How to Make Mosaic Tiles

Mosaic is an attractive art form that consists of small pieces of glass or tile arranged into designs and pictures. You can use mosaics to make tabletops, stepping stones, murals and many other projects. Cut tiles can be expensive to purchase, and the selection may be limited. There are two main techniques you can utilize to make your own mosaic tiles out of found or purchased materials.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Large tiles
• Tile snips
• Utility knife
• Ruler
• Towel
• Rubber mallet

How to Make Simple Mosaic Tiles

1. Wrap a large tile loosely in a towel. Tuck the edges of the towel underneath, so that there are no open sides.

2. Strike the tile with the rubber mallet. Strike it hard enough to break the tile, but not so hard that you crush it.

3. Open the towel and remove the broken pieces of tile. If there are any large pieces you would like to make smaller, return them to the towel and strike them again.

How to Make Uniform Mosaic Tiles

4. Use a ruler to measure and draw a grid on top of the tile. Each square of the grid should be the size of the mosaic tiles you desire. 1 inch by 1 inch is a common size, but you can make them any size you like.

5. Lightly score along the grid lines with the utility knife. Do not force the blade to cut deeply, just enough to scratch the surface.

6. Place the tile between the snips, lining them up with a score line. Gently apply pressure until the snips cut through the tile. Continue snipping along the score lines until your mosaic pieces are cut free.

Tips & Warnings

• Use interesting old glass and porcelain plates to make mosaic tiles.
• Wear gloves and safety glasses when cutting and hammering tiles.

Resources

• The Mosaic Tile Guide has tips and inspiration for your next mosaic project.