How to Make a Mosaic Picture or Item

A mosaic project can be as complicated or as simple as you wish. Start with just the rim of a ceramic pot, for instance.

Making a mosaic picture or decorated item is fun and fairly easy.

Things You'll Need

• Mosaic pieces of glass or stone
• Pattern for your art piece
• Base for picture -- you can use a bowl or vase, or even a brick
• Adhesive
• Easy-to-wear gloves that are not too thick to work with
• Grout for the area between the pieces (grout lines)
• Tweezers for tiny pieces
• Clean, damp rag to wipe excess glue or grout
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Choose the item you want to do. Make it easy the first time -- a small vase or flower pot, for example -- and don't try to do the entire thing if you don't feel comfortable with the process at first. A mosaic rim is a nice addition to a terra cotta pot.

   For a picture, use a small piece of cement board or plywood.

   Draw a pattern and transfer it, or draw it right onto the base piece. Tile marking pencils will work on slick glass to make an easy-to-follow line.

   Use clear-drying glue for glass pieces. Otherwise, prepare the surface the glass will go onto with a base coat of white gesso. Experiment before glueing down the individual pieces. Opaque glass will not usually show base color through.

   Broken china works well. It is dense and covers well. Seashells are nice, as are glass jewels such as those you can find in a craft store.

2. Find recycled glass, or break up unmatched dishes you have around. Wear goggles. Put the dishes in a towel or bag, and break them with a hammer.

   To start a picture, lay out the pieces of glass, then go back and set them in the glue. You can try it out first on the sticky side of contact paper to get an idea of how it will look.

   Don't use too much adhesive. Spread it thin with a straight-edge trowel or small spatula. Leave it so the grout lines are not filled up with glue or adhesive. Use toothpicks to take out excess after it dries a bit, and clean off any on the top surface of the tile.

   Let the adhesive dry 12 to 24 hours.
   If you are doing a container, remember that gravity will try to pull the pieces down the sides. Lay out the vase or cup on its side, and work small areas at a time. Dry a while, then turn to a new area to cover.

3. Prepare for the grouting. It gets messy, so work on plastic you can toss at the end of the grouting process. Use gloves.
   Mix the grout to a consistency of a soft dough ball.
   Spread the grout with your hands or a small flat spatula onto your project. Get it into all the grout lines; do not rub too hard and press it out.
   Let the piece set for 10 minutes or longer.
   Take a soft, wet (squeezed out) sponge. Wipe the grouted area, rinsing the sponge now and then.
   Do not pour or rinse grout into your sinks. Use a bucket that can be dumped outside in dirt.
   After wiping down, let it continue to dry.
   Then your project is ready to frame or display.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy mosaic-cut squares at a craft store if you do not want to break or cut your own.

• Use gloves and eye protection.

• Wear a mask, or try not to breathe the dust of the dry grout when pouring it into the mixing container.

References

• Mosaic Art Supply: Illustrated Mosaic Instructions
• YouTube: How to Make Mosaic Art: How to Grout a Mosaic Work of Art
• YouTube: How to Make Mosaic Art: How to Arrange Mosaic Pieces Into a

Resources

• Artofmosaic.com