Craft Edge

I'm trying to figure out how to use inkscape to where it's not so difficult. In the fireplace (an example) I want the lighter bricks to be solid instead of the red being solid and having to put all the little lighter rectangles (bricks) individually. I know it's probably something simple, but I can''t even find a tutorial that explains how to ungroup (after tracing path) to the simplest way to cut them. I hope you understand what i mean. This has been driving me cazy. If there is a tutorial on this subject please send me link. Thanks!

matchboxpatty (Pat)