How to Use Old Dishes

There are several ways you can use antique china that's too chipped and worn to appear on your table, but too meaningful to throw out. Creating mosaics with broken bits of china is a great way to share the dishes and the memories they hold.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Object to mosaic
• Antique china
• Adhesive
• Grout
• Grout sealer
• Trowel
• Paint brush
• Sponge
• Protective gloves
• Protective eyewear

1. Place the antique china in a container and cover it with a thick towel. Use a rubber mallet to break the china into workable pieces rather than tiny shards.

2. Sort the shards of glass into similar colors to help you find the color you desire when you design your mosaic.

3. Cover the object you want to mosaic with an adhesive. Lay out your antique china pieces in any pattern that pleases to you.

4. Let the adhesive dry thoroughly. Come back and fill in all the gaps between the china pieces with white or colored grout. Wipe away the excess grout from the surface using only a damp sponge.

5. Seal the grout with an all-purpose sealer. Apply the sealer with a clean paint brush and allow it to dry. It'll appear milky white as you apply, but it'll dry clear.

Tips & Warnings

• Mosaic picture frames, the frame surrounding a mirror, a candle holder or a table top. You can mosaic anything you like. Consider creating a mosaic frame and when complete, add a photo of the person who passed on the antique china.
• Wear gloves to protect your fingers while working with broken glass. Wear protective eyewear when breaking the glass to avoid eye injury.
• When creating a mosaic on a rounded surface, such as a planter or a candle holder, use smaller pieces of glass and grout well to avoid sharp edges and accidental cuts.