How to Create a Basic Beginner Mosaic Project

A trivet or hot plate for your table typically is the first thing you learn to make in Mosaics 101. From these simple projects, you can learn the basic techniques to create any mosaic. Follow these steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Select a 12-by-12 inch piece of tile as the base for your first project, a mosaic trivet—a functional, beautiful hot plate for your table or countertop. Most any tile will do, just stay away from especially lumpy, bumpy surfaces for your first project.

2. Review the related eHow article titled "How to Prepare for any Mosaic Project" to gather your supplies and prepare your workspace.

3. Select a color scheme for your tiles and break them following the steps in the related eHow titled "How to Choose and Break Tiles for Mosaic Projects."

4. Begin tiling across the edges on top of your flat, square base. Look for tile pieces that are geometric in shape (squares, rectangles and triangles) with a straight edge to match up to the straight line of your trivet base. Try to match the angles of one tile to the next, sort of like fitting pieces of a puzzle together. Look for parallel lines between tiles and line them up along one side first without gluing.

5. Apply a dot of mastic (tile glue) the size of a dime using a plastic butter knife or squeezable mastic to the back of each piece, and push the piece into place. It will remain movable for about 20 to 30 minutes so you can make corrections. Place each tile about 1/8 inch apart from another, matching angles as you go around the whole outer edge of your trivet base.

6. Check your work once edges are complete. If any of the tiles are touching, separate them. And if any tiles are more than ¼ inch apart, move them closer together. Then decide if every tile is just the right one for that space. If not, you can still find a better one and change it! Continue filling in your evolving design until there are no spaces left. Then check your work again before letting your creation dry overnight. This is how you hone your technique, so don't skip this step!

7. Review the related eHow titled "How to Mix Grout for Mosaic Projects." Then grout your project according to the techniques described in the eHow "How to Grout Your Mosaic Projects." Now for the best part of the whole project: Use a soft, dry cloth to clean off and uncover the beauty of your first mosaic piece of artwork!

Tips & Warnings

• Space tiles about 1/8 inch apart from each other to make the most intricate designs.
• Keep finger bandages on hand for little cuts from handling tile pieces.
• Try to see the mosaic as two parts: the "positive" tile piece and the "negative" grout line in between. It takes both parts to make the design come to life!
• Always keep mosaic art library books on hand to get a visual picture of what you are creating and the steps involved.
• Don't let tiles be more than ¼ inch apart as grout cannot set in this wide of a gap and will crack.
• Once you have finished grouting your project, adopt a hands-off policy as grout can crumble or get gouged easily. Once it's dry, it is very strong, but not when it's wet.
• Check your final gluing work carefully, pushing down each piece in its place while wet. Once the mastic is dry (or if any dried pieces fall off or get moved), you'll have to pry the mistaken piece off, scrape off the glue, re-glue and wait overnight again before you can grout.