Things You'll Need:
- Tile...the more, the merrier!
- Items to mosaic on
- Ceramic tile adhesive/mastic
- Plastic, disposable butter knives
- Two 2-gallon buckets
- Unsanded grout
- Grout float
- Grout sponge
- Tile nippers
- Hammer and towel
- Safety goggles
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Step 1
Collect as much tile as you can. And you need not purchase it either. Visit tile shops and home improvement centers and simply ask the managers for the broken tiles. They'll likely tell you it's free or available for a nominal charge if you pick through it yourself (which means go dumpster diving for treasure!) Other handy sources are your garage, your friends' and family's garages and surplus stores. You can pay for special tiles to complete a theme you're working on, but half the fun of mosaics is the hunt for great tiles that are free!
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Step 2
Acquire pieces to mosaic on. Beginners should start with one large piece of tile for a great trivet base. Then try large glass bottles or vases, flower pots, trays, a small tabletop or a plant stand. As you progress, use tables, chairs, mirrors...practically anything! The best place to get this stuff is thrift stores and garage sales where these items may cost as little as $1. After all, the items need not be in perfect condition because you are going to cover them with tile—it's the ultimate recycling.
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Step 3
Buy a bucket of ceramic tile mastic or tile adhesive—the material used to adhere tiles goes by either of those names. A smaller bucket is better than a larger bucket for beginners. Keep the bucket well-covered, as the material can dry out after repeated openings and air exposure. All you need to work with it is a plastic butter knife.
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Step 4
Borrow or buy a hammer. Husbands and boyfriends are handy for this because a man's hammer is the best type for smashing tile. Hammers made specially for women are often not heavy enough to give the tile a good crack. You'll need an old towel and some safety goggles to complete your tile-smashing kit.
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Step 5
Get the grouting materials from your local home improvement store: You'll need two 2-gallon buckets (one for water/sponge and one for grout), a grout float and a grout sponge (available in the grout/tile aisle). When choosing a float, get a standard size with a large palm handle on top, not a miniature one or one with a handle that sticks out on one side. Get the float with the beveled (sloped) edges and the stiff, smooth rubber surface on the bottom. The rubber base should not bend when you push down on it. It will last through many, many projects.
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Step 6
Invest in a good pair of tile nippers once you're past the beginner projects and have learned how to use them. They have a spring between the handles that makes them easy to handle. Be careful not to lose the spring in the nippers!
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Step 7
Collect a few different types of containers (round, compartmentalized, covered) for keeping your broken tile collection, as well as a toolbox or a milk crate to keep your materials handy.
