Paper Sampler Templates

I have made many paper samplers over the last few years. Each time, I have to sit and do the math. Measure the frame. Decide on the size of the border. Figure out the space between. Divide the measurement left by 3, as it is usually a 3x3 arrangement that I work with. It all takes time, and frustrates me as I try and transfer the measurements into fractions to make it easier to cut. But what to do when the numbers are not cooperating, or are not easy to make into a fraction that works well with inches... Metric makes so much more sense, but all of my paper and frames are imperial sized as they come from the US. Ugh.

Well, I finally got smart. My daughter and I sat down to make our latest sampler for the kitchen. We had colours, she had stamped and coloured an image that we used as a starting point... but how big to make each piece? I went online and started looking, and lo and behold I found someone with a YouTube video that was doing a paper sampler... had exactly the measurements I needed!

We worked, laughed, got inky fingers, and by the end of the evening we had it completed. It was awesome. I love the way it turned out. We used some current product, some retired product, and achieved a paper sampler that was worthy of being displayed for all to see. 

I got thinking after we finished it... why do I make these so hard to do all of the time? I have spent so much time lately making templates for card making. Why not make a paper sampler template too? So, I sat down last weekend and did just that. 

I have frames that are 9"x9", 8"x8", and even 12"x12". I started with the 9" measurements as I still had those from making the most recent picture. I cut the background - I chose three colours that were pleasing together, but not the same. Plain paper, stuff that I had sitting around and really wasn't that worried about keeping for any specific project. I cut the white paper, then regrouped when I realized I wanted to mat it with black. I cut a 1/4" off each dimension of the white so that it then fit in the black. I adhered the two pieces together, made "single" (squares), "double" (two thirds of the 3x3 arrangement/row) and "triple" (a full single row) versions. 

Next, I used my glass mat, complete with inch measurements down the side, taped the background piece down, and began to place the pieces. I used a ruler that I have that sits nicely "hooked" on the edge (a Tim Holtz glass mat accessory), and marked the border around the outside with it's edge. NO, I didn't actually mark it, just used the edge to show how far in I wanted the piece. I flipped the piece, glued it up, then aligned it with the edge of the ruler and eyeballed the same distance from the left edge of the paper. I continued to place, glue, move the ruler to insure that pieces were straight and even... and had my first template. 

Like my card templates, I wrote directly on the front of the template all of the dimensions that were necessary. I figured the outside of the black was enough, since sometimes I would mat, and others I would not. When you have the largest measurements, it was easy to size down appropriately to make it the way I wanted to. I even marked the border around and between each row to record that for later.

I then continued and, in the same manner, made a template for the 8" and 12" frames. When I completed that largest one, I realized that 3x3 arrangement left rather large pieces to decorate, so I created a second one for this that had a 4x4 arrangement. I used a scrapbook sized sheet protector, and all four templates are stored inside. 

I realize that sometime I may want to create a rectangular shadowbox, so I will again need to sit down and do the math. However, the majority of the time, I like these done in a square the best. 

If you would like to receive the measurements and instructions for how to make your own template for paper samplers, click the link below to download a copy. I hope that this helps you so that you don't have to do your own math!