Wallpaper and Wallcoverings - Trouble with Wallpaper Seams & Little work time with prepasted paper

I am having trouble with wallpaper seams. The seams are not coming out right -- I think. They are rather visible - meaning you can see a grid line for each strip. I laid the sheets side by side - matching the pattern and not overlapping. The seams however, are very visible - like a grid mark. I am using activator with the pre-pasted wallpaper. The paper is embossed - so I could not use a seam roller - but rather my thumb & squeegee edge. When you run your fingers down the seam - it does not seem to be sticking up - but again the line [grid] is very visible.

Is there any repair and tips for the next time - I still have one more room to do.

Also, I found the paper dried very quickly - with a 5 mins. or so -- is this normal. And is there a workaround to give me some working time. I ask because as I was working on the seam and ceiling lines the outer edge was drying.

I am a novice but would like a good job done.

Thank you so much!

knovellino, Instead of the activator try a premixed clear adhesive like Sure-Stik C-11, 780 or 785. Thin this until it is about as thin as the activator is as it comes out of the bucket. This will give you more open time and will bond better. It sounds like you have done your part to make good seems. All paper doesn't make the best seems but the new glue method should help....Mike