How to Make China Mosaic Jewelry

Breaking and Preparing the China

Break the china into usable pieces by placing it in a pillow case and hitting it with a hammer. For most jewelry, the pieces should be quite small so that they can be used to create a miniature mosaic piece. After breaking the china, choose the pieces you want to use and rinse them off in cool water to remove any dust from breaking up the ceramic. Let the pieces dry completely. If you have purchased china mosaic pieces, skip this step.

Laying Out Design

Using the pieces you selected, lay out a pattern that will fit within a cabochon setting or on to whatever you have chosen to place your mosaic on. In addition to cabochon settings you can use a piece of wood (old Scrabble pieces are popular bases), another piece of china or ceramic, or a glass or stone pendant. Anything with a flat surface will work. Fit the pieces within the edges of the base you have chosen, breaking or switching out any pieces that don't quite fit.

Gluing and Finishing

While you can use mortar and grout just as you would to create a standard mosaic, for jewelry it is better to use epoxy or jewelry glue to attach the china pieces to the base. The advantage is that the epoxy or jewelry glue will stand up to a lot of wear, however, the disadvantage is that you cannot move the mosaic pieces once you've placed them on the base. Coat the base with either glue or mortar and carefully place the china pieces. Tweezers can be helpful if you are working on an especially small jewelry item. Allow the mortar or glue to dry. Mix the grout according to the package directions and spread it across the mosaic. Use a wet rag to wipe away any excess and allow the piece to dry. If you don't have or don't want to use grout, you can substitute bathroom caulk, drywall patch or even plaster of paris. Just be sure and wipe away any excess right away.