine, each photo in this entire collage has it's

own story, but this blog would go on "adnauseam if I told you

all the stories!!! 

Following my original to scale printout, I glued each photo

to a large piece of cream colored matte board, which 

Don then trimmed to fit the actual shape of the 

 collage because, as you can see  it has some irregular shapes 

along the top edge.

To "frame" the piece, I applied some 1/4" Black Crepe Art Tape 

around  the entire 24" x 30" piece.

Then it was time to hang the piece on the wall space 

between the master bathroom door and our walk in closet.   

I used some tape to mark the placement of  the lower corners,

and then attached Command Strips to all the corners as well

as the bottom & top edge.

Once again Don helped my with his level to make sure

it was level.  Mission accomplished. 

 You know the story... for a closer

look click on any photo.

When we lived in AZ I made a similar collage.

However I cut any photo larger than 4" x 4" into separate shapes and

glued them on a  black matte board and left a 1/4" space between

the photo segments,

 

so the black would show around each individual shape.

For example the sunset photo across the top

required that I  print out 12 individual 4" x 4"

squares from my enlarged photo... which I also did on my computer.

It hung on the wall above the pull down murphy bed in

our second bedroom!!!  We left it there when we left AZ...

Maybe it's time for a road trip to take some scenery shots

and get out of this 7 day over 100 degree heat wave.

Hey Don, I have an idea...