Mosaics - Measuring 2

 You may not think that measuring is that important, but I have found the answer to be very different.
Here is a tip on how to measure lines. On straight lines which are two studs wide, when you switch to diagonal lines use 1x3s to create the same width that you were using when you were building a straight line. Hopefully you find this tip helpful.

Mosaics - Planning Then Building

 Although I haven't so far planned out any of my mosaics, I would recommend getting into the habit. Here's a way you can easily plan out your mosaics. Get out a sheet of graph paper. Use colored pencils or crayons to color it in. Then duplicate it on a Lego baseplate.

Mosaics - A Couple of Suggestions

 I would suggest, for building mosaics, to make the outline in whatever color you wish. If you want it to look cartoon, I would recommend using a thick, black line for the outline. If you want it to look more realistic, use a different color. (See Blog post "Autumn Trees." This is a good reference for more realistic mosaics)

Legos - From Doodling to Building

Lego doodling is a fun pastime. I have discovered a lot of great things doing it. There are two kinds of doodling:

• The first is just sitting down with a bucket of Legos and "putting two and two together"! It doesn't even matter if it looks good!
• The second is taking just a couple of bricks, and sticking them together, twisting them, turning them, and staring at them!

 After doodling, you are then ready to move on to building. These are the steps I took from doodling to building. One thing I discovered while doodling was how to make a 3D object. Just taking a few 2x4s and making a small pyramid is a good start. Next try to make a ball. It is best to use 2x2s for this. I have found it easiest, while building a ball, is to build one side first, then copy it on the other side. After that, try to make a vase. Try not to make it too fancy right away. When you've finished, make your design a little more intricate. Now that you have built up your skill, you are probably ready to build something like a snake head, or a suspension bridge! Have fun and happy building!