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Fake tile using wallpaper?


Kells

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This *seems* like it would work but I'm hoping someone here has done it. Has anyone faked the look of tile using wallpaper? I imagine one could draw on mortar lines to give a tiled appearance. Or maybe seal it with satin or glossy Mod Podge then actually cut out little tiles and then mortar them?

I want to do a tiled entrance in the doorway of my French Quarter house. I would love a fleur-de-lis design, which is so very French and so very New Orleans! I'm thinking of using this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DOLLHOUSE-WALLPAPER-1-12-SCALE-PRINCESS-FLEUR-DE-LIS-GREEN-ON-WHITE-1454/372226153763

Do you think it would be passable? Or maybe someone knows of actual mini fleur-de-lis tiles that I've not come across?

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Emily (@fov) has used scrapbook paper to make tile in half scale.  I thought it turned out extremely well.  Check it out here on her blog:   http://www.emilymorganti.com/blog/?p=14099   It did involve cutting out individual squares, but I think that gives the most realistic look.

For real tiles, I found these:   https://www.etsy.com/listing/575934288/antique-075-miniature-french-revolution?ref=shop_home_active_39&pro=1 , but I think they'd be a little large (18" translated to real life).  They might work for accent pieces somewhere in your build.

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25 minutes ago, Debsrand56 said:

Emily (@fov) has used scrapbook paper to make tile in half scale.  I thought it turned out extremely well.  Check it out here on her blog:   http://www.emilymorganti.com/blog/?p=14099   It did involve cutting out individual squares, but I think that gives the most realistic look.

For real tiles, I found these:   https://www.etsy.com/listing/575934288/antique-075-miniature-french-revolution?ref=shop_home_active_39&pro=1 , but I think they'd be a little large (18" translated to real life).  They might work for accent pieces somewhere in your build.

Those are nice with the gallery glass! Perfect backsplash.

I saw those on Etsy. I don't think the raised design would work for floor tile. Can you imagine walking across those in heels?

I love the designs one can make using individual tiles like these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DOLLHOUSE-MINIATURES-DOLLHOUSE-TILES-FLOORING-WESTMINSTER-A-FLOOR-TILES/370903085314

To me, those really look like encaustic tiles and the patterns are accurate. Too bad they don't have fleur-de-lis. I'm questioning myself about using paper because I used this once in a farmhouse kitchen:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dollhouse-Floor-Paper-Victorian-Tile/264341034744

I used a couple sheets to get enough border to go around the room and then put the design in the middle. It was pretty enough but even with a sealer to give it a bit of a shine, I thought it immediately identifiable for what it was: fake tile printed on card. Meh.

At least on the porch I only have to cover about 2 1/2 x 5 inches +/-. Laying individual tiles and grouting such a small space would be no hardship. Although I'm considering carrying it through the entry hall as well. Don't know if that would be too much tile or if it's historically accurate. I can't recall if the center halls in most French Quarter houses have tile or just the same wood as the rest of the floors. I know marble isn't accurate. That would have been added in much later remodels and was only used in those huge Garden District mansions at the time.

 

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7 minutes ago, Kells said:

I don't think the raised design would work for floor tile. Can you imagine walking across those in heels

Well, I was thinking more of using it as a wall inset someplace.  :)  Definitely not for floors.  Walking barefoot across them wouldn't be fun, either!

 

9 minutes ago, Kells said:

I love the designs one can make using individual tiles like these:

I've seen his store and tiles, and I love them.  I know Ashley (@wormwoodz) used some of his tile in her builds, and it's beautiful! I don't know how well this would work, but have you thought of stamping a fleur de lys onto individual tiles?   https://pegstamps.com/fleur-de-lis-small-tiny-peg-stamp.html   

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I've made tile from paper. No matter what, always do a test sample first for practice.  :D

 

First time, I drew hummingbird art, added the lines in PhotoShop, sealed and used a stylus to make the tiles.

http://www.otterine.com/blog/blog1.php/hummingbird-shower-mural-making-the-1
http://www.otterine.com/blog/blog1.php/hummingbird-shower-mural-making-the-2
http://www.otterine.com/blog/blog1.php/hummingbird-shower-mural-shower-surround

 

Second time, I made the pattern in Word, then followed the same concept.

http://www.otterine.com/blog/blog1.php/making-tiles

 

I have also used the Old World Tile printed paper with the gloss sealer without making the lines - ended up looking like linoleum, which was also great.

http://www.otterine.com/blog/blog1.php/old-world-tile-review

 

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I used wallpaper in the pub's kitchen:

P3150069.JPG

and painted packaging paper for terra cotta tiles:

med_gallery_8_1766_29432.jpg

and paint sample chips for all sorts of tile.  Since it's paper I just paint my surface a grout color first.

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I know how to use photoshop so that's an idea, as is the stylus to add dimension if first mounted onto posterboard. Those stamps are an idea I may use instead of stenciling. That's a different subject though. Many good ideas here, I am going to have to start experimenting!

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28 minutes ago, otterine said:

Will it have actual tile texture?  It's hard to tell from the photos.

No, they have a video on their Ebay listings which shows it's obviously just printed on vinyl. Their slate roofing looks particularly bad. No texturing at all. I'm going to try pressing in the grout lines but I expect with it being vinyl that it will just bounce back. I expect I'll be cutting those tiles out and then grouting them, but I am fine with doing that. I think it's going to look a lot better than if I tried getting paper or card to look like that.

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