Search Results for: elementile

Free Mosaic Pattern Horse

mosaic-pattern-horse-colored-v14

Free Mosaic Pattern Horse fits the 6×6-inch mosaic backer board we sell and can be transferred onto the board using these instructions in our blog article. Carbon transfer paper may be easier than coating the entire back of the pattern with charcoal because there are so many lines to be transferred.

Prints on 8.5 x 11 inch paper.

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This pattern was designed using the 12mm (~1/2 inch) Elementile Recycled Glass Mosaic Tile.

Mosaic Tile Needed

The more closely you attempt to fit the tile together, the more tile you will have to scrap because they don’t always cut exactly as desired. It is easier and more efficient to leave a grout gap. You need a grout gap to properly seal out water.

These numbers are inflated to account for cutting scrap. In theory, you can cover the entire pattern in 144 UNCUT tiles with barely a gap. These numbers at their high end add up to 288 tiles, and 216 tiles at their low end. It’s better to have tile left over for other projects, especially if you aren’t sure how steady your cuts will be.

[JOE MOORMAN WILL PROVIDE COLOR RECOMMENDATIONS AND ESTIMATES]

No Partial Bags Sold

We cannot sell partial bags of tile. Of course you will have many tiles left over if the color is only used in 2 or 20 tiles! That is a good thing. You build a library of materials at home that you can be used for other mosaics, hopefully your own designs. We plan to offer kits soon that include the quantities listed above, but until time permits that work, please do not email us asking for partial bags.

–>

Free Mosaic Pattern

Free Mosaic Patterns are available as PDF downloads for customers who checkout using the normal shopping cart checkout process. Other materials do not have to be ordered.

Mosaic Art Edges

This pattern mounted on the 6×6-inch backer board produces a mosaic where the tiles extend all the way to the edge of the board so that edge of the mosaic looks like what it is (an authentic mosaic).

However, the tile needs to stop at the edge of the backer and not stick out. If unframed, the outer edges of the glass tile need to be smoothed by rubbing with a fine-grain stone of moderate hardness, which can be found on the ground or streets most places, or by using the fine-grain sides of a ceramic marble file or a dual-grit rubbing stone. Rub finished mosaics with care and practice first by rubbing sharp tiles before you glue them down. (I have used ordinary found stones for this purpose -JM)

Fits In Standard Frame

A finished 6×6-inch mosaic made with glass tile on our backer boards should have the same dimensions and thickness as a 6×6-inch stretched canvas painting, and so it can fit in a standard 6×6-inch gallery frame meant for paintings.

Displaying Mosaics Unframed

Many books and authorities recommend NOT extending the tiles all the way to the edge of a backer because it makes those tiles vulnerable to damage by impact and by leaning the mosaic on its edge. We have observed that the 6×6-inch size is small and light enough to be handled without these types of damage being as much of an issue provided the mosaic is handled with care. Also, we think the raw mosaic edge is a vital part of the look and feel when displaying the finished artwork. The make great objects d’art when displayed unframed in the easels used for displaying china plates.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or cutting and grouting tile, please see our Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions page or our How To Mosaic blog or our Mosaic Information Guide.

Free Mosaic Pattern Goldfish

Mosaic Pattern Goldfish colored version

Free Mosaic Pattern Goldfish fits the 6×6-inch mosaic backer board we sell and can be transferred onto the board using these instructions in our blog article. Carbon transfer paper may be easier than coating the entire back of the pattern with charcoal because there are so many lines to be transferred.

Prints on 8.5 x 11 inch paper.

<!–

This pattern was designed using the 12mm (~1/2 inch) Elementile Recycled Glass Mosaic Tile.

Mosaic Tile Needed

–> <!–

The more closely you attempt to fit the tile together, the more tile you will have to scrap because they don’t always cut exactly as desired. It is easier and more efficient to leave a grout gap. You need a grout gap to properly seal out water.

These numbers are inflated to account for cutting scrap. In theory, you can cover the entire pattern in 144 UNCUT tiles with barely a gap. These numbers at their high end add up to 288 tiles, and 216 tiles at their low end. It’s better to have tile left over for other projects, especially if you aren’t sure how steady your cuts will be.

–> <!–
  1. Primary Blue Tint1 58-78
  2. Phthalo Blue Tint3 52-69
  3. Fruit Punch 48-63
  4. Cad Orange 17-23
  5. Leaf Green 17-23
  6. Spring Pea Green 15-20
  7. White 6-9
  8. Black 2-3
–> <!–

REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN USE DIFFERENT COLORS FROM THESE.

No Partial Bags Sold

We cannot sell partial bags of tile. Of course you will have many tiles left over if the color is only used in 2 or 20 tiles! That is a good thing. You build a library of materials at home that you can be used for other mosaics, hopefully your own designs. We plan to offer kits soon that include the quantities listed above, but until time permits that work, please do not email us asking for partial bags.

–>

Free Mosaic Pattern

Free Mosaic Patterns are available as PDF downloads for customers who checkout using the normal shopping cart checkout process. Other materials do not have to be ordered.

Mosaic Art Edges

This pattern mounted on the 6×6-inch backer board produces a mosaic where the tiles extend all the way to the edge of the board so that edge of the mosaic looks like what it is (an authentic mosaic).

However, the tile needs to stop at the edge of the backer and not stick out. If unframed, the outer edges of the glass tile need to be smoothed by rubbing with a fine-grain stone of moderate hardness, which can be found on the ground or streets most places, or by using the fine-grain sides of a ceramic marble file or a dual-grit rubbing stone. Rub finished mosaics with care and practice first by rubbing sharp tiles before you glue them down. (I have used ordinary found stones for this purpose -JM)

Fits In Standard Frame

A finished 6×6-inch mosaic made with glass tile on our backer boards should have the same dimensions and thickness as a 6×6-inch stretched canvas painting, and so it can fit in a standard 6×6-inch gallery frame meant for paintings.

Displaying Mosaics Unframed

Many books and authorities recommend NOT extending the tiles all the way to the edge of a backer because it makes those tiles vulnerable to damage by impact and by leaning the mosaic on its edge. We have observed that the 6×6-inch size is small and light enough to be handled without these types of damage being as much of an issue provided the mosaic is handled with care. Also, we think the raw mosaic edge is a vital part of the look and feel when displaying the finished artwork. The make great objects d’art when displayed unframed in the easels used for displaying china plates.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or cutting and grouting tile, please see our Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions page or our How To Mosaic blog or our Mosaic Information Guide.

Free Mosaic Pattern Crowing Rooster

Mosaic Pattern Rooster Crowing colored version

Free Mosaic Pattern Crowing Rooster fits the 6×6-inch mosaic backer board we sell and can be transferred onto the board using these instructions in our blog article. Carbon transfer paper may be easier than coating the entire back of the pattern with charcoal because there are so many lines to be transferred.

Prints on 8.5 x 11 inch paper.

<!–

This pattern was designed using the 12mm (~1/2 inch) Elementile Recycled Glass Mosaic Tile.

Mosaic Tile Needed

The more closely you attempt to fit the tile together, the more tile you will have to scrap because they don’t always cut exactly as desired. It is easier and more efficient to leave a grout gap. You need a grout gap to properly seal out water.

These numbers are inflated to account for cutting scrap. In theory, you can cover the entire pattern in 144 UNCUT tiles with barely a gap. These numbers at their high end add up to 288 tiles, and 216 tiles at their low end. It’s better to have tile left over for other projects, especially if you aren’t sure how steady your cuts will be.

  1. White 12E040 28-37
  2. Maroon 12E098 22-29
  3. Cad Red Light 12E107 45-60
  4. Sienna Tint2 12E094 11-14
  5. Ultramarine Blue Tint1 12E062 54-72
  6. Primary Blue Tint1 12e066 54-72
  7. Black 12E049 2-3

REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN USE DIFFERENT COLORS FROM THESE.

No Partial Bags Sold

We cannot sell partial bags of tile. Of course you will have many tiles left over if the color is only used in 2 or 20 tiles! That is a good thing. You build a library of materials at home that you can be used for other mosaics, hopefully your own designs. We plan to offer kits soon that include the quantities listed above, but until time permits that work, please do not email us asking for partial bags.

–>

Free Mosaic Pattern

Free Mosaic Patterns are available as PDF downloads for customers who checkout using the normal shopping cart checkout process. Other materials do not have to be ordered.

Mosaic Art Edges

This pattern mounted on the 6×6-inch backer board produces a mosaic where the tiles extend all the way to the edge of the board so that edge of the mosaic looks like what it is (an authentic mosaic).

However, the tile needs to stop at the edge of the backer and not stick out. If unframed, the outer edges of the glass tile need to be smoothed by rubbing with a fine-grain stone of moderate hardness, which can be found on the ground or streets most places, or by using the fine-grain sides of a ceramic marble file or a dual-grit rubbing stone. Rub finished mosaics with care and practice first by rubbing sharp tiles before you glue them down. (I have used ordinary found stones for this purpose -JM)

Fits In Standard Frame

A finished 6×6-inch mosaic made with glass tile on our backer boards should have the same dimensions and thickness as a 6×6-inch stretched canvas painting, and so it can fit in a standard 6×6-inch gallery frame meant for paintings.

Displaying Mosaics Unframed

Many books and authorities recommend NOT extending the tiles all the way to the edge of a backer because it makes those tiles vulnerable to damage by impact and by leaning the mosaic on its edge. We have observed that the 6×6-inch size is small and light enough to be handled without these types of damage being as much of an issue provided the mosaic is handled with care. Also, we think the raw mosaic edge is a vital part of the look and feel when displaying the finished artwork. The make great objects d’art when displayed unframed in the easels used for displaying china plates.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or cutting and grouting tile, please see our Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions page or our How To Mosaic blog or our Mosaic Information Guide.

Loose Glass Mosaic Tile

Mosaic Art Supply sells several lines of glass mosaic tile in loose form for use in mosaic artwork:

Bag of E69 tiles
Many of our tiles come loose in bags like this.

Glass Tile on Easy-to-Remove Paper

Loose tile can easily be had by soaking paper-mounted sheets in water overnight. Unlike mesh, paper comes off easily.

Mosaic Art Supply sells several lines of glass mosaic tile that comes mounted face-down on easy-to-remove soakable paper:

Sheet of Scarlet 25 tiles mounted on a paper sheet
Tiles mounted on paper sheets are released by soaking in water.

Dealing With Mesh-Mounted Tile

You have probably noticed that most brands of glass mosaic tile at other suppliers come mounted on mesh sheets. The mesh sheets allow the entire sheet to be rapidly installed in ordinary tiling jobs.

To use individual tiles or pieces of tiles, it is generally necessary to remove the mesh. However, mesh can be extremely difficult if not impossible to remove due to advances in baked-on adhesives.

The solution requires thinking outside the box:

Consider cutting the mesh up with a pair of shop scissors and use individual tiles that still have some mesh attached to the bottom. Remember, the mesh was made to be glued down with the tile anyway. There isn’t any real reason it has to be removed other than ease of working.

Visual Product Line Navigation Page

12mm ElementileLarge Elementile recycled glass tile 1/2 pound
 

8mm ElementileSmall Elementile recycled glass tile 1/4 pound
 

8mm Iridescent ElementileIridized small Elementile 1/4 pound
 

12mm C3 Recycled Glass1/4 pound or 49 sheet-mounted tiles
 

Metallic and Iridized C3C3 with metallic or iridescent coatings 1/4 pound
 

3/4″ Hakatai Tile3/4″ vitreous glass tiles 1 pound
 

3/4″ Kaleidoscope Tile3/4″ glass tiles on 25-tile sheets
 

3/4″ Aventurine MetallicAvent metallic glass tile 1 pound
 

3/4″ Aura Metallic3/4″ metallic tiles on sheets of 25 tiles
 

Kaleidoscope 3/4″ Iridescentiridized 3/4″ tile on sheets of 25
 

3/8″ Hakatai Minis3/8″ vitreous mini glass tiles 1/2 pound
 

3/8″ Kaleidoscope Minis3/8″ mini tiles on 81-tile sheets
 

3/8″ Avent Metallic Minismini metallic glass tile 1/2 pound
 

Fantastix 1/2″ Iridescent Tile15mm iridized glass tile 1/2 pound
 

7/8″ Pre-Cut Stained Glass Tile7/8″ tiles on sheets of 16
 

1″ Mirror Tile1″ mirror tiles on sheets of 25 or by the pound
 

Mosaic Tile Assortmentsassortments of different mosaic materials (various weights)
 

Marble Mosaic Tile 3/8 Inch1 pound of 10mm marble tesserae
 

Marble Mosaic Tile 9/16 Inch1 pound of 15mm marble tesserae
 

Lyric Unglazed Porcelain Tile 18.5mmLyric brand porcelain tile 1/2 pound or sheets of 75
 

American Made Stained Glass6″x6″ squares of stained glass made in the USA
 

Ceramic Letter Tile Sets5/8″ ceramic letters
 

Ceramic Number Tile Sets5/8″ ceramic numbers
 

Glass Penny Rounds1/2 pound of 12mm Glass Rounds
 

Large Penny Rounds1/2 pound of 20mm Glass Rounds
 

Polished Gemstones4oz of polished minerals
 

Rough Minerals1/2 pound of rough minerals and crystals
 

SmaltiNext-gen easy-to-cut mosaic glass in 1/4 pound units
 

Glass GemsMade in USA 1/2 pound
 

Italian Millefiorimillefiori micro-mosaic tesserae in 2oz units
 

Mosaic Tools, Grout, and Gluemosaic supplies, safety equipment, and tools
 

Stepping Stone Moldsmolds in various sizes
 

Mosaic Ornament Base

Mosaic Ornament Base

Mosaic base for a holiday ornament is made of the hard variety of expanded polystyrene that is used for fishing floats. The ornament base is spherical 3 inches in diameter, which makes it the size and shape of traditional Christmas tree ornament. The base comes with generic mounting hardware installed (designed to be repairable) and a 2mm beading cord loop which can be replaced with ribbon if desired. Note that the ornament hangs at an angle so that it resembles the earth tilted on its axis (hint). The ornament base hangs at a slight angle because the loop wraps the shaft of a 3-inch decking screw instead of a shallow eye screw like so many ornaments doomed to fail in a way difficult to repair. Our 3-inch screw’s corrosion-resistant coating also allows glue to bond to it better than bare steel, so the same white PVA adhesive Weldbond used to attach the tiles could be used to reinsert the mounting screw if it ever pulled out.

Product Specifications

  • 1x hard expanded polystyrene sphere 3-inch
  • 1x 3-inch deck screw #9 with corrosion resistant-coating
  • 4x stainless steel washers #8
  • approximately 4 inch loop of 2mm beading cord

Instructions For Using the Mosaic Ornament Base

There are three important tips for making a mosaic on the polystyrene sphere:

  • Make sure you paint the sphere with adhesive and allow it to dry a few hours before you attempt to glue tile to it. The sphere by itself is so smooth, than any tile stuck to it tends to slide downhill. A layer of dried glue is much more tacky and will help prevent tiles from sliding. You can use your fingertip to paint on the glue.
  • Lay your ornament on an old folded up towel as you work on it to keep it from rolling over. A coffee mug can also be used. Work on the part of the sphere facing up, allow the area to partially dry and then rotate the sphere slightly to work on adjacent areas.
  • Put the mosaic ornament near a central heat vent or AC vent to speed drying, but not too close to fireplaces and wood stoves and places that get too hot.

Here is a step-by-step procedure for putting a mosaic on the ornament:

  1. Hang the mosaic over some old newspapers or place where glue can drip.
  2. Use your fingertips or a small brush to paint the sphere with a white PVA such as Weldbond adhesive.
  3. Allow the glue to dry for at least several hours. Hang the ornament near AC vents and central heat vents to speed the drying.
  4. Place the sphere on its side on an old folded up towel or on top of a coffee mug to work on it.
  5. Glue mosaic tile to the part of the sphere facing up, taking care not to work to far down the sloping sides because the tile will slide.
  6. Allow the glue to partially dry and then rotate the sphere slightly to one side so that an adjacent bare patch is now facing up.
  7. Continue tiling and rotating the sphere as needed until it is covered. Take care not to rotate the sphere prematurely and cause tile to shift while the glue is still soft. Take advantage of vents and warm locations to speed the process.
  8. Allow the fully tiled mosaic ornament to dry overnight or longer if needed before grouting. If the glue isn’t fully dry, then wet grout could cause tiles to pop off.
  9. Grout the mosaic with gloved hands over a plastic basin such as an old dish pan.
  10. Haze the grout the next day by burnishing with a cloth until all tile is free of grout residue.
  11. Do not over tighten the mounting screw. Hand tighten only.
  12. If the screw becomes loose or pulls out, squirt a white PVA adhesive such as Weldbond into the hole and reinsert.

Which Tile Works Best For The Ornament?

Our stone is too thick and heavy. Glass tile works best, preferably stained glass, Elementile, and the 3/8-inch mini tiles. The 3/4 inch tile can be used as well, but it would need to be cut to fit to the curvature of the 3-inch sphere. Keep in mind that if you use cut tile, especially stained glass, then take the time to smooth any sharp edges before gluing on the tile. You can use a marble file or a rubbing stone such as we sell, or you can use a piece of stone as I did for years and just rub the edge on that.

How Much Tile Do I Need For A Mosaic Ornament?

The surface area of the sphere is about 0.2 square feet. That means you should be able to tile an ornament with one of our 6×6 sheets of stained glass, which are approximately 0.25 square feet. However, you will have to be careful and not generate too much waste as cutting scrap (slivers). We recommend keeping the grout gap small (1/16 inch or less). The following numbers are based on a grout gap of 1/16 inch, but you might need slightly more of the 3/4-inch tile because that will need to be cut up:

  • 8mm tiles: 255
  • 12mm tiles: 106
  • 3/8 inch tiles: 155
  • 3/4 inch tiles: 46

How To Make Mosaic Art

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.

Mosaic Coaster Base Circular Round

circular coaster base hardwood

Circular Mosaic Coaster Base is made from cherry hardwood right here in the USA. The circular base is 4 inches in diameter and 3/16 inches thick. They are cut out with a laser, so the sides have a natural burnt wood color that could be lacquered. Note that the wood is not recessed to form a border for your mosaic. Instead, your mosaic should extend to the edge of the coaster so that the finished coaster looks like a fragment of an ancient mosaic. This is easiest to do when you use tile without a heavy embossed pattern on the underside, and for this reason, we recommend the 12mm Elementile Recycled Glass Mosaic Tile for use with the coasters.

Weldbond adhesive or another high quality PVA glue is recommended for attaching tiles to the coaster base, and there are several options for grouting your mosaic coaster. You can press the tiles closely together instead of leaving a gap, but that requires much more time and effort than leaving an irregular gap and then grouting the mosaic. With an irregular grout gap of 1/16 inch or less, you can use almost every piece of tile you cut because it does not have to be exact. You can also use regular sanded grout to grout it.

Mosaic Art Projects Using Coaster Bases

Product Specifications

  • 1 piece hardwood cherry circular coaster base.
  • wood pattern is natural and varies by piece.
  • diameter: 4 inches.
  • thickness: 3/16 inches.
  • laser cut edges (natural burnt wood finish).
  • unvarnished, unlacquered.
  • made in America
  • Removable paper tape protects the best face of the coaster.
  • The reverse side of the coaster may have occasional singes from the cutting laser, but these are superficial and can be covered by mosaic.

Compatibility

Any type of glass mosaic tile could be used with these, but there is no border on the coaster, so your mosaic will go all the way to the edge. If you use a type of glass tile that has coarse embossing or bevels on the underside, then these might look odd at the edge of the mosaic. It is also more difficult to cut a tile into small pieces if the bottom has an embossed pattern. For these reasons, the coasters are best covered with stained glass or the 8mm and 12mm sizes of recycled glass mosaic tile by Elementile. We prefer Elementile to stained glass because stained glass tends to form sharper edges when cut. Whatever tile you decide to use, make sure you file off any sharp edges at the sides of the mosaic using a rough stone or marble file.

Instructions For Using The Coaster Bases For Detailed Mosaic Art

The coaster bases can be used any way you want, including simple projects for children with tiles glued randomly with variable grout spacing, and these make great first-time projects because they are small and do not require as much time and material. However, it is possible to create a more sophisticated mosaic design on the coaster using these instructions. Due to the limited space provided by the coaster, one of the most important steps is making sure you can cut tile small enough to render the smallest detail of your design and modifying your design if necessary:

  1. Find a design or picture. Google Images is a great source of photos, images, patterns, models to draw from.
  2. Draw a simple cartoon outline of your design.
  3. Try cutting up some tile and arranging it on the cartoon to see how it looks.
  4. Pay special attention to the smallest detail in your design.
  5. If it is not possible to cut tile that small, or the pieces seem too tedious to work with, then simplify your design.
  6. Note that when you start using glue, it will be easier to arrange small pieces because they will not move around as unexpectedly. Tweezers also help.
  7. Once you have you have verified that your design is not too detailed to be rendered in tile, then sketch the cartoon on the coaster in pencil.
  8. You can darken your pencil sketch with a Sharpie brand marker so that glue does not rub it off once you start working.
  9. Wipe Weldbond glue over the face of the coaster and allow to dry to seal the wood. Use a very thin coat to avoid warping the coaster from the moisture in the glue! Remember, the reason you are sealing the coaster in the first place is to avoid warping it later when you use lots of glue for the tiles. Use two light coasts and allow to dry thoroughly between coats.
  10. Start tiling your design from the center and working to the edges.
  11. Leaving an irregular grout gap of 1/16 inch or less is much easier than fitting the tile tightly together.
  12. At the edge of the coaster, cut the tile so that it fits flush with the edge. You can place a tile on the coaster, mark where it should be cut with a Sharpie marker before gluing and then make the cut.
  13. Use the fine side of a marble file or a piece of rough stone to rub the edge of the cut tile so that the edge is not as sharp.
  14. After the glue has dried (preferably for 48+ hours) grout your mosaic with sanded grout.
  15. We recommend sealing the edges and bottoms of the coasters to protect from spills and condensation that could split or warp the wood.
  16. Deft Clear Wood finish in a spray can is sold by Home Depot and can be used for this.

How Much Tile Do I Need For The Coaster Base?

The top surface of a 4-inch circular coaster base has only 12.6 square inches (0.09 square feet) in area. This means you could cover it with 45 to 60 of the 12mm Elementile or 90 to 130 of the 8mm Elementile depending on how you cut and space the tile. In either case, one bag of tile would be more than enough to cover the coaster. However, you will want to order more than that to account for the cutting waste, possibly twice as much if you are fitting the tile exactly with no grout gap.

How To Make Mosaic Art

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.

Mosaic Coaster Base Square

square mosaic coaster base

Square Mosaic Coaster Base is made from cherry hardwood right here in the USA. The square base is 4 inches wide and 3/16 inches thick. They are cut out with a laser, so the sides have a natural burnt wood color that could be lacquered. Note that the wood is not recessed to form a border for your mosaic. Instead, your mosaic should extend to the edge of the coaster so that the finished coaster looks like a fragment of an ancient mosaic. This is easiest to do when you use tile without a heavy embossed pattern on the underside, and for this reason, we recommend the 12mm Elementile Recycled Glass Mosaic Tile for use with the coasters.

Weldbond adhesive or another high quality PVA glue is recommended for attaching tiles to the coaster base, and there are several options for grouting your mosaic coaster. You can press the tiles closely together instead of leaving a gap, but that requires much more time and effort than leaving an irregular gap and then grouting the mosaic. With an irregular grout gap of 1/16 inch or less, you can use almost every piece of tile you cut because it does not have to be exact. You can also use regular sanded grout to grout it.

Mosaic Art Projects Using Coaster Bases

Product Specifications

  • 1 piece hardwood cherry square coaster base.
  • wood pattern is natural and varies by piece.
  • width: 4 inches.
  • thickness: 3/16 inches.
  • laser cut edges (natural burnt wood finish).
  • unvarnished, unlacquered.
  • made in America
  • Removable paper tape protects the best face of the coaster.
  • The reverse side of the coaster may have occasional singes from the cutting laser, but these are superficial and can be covered by mosaic.

Compatibility

Any type of glass mosaic tile could be used with these, but there is no border on the coaster, so your mosaic will go all the way to the edge. If you use a type of glass tile that has coarse embossing or bevels on the underside, then these might look odd at the edge of the mosaic. It is also more difficult to cut a tile into small pieces if the bottom has an embossed pattern. For these reasons, the coasters are best covered with stained glass or the 8mm and 12mm sizes of recycled glass mosaic tile by Elementile. We prefer Elementile to stained glass because stained glass tends to form sharper edges when cut. Whatever tile you decide to use, make sure you file off any sharp edges at the sides of the mosaic using a rough stone or marble file.

Instructions For Using The Coaster Bases For Detailed Mosaic Art

The coaster bases can be used any way you want, including simple projects for children with tiles glued randomly with variable grout spacing, and these make great first-time projects because they are small and do not require as much time and material. However, it is possible to create a more sophisticated mosaic design on the coaster using these instructions. Due to the limited space provided by the coaster, one of the most important steps is making sure you can cut tile small enough to render the smallest detail of your design and modifying your design if necessary:

  1. Find a design or picture. Google Images is a great source of photos, images, patterns, models to draw from.
  2. Draw a simple cartoon outline of your design.
  3. Try cutting up some tile and arranging it on the cartoon to see how it looks.
  4. Pay special attention to the smallest detail in your design.
  5. If it is not possible to cut tile that small, or the pieces seem too tedious to work with, then simplify your design.
  6. Note that when you start using glue, it will be easier to arrange small pieces because they will not move around as unexpectedly. Tweezers also help.
  7. Once you have you have verified that your design is not too detailed to be rendered in tile, then sketch the cartoon on the coaster in pencil.
  8. You can darken your pencil sketch with a Sharpie brand marker so that glue does not rub it off once you start working.
  9. Wipe Weldbond glue over the face of the coaster and allow to dry to seal the wood. Use a very thin coat to avoid warping the coaster from the moisture in the glue! Remember, the reason you are sealing the coaster in the first place is to avoid warping it later when you use lots of glue for the tiles. Use two light coasts and allow to dry thoroughly between coats.
  10. Start tiling your design from the center and working to the edges.
  11. Leaving an irregular grout gap of 1/16 inch or less is much easier than fitting the tile tightly together.
  12. At the edge of the coaster, cut the tile so that it fits flush with the edge. You can place a tile on the coaster, mark where it should be cut with a Sharpie marker before gluing and then make the cut.
  13. Use the fine side of a marble file or a piece of rough stone to rub the edge of the cut tile so that the edge is not as sharp.
  14. After the glue has dried (preferably for 48+ hours) grout your mosaic with sanded grout.
  15. We recommend sealing the edges and bottoms of the coasters to protect from spills and condensation that could split or warp the wood.
  16. Deft Clear Wood finish in a spray can is sold by Home Depot and can be used for this.

How Much Tile Do I Need For The Coaster Base?

The top surface of a 4-inch square coaster base has only 16 square inches (0.1 square feet) in area. This means you could cover it with 56 to 72 of the 12mm Elementile or 113 to 162 of the 8mm Elementile depending on how you cut and space the tile. In either case, one bag of tile would be more than enough to cover the coaster. However, you will want to order more than that to account for the cutting waste, possibly twice as much if you are fitting the tile exactly with no grout gap.

How To Make Mosaic Art

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.

Mosaic Tile Mounting Grid 8mm (Fits ~90% pieces)

Mosaic Tile Mounting Grid 8mm

Mosaic Tile Mounting Grid 8mm is for temporarily mounting patterns of uncut tile Elemetile brand on paper for rapid installation using the indirect method. They are not needed for most projects. Most artists use cut tiles or glue each tile directly on the surface they are covering and do not need grids.

The grid mounts 1024 of the 8mm Tiny Elementile on ~1 square foot of mosaic mounting paper in a uniform grid of 32 x 32 tiles with a grout gap of approximately 1/32 inch. HOWEVER, THE 8MM TILE IS A NOMINAL SIZE, AND THE ACTUAL SIZE VARIES, AND SO ABOUT 5 TO 10% OF THE PIECES MIGHT NOT FIT IN THE GRID OR FIT VERY TIGHTLY. DO NOT BUY THIS GRID IF THAT IS A PROBLEM.

Note that the paper we sell is 1.15 square foot, which is slightly larger than these grids but should not pose any problems. (You can always trim away the excess paper after you mount the tiles.)

This grid is suitable for use with either the standard glossy finish 8mm Elementile or the iridescent finish 8mm Elementile.

Mosaic Tile Mounting Grid 8mm

  • grid size: 32 tiles x 32 tiles.
  • grid area: 11.5 inches x 11.5 inches (under 1 square foot).
  • grout gap: approximately 1/32 inch.
  • tile size: 8mm (~5/16 inch).

Indirect Method

Mosaic tile can be glued one at a time DIRECTLY to a surface, or you can lay your mosaic out on a temporary surface in what is called the “Indirect Method.” Temporary surfaces can include things like fiberglass mesh, paper, adhesive contact paper or trays filled with lime putty. Our grids were made to work with self-adhesive mounting tape and mounting paper that is glued to the faces of the tiles.

Why Use The Indirect Method

Why would you want to use the Indirect Method? It is easier to lay up your mosaic design at your work table than it is to lay it out on a floor or vertical wall. Also, you can work for days or weeks at your work table laying up the mosaic without tying up the location where the mosaic will actually be installed. Again, none of this is necessary for a beginner laying up a small craft project like a trivet or a mosaic mirror.

Use In Mosaic Art

The following is how to do the indirect method using our grids and mounting paper:

  1. Place glass mosaic tile into the grid face up, filling up the grid with your design.
  2. Dilute water-soluble glue such as Elmer’s Glue with 3 parts water to 1 part glue.
  3. Paint the water soluble glue onto the mounting paper using a small artists paint brush. Use a light coat to avoid wrinkling the paper.
  4. Lay mounting paper onto the face of the tile, careful to avoid wrinkles.
  5. Allow sheet to dry completely and remove from the grid.
  6. Spread thinset mortar or mosaic adhesive on the surface to be mosaiced.
  7. “Butter” the bottom of the sheet of tile with the same mortar or adhesive. Of coarse, you butter the bare glass bottoms of the tile, not the paper.
  8. Press the sheet of tiles into the adhesive-covered surface with the PAPER ON THE OUTSIDE.
  9. Allow the thinset or adhesive to cure for 24 hours.
  10. Mist the paper until it is soaked and peel it off the tiles.
  11. Grout the mosaic.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or cutting and grouting tile, please see our Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions page or our How To Mosaic blog or our Mosaic Information Guide.

Mosaic Tile Mounting Grid 12mm

mosaic tile mounting grid 12mm

Mounting Grid for 12mm (~1/2 inch) Glass Mosaic Tile by Elementile is for temporarily mounting patterns of uncut tile to paper for rapid installation using the indirect method. These are not needed for most projects. Most artists use cut tiles or glue each tile directly on the surface they are covering and do not need grids.

These grids come directly from the factory and show various signs of use. They were made by machining blocks of plastic instead of pressed in a mold, so they look home made to be brutally honest, but they work.

The grid mounts 484 of the 12mm Elementile Brand mosaic tile on 1 square foot of mosaic mounting paper in a uniform grid of 22 x 22 tiles with a grout gap of approximately 1/16 inch.

Note that the paper we sell is 1.15 square foot, which is larger than these grids but should not pose any problems. (You can always trim away the excess paper after you mount the tiles.)

Mosaic Tile Mounting Grid 12mm

  • grid size: 22 tiles x 22 tiles.
  • grid area: 30cm x 30cm (just under 1 square foot).
  • grout gap: approximately 1/16 inch.
  • tile size: 12mm (~1/2 inch).

Indirect Method

Mosaic tile can be glued one at a time DIRECTLY to a surface, or you can lay your mosaic out on a temporary surface in what is called the “Indirect Method.” Temporary surfaces can include things like fiberglass mesh, paper, adhesive contact paper or trays filled with lime putty. Our grids were made to work with self-adhesive mounting tape or mounting paper that is glued to the faces of the tiles.

Why Use The Indirect Method

Why would you want to use the Indirect Method? It is easier to lay up your mosaic design at your work table than it is to lay it out on a floor or vertical wall. Also, you can work for days or weeks at your work table laying up the mosaic without tying up the location where the mosaic will actually be installed. Again, none of this is necessary for a beginner laying up a small craft project like a trivet or a mosaic mirror.

Use In Mosaic Art

The following is how to do the indirect method using our grids and mounting paper:

  1. Place glass mosaic tile into the grid face up, filling up the grid with your design.
  2. Dilute water-soluble glue such as Elmer’s Glue with 3 parts water to 1 part glue.
  3. Paint the water soluble glue onto the mounting paper using a small artists paint brush. Use a light coat to avoid wrinkling the paper.
  4. Lay mounting paper onto the face of the tile, careful to avoid wrinkles.
  5. Allow sheet to dry completely and remove from the grid.
  6. Spread thinset mortar or mosaic adhesive on the surface to be mosaiced.
  7. “Butter” the bottom of the sheet of tile with the same mortar or adhesive. Of coarse, you butter the bare glass bottoms of the tile, not the paper.
  8. Press the sheet of tiles into the adhesive-covered surface with the PAPER ON THE OUTSIDE.
  9. Allow the thinset or adhesive to cure for 24 hours.
  10. Mist the paper until it is soaked and peel it off the tiles.
  11. Grout the mosaic.

How To Make Mosaics

For more advice on designing your mosaic project or cutting and grouting tile, please see our Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions page or our How To Mosaic blog or our Mosaic Information Guide.