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Free Shipping Mosaic Tile

FREE SHIPPING?

Free shipping does not exist. If a mosaic tile retailer is offering “free shipping,” they have inflated their prices so that you still pay for this phony discount. Instead of “free shipping,” we offer Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, the best shipping value on the Internet. These boxes are cheaper and faster than UPS Ground or FedEx Ground.

HONEST PRICING AT MOSAIC ART SUPPLY

We do not offer “free shipping.” No one does, not really. If you doubt this, simply compare the TOTAL cost of your order. Compare the quality of goods. We don’t inflate our prices to offer fake discounts.

THE CHEAPEST SHIPPING AVAILABLE FOR MOSAIC TILE

The cheapest shipping available for heavy products like mosaic tile is Priority Mail Flat-Rate. They are usually faster than UPS or Fedx ground services, especially when shipping to the West Coast, Alaska, or Hawaii.

Our new software automatically calculates the weight and size of your order and determines the cheapest shipping option for you during checkout. It will also offer alternative shipping options such as UPS Next-Day Air that you can select for rush orders. However, the cheapest option will usually be USPS Flat-Rate Priority Mail shipping.

FLAT-RATE PRIORITY MAIL SHIPPING FOR MOSAIC TILE

Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes cost the following to ship (excluding insurance) to addresses in the US and Puerto Rico. There are special rates for Mexico and Canada. All International flat-rate boxes are limited to 20 lbs, but US and Puerto Rico are not limited by weight. See current international rates at USPS.

Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes
Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes are the best shipping method and the cheapest.

LIMITATIONS OF FLAT-RATE PRIORITY MAIL BOXES

For customers in the US and Puerto Rico, flat-rate boxes are not limited by weight but by volume. Don’t expect a lot of grout or stepping stone molds to fit. (The 12″ stepping stone molds won’t fit at all.) However, you can fit a lot of tile into these boxes relative to the cost.

The SMALL flat-rate box holds at most:

  • 10 sheets of 3/4″ tile
  • or 24 sheets of 12mm Morjo tile
  • or 4 12-ounce bags
  • or 3 pounds of loose tile
  • or 3 tools (cutters, nippers, combo)

The SMALL flat-rate box will NOT hold:

  • More than 5 feet of mesh
  • Glue
  • Cutting Oil
  • Porcelain Tile Nippers
  • Ceramic and Marble File
  • Running Pliers
  • Silver Tip Counter Brush
  • Mounting Paper
  • Mounting Grids
  • Molds
  • Safety Glasses
  • Apron
  • Sponge
  • Stained Glass

The MEDIUM flat-rate box holds at most:

  • 60 sheets of 3/4″ tile + 4 pounds of loose tile
  • or 80 sheets of 3/4″ tile + 2 pounds of loose tile
  • or 60 sheets of 3/4″ tile + 4 tools (cutters, nippers, combo)
  • or 1 Mosaic Starter Kit + 3 pounds of loose tile
  • or 24 12-ounce bags
  • or 14 pounds of loose tile
  • or 140 sheets of Morjo 12mm tile
  • or 110 sheets of Morjo 12mm tile + 4 tools (cutters, nippers, combo)
  • or 60 sheets of Morjo 12mm tile + 6 pounds of loose tile
  • or 42 half-pound bags of Morjo 12mm tile
  • or 20 tools (cutters, nippers, combo)
  • or 2 containers of grout
  • or 12 bottles of Weldbond 8-ounce
  • or 20 sheets of stained glass + 4 tools (cutters, nippers, combo)
  • or SOME partial combinations of the above.
  • BUT THERE IS A WEIGHT LIMIT OF 20 POUNDS FOR INTERNATIONAL ORDERS.

The LARGE flat-rate box holds at most

  • 144 sheets of 3/4″ tile
  • or 60 sheets of 3/4″ tile + 1 half-gallon glue + 1 tool (cutters, nippers, combo)
  • or 1 Mosaic Starter Kit + 12 pounds of loose tile
  • or 1 Mosaic Starter Kit + 4 pounds of loose tile + 60 sheets of 3/4″ tile
  • or 2 half-gallon glue + 2 tools (cutters, nippers, combo) + 4 pounds loose tile
  • or 24 pounds of loose tile
  • or 32 12oz bags
  • or 270 sheets of Morjo 12mm tile
  • or 240 sheets of Morjo 12mm tile + 2 tools (cutters, nippers, combo)
  • or 200 sheets of C3 tile + 6 pounds of loose tile
  • or 60 half-pound bags of Morjo 12mm tile
  • or 30 tools (cutters, nippers, combo)
  • or 4 containers of grout
  • or 20 bottles of Weldbond 8-ounce
  • or 20 sheets of stained glass + 12 tools (cutters, nippers, combo)
  • or SOME partial combinations of the above.
  • BUT THERE IS A WEIGHT LIMIT OF 20 POUNDS FOR INTERNATIONAL ORDERS.

Mosaic Tile Gifts

Most artists prefer to choose their own materials, so buying art supplies as a gift can be problematic. However, we offer several options that minimize the stress of choosing.

Gift Certificates

Mosaic Art Supply sells Gift Certificates in amounts of $30, $50 and $100. The certificates can be mailed to you or directly to the recipient. If this is a last-minute gift, we can even email you an electronic copy of the certificate that you can print out at home.

Mosaic Starter Kits

We also have a Mosaic Starter Kit With Compound Nipper that is the perfect way to equip someone new to mosaic with the essential tools needed to work with glass, porcelain and ceramic. Note that our kit is NOT a children’s project kit with materials for making one particular design. Instead, our kit contains the same tools we use in our studio for executing commissioned artwork and is intended to outfit your artist to pursue their own unique design. The kit contains an 8-ounce bottle of Weldbond adhesive and two pounds of sanded grout plus a small selection of glass mosaic tile, which allows your artist to make a simple trivet or mosaic plaque before planning more ambitious projects.

Hint: An ideal gift would be the Mosaic Starter Kit plus a Gift Certificate.

The kit comes in two versions. The kit with the compound tile nipper should be ordered if you think your artist might want to work with stone or porcelain. We have our more economical Mosaic Starter Kit that has a regular tile nipper for artists who only use these harder materials in limited quantities. Both kits contain a mosaic glass cutter.

Mosaic Art Starter Kit with Compound Nipper
Our Mosaic Art Starter Kit with Compound Nipper is the same as our regular Mosaic Starter Kit, but it includes the Compound Tile Nipper for hard porcelain and stone.
Mosaic Art Starter Kit
Mosaic Art Starter Kit includes professional-grade tools plus grout, glue, 300 glass mosaic tiles, and access to our online mosaic instructions.

Mosaic Tile Assortments

Mosaic Tile Assortments are great for giving your artist a sampling of many of the things we sell.

Terms and Conditions

All Customers

If your order has a deadline, place the order and e-mail us immediately at [email protected] so that we can work with you to ensure your order arrives on time.

  • Weekend orders cannot ship before Monday.
  • Most orders ship within 1 to 2 business days. Large or special orders may take longer.
  • UPS Next Day orders placed after 2pm Eastern Time cannot ship before the following weekday.
  • UPS Next Day and 2nd Day mean business days, not counting weekend days.
  • We cannot cancel orders after they ship.

European Union

Information Regarding Directive 2011/83/EU
All products listed on the website have detailed product descriptions provided.
Business information including address is listed at the bottom of each page.
All customer service interactions are handled via e-mail: [email protected]
Delivery to the EU can take multiple weeks and is subject to Customs delays. EU customers are encouraged to e-mail us before ordering for transit time information.
Shipping schedule information is provided here.
Reimbursement will be made for the original cost of the order, or as applicable, partial cost if only some of the materials are returned.
Pursuant to Article 14(1), the customer is responsible for the price of return shipping.

European Union information concerning the exercise of the right of withdrawal
Right of withdrawal
You have the right to withdraw from a sales contract within 14 days without giving any reason. The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the goods.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, you must inform us by e-mail to [email protected] of your decision to withdraw from the sales contract by an unequivocal statement in the e-mail.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your e-mail concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from a sales contract, we shall reimburse to you all payments received from you for that particular order, including the costs of delivery (with the exception of the supplementary costs resulting from your choice of Priority Mail Express International, or any other type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us, which for almost all international orders is Priority Mail International), without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from the sales contract. We will carry out such reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement
You shall send back the goods to Mosaic Art Supply, 2964 Alcove Dr, Scottdale, GA 30079 USA without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired.
You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods.
You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.


All Customers

When will my order ship?

  • Mosaic Art Supply, LLC ships all orders from Scottdale, Georgia, which is in the US Eastern Standard Time Zone.
  • Orders are shipped on weekdays only.
  • Most orders ship within 1 to 2 business days. Large or special orders may take longer.
  • We do not ship orders on US postal holidays. For a list of postal holidays please click here.
  • Orders placed after 4 PM EST cannot be mailed until at least the next business day.
  • Orders can’t be cancelled after they ship.

When will my order arrive?

  • For most orders, USPS Priority Mail will be the cheapest option. It is also usually the fastest shipping option.
  • USPS Priority Mail usually delivers within the lower 48 states within 2 or 3 days.
  • USPS Priority Mail does NOT guarantee a specific delivery date.
  • UPS Ground is usually the cheapest option for large and bulky items such as 3 litre Weldbond jugs or full rolls of mosaic mesh.
  • UPS Ground does NOT guarantee a specific gelivery date.
  • If your address is incorrect in any way (ZIP, street, apt number, etc.), then UPS’s additional fee of $13 for address corrections will be charged to your credit card.
  • We reserve the right to use UPS Ground for orders containing multiple sheets of stained glass or other products that we determine may get broken in Priority Mail flat-rate boxes.

Can I get a guaranteed delivery date?

  • If you absolutely need your order by a certain date please e-mail us right now at [email protected] so we can work with you.
  • UPS offers 2nd-Day Air and Next-Day Air delivery, which you can select during checkout.
  • UPS 2nd-Day Air and Next-Day Air services refer to business days only, they do NOT include weekends or US federal holidays.
  • Orders ship only on weekdays (not including postal holidays) from Scottdale, Georgia, and must be placed before 2 PM EST in order to go out on the same business day.
  • We strongly encourage you to e-mail us as soon as possible at [email protected] so that we can let you know what your options are.
  • UPS Saturday Delivery is an extra charge and is very expensive. Our website does not quote Saturday Delivery as a shipping option.

Can I get a guaranteed delivery date outside of the United States?

  • No, international customs bureaucracies will take time to inspect your package, and can cause delays.
  • Priority Mail Express International is the fastest international service we offer.
  • If you order PMEI we need to have the order before 1 PM EST (13h00) and we need you to e-mail us at [email protected] in order for your order to ship the same day.
  • Simply copy-and paste the following text then change it to include your order number:
  • I just placed a Priority Mail Express International order, the order is #XXXXX, please ship as soon as possible.

Can you mail a package outside the USA with a service other than USPS?

  • No, UPS will charge you a hefty customs brokerage fee when you receive your package.
  • We don’t have relationships with any other international carriers.
  • You are responsible for paying your country’s taxes and duties, if applicable.

My package is missing items. What should I do?

  • Please e-mail us immediately at [email protected] so that we can fix the problem. If you wait until your deadline is near to report the problem, we may not be able to help. We cannot ship replacement items by express shipping methods if you wait to report the problem.

My package never showed up, or it was delivered opened or damaged. What should I do?

  • Please e-mail us immediately at [email protected] so that we can file a missing package inquiry or a claim with USPS or UPS as soon as possible.
  • Damaged package claims must be reported to us as soon as possible or else USPS or UPS may deny the claim.
  • US Postal Insurance does not cover theft of packages after they are delivered.
  • Please follow the tracking information we email you and make sure you retrieve packages from porches and mailboxes quickly and report problems in a timely manner.
  • We do not assume liability for thefts occurring at your home.
  • USPS insurance does not cover theft from your porch, and we cannot reimburse orders stolen after delivery to your address. Ship to your work address if needed to be safe.

United States and Other Countries

Sales and Retail Prices

By placing an order from our website, you agree that:

  • Mosaic Art Supply, LLC is entitled to keep the calculated retail price displayed with the sale price as long as desired.
  • Displaying the calculated price is absolutely necessary in this market to avoid artists designing projects over a long time frame (multiple years) being surprised that they may need a quantity that requires a new factory order at the calculated retail price.
  • You will not seek damages from any perceived or actual violations of any law including but not limited to any limitations on how long a sale price can remain in place along with the calculated retail price.

How can I return an item?

  • Please send us an e-mail at [email protected] to request a return authorization.
  • Authorization may be granted if you had ordered samples before ordering large quantities and the return is made within 2 weeks.
  • Please tell us your order number and tell us what product(s) you’d like to return and the reason for the return.
  • We can’t refund shipping costs for obvious reasons.
  • We can’t accept returns if you haven’t e-mailed us first and we have not authorized the return.
  • We can’t accept returns of broken or damaged items or opened containers of Weldbond, Grout, Thinset, or Cutting Oil.
  • ATTENTION CONTRACTORS: Do not order large quantities if you are not sure about the products you need.
  • Please e-mail us at [email protected] to ask about Sample Boards or for help selecting the tiles you need.


METALLIC Glass Mosaic Tiles Assortment 3/8-Inch 1/2-lb

Metallic Glass Mosaic Tiles Assortment 3/8-Inch

Metallic Glass Mosaic Tiles Assortment 3/8-Inch are sold loose by the 1/2-lb (approximately 320+ pieces) for use in art and craft and as an architectural surface covering. Mounting grids and mounting paper are available for laying up designs. The sintered copper dust embedded in the glass gives it a permanent sparkle that is more classic than the glitter tiles sold in the craft market.

METALLIC Glass Mosaic Tiles Assortment 3/8-Inch 1/2-lb

  • tile size: 3/8 inch (10mm)
  • thickness: 1/8 nominal (4mm)
  • sales unit: half pound (320+ pieces)
  • material: glass
  • variety: metallic (copper dust embedded in glass)
  • pigments: colorfast, UV resistant
  • durability: frost-proof, impervious to liquid
  • usage: suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Coverage

One half pound of ~320 tiles will cover approximately 0.4 square feet assuming a standard grout gap of approximately 1/32 inch. To cover 1 square foot with the standard grout gap for this size, 796 tiles are needed. Most mosaic mounting paper is 1.15 square feet and requires 841 tiles (29 tiles x 29 tiles). Use our tile estimator to calculate how much you need for your project.

Compatibility

Tile thickness is 1/8 inch nominal, the same as most of the glass mosaic tile we sell, which means that these can be used with other types and brands. Never assume that colors of different sizes will match exactly even if they have the same name because they often come from different manufacturer batches.

Cutting Tile

The Mosaic Glass Cutter is recommended for cutting all types of glass mosaic tile including these. Note that there is a limit to how small 3/8-inch tile can be cut because the sides of the tiles are tapered, and small pieces tend to fall over. We cut halves and quarters and diagonal triangles but do not try to go small than that, at least most of the time. If you are making the fine details of your image and need to cut smaller, you can lean pieces against each other, but that can get tedious.

Use in Mosaic Art

The Aventurine brand includes enough different colors so that an image could be rendered with these alone, but they are more often used with other types of glass tile for figurative designs and in mixed-media mosaic craft projects such as stepping stones. Tip: instead of placing them as single square tiles between other materials, arrange them in short swirling rows. You can even do this figurative art: Make your sky from swirling rows of tile (which is always preferable to a grid arrangement) and put a few intermittent rows of sparkling tiles in for contrast and visual interest.

How To Make Mosaics

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.

METALLIC Glass Mosaic Tiles Assortment 3/4-Inch 1 lb

Metallic Glass Mosaic Tiles Assortment 3/4-Inch

Our Metallic Glass Mosaic Tiles Assortment includes all 29 shades of our 3/4-inch Morjo™ Metallic glass tile. These tiles have copper dust swirls and streaks inside the glass for a permanent sparkle. Sold by the pound (approximately 145+ pieces). These tiles are hard and durable enough for outdoor installation, yet they cut easily into halves, quarters, and triangles with little force using a pair of mosaic glass cutters. The grooved side bonds adhesive more securely.

Metallic Glass Mosaic Tiles Assortment 3/4-Inch

  • Sales unit: 1 pound (roughly 145+ tiles).
  • Tile dimensions: 3/4 inch x 3/4 inch (20mm x 20mm).
  • Tile thickness: 4mm (1/8 inch nominal).
  • Material: glass with metallic copper dust swirled inside the glass.
  • Coverage: each pound covers 0.69 square feet.
  • Coverage: 218 loose tiles cover 1 sq ft. with grout spacing of 1/16 inch.
  • Frost-proof, impervious to liquid.
  • Suitable for indoor/outdoor use.

Product Coverage

Each pound covers 0.69 square feet, assuming a standard grout spacing of 1/16 inch. Coverage for 1 square foot requires 218 tiles. Note that cutting tiles generates some scrap, so you may want to budget 5% extra.

Compatibility

The 3/4 inch size (20mm) and 1/8 inch nominal thickness (4mm) is industry standard, which means these tiles can mix and match with a wide variety of brands.

Cutting Glass Tile

Though durable enough for outdoor mosaics, this tile cuts easily with minimal force using the mosaic glass cutters. Ordinary tile nippers are not recommended for any type of glass.

Metallic Glass Tile in Mosaic Art

Even as an occasional accent, metallic glass tile will add sparkle, depth and luminosity to any mosaic project. Break up monochromatic color fields with their metallic equivalent, or sprinkle in pieces to add drama to your details.

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.

IRIDESCENT Assortment 3/4 Inch 1-lb

3/4 iridescent assortment

Our Iridescent Assortment is a rainbow mix of 3/4-inch iridized glass tiles for use in art and coverings. It is sold loose by the pound (approximately 145+ pieces). Note that only the faces of the tiles are iridized. The backs are plain colored glass with embossed ridges and grooves to help adhesives grip it tightly. The 3/4-inch (20mm) width and ~1/8-inch thickness are standard dimensions, so you can mix and match these with many other brands of tile. All our glass tiles can be cut easily with the Mosaic Glass Cutter we sell.

MILDLY Iridized

Note that the iridescence is MILD and not so glossy that the underlying color is obscured. This is a definite plus because glass that is heavily iridized tends to look the same no matter what color the glass is underneath. These tiles show a significant amount of the underlying color and can be used to render polychromatic images.

Iridized Glass Mosaic Tiles 3/4-Inch

  • Price is per 1 pound (approximate 145+ mosaic tiles).
  • Tile dimensions: 3/4″ x 3/4″ (20mm actual) A standard size and compatible with vitreous tiles from most other manufacturers).
  • Tile thickness: 1/8″ nominal.
  • Coverage: each pound covers approximately 0.7 square feet sq ft.
  • Pigments: colorfast metal oxide.
  • Only the faces are iridized. The backs are standard finish and embossed with ridges for more secure bonding.
  • cuts easily with mosaic glass cutters.
  • frost proof.
  • impervious to liquids.
  • Suitable for indoor and outdoor installation.
  • NOT suitable for floors.

Product Coverage

One bag of approximately 150 tiles will cover 0.7 square feet assuming a standard grout gap of approximately 1/16 inch. 218 loose tiles cover 1 square feet with grout spacing of 1/16 inch.

Compatibility

Tile thickness is approximately 1/8 inch, which is the same as the other 3/8-inch and 3/4-inch glass mosaic tile we sell.

Cutting Tile

All the glass mosaic tile we sell can be cut quickly with minimal force using a pair of Mosaic Glass Cutter.

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.

THICK Glazed Handmade Ceramic Dinnerware Scrap 3-Pound BOX

THICK Glazed Handmade Ceramic Dinnerware Scrap 3-Pound Box is a bag of kiln-fired scrap from dishware made by a local artist. Glazed ceramic like this is not frost-proof, and needs to be used indoors only. These pieces are randomized broken shards with different glazes on them, and can be cut with a hammer and hardie or our Compound Nipper. The average piece size varies, but one box should cover about 2/3 of a square foot. This is a low-volume limited-offer discount product; when we sell out we are out.

Thickness varies greatly from piece to piece because this is broken dinnerware, but it is much THICKER overall than the thin 2-pound bags of scrap we have.

THICK Glazed Handmade Ceramic Dinnerware Scrap 3-Pound Box

  • Price is for a 3-pound box
  • glazed ceramic tile handmade by a local Atlanta artist
  • thickness: variable, but thick!
  • Coverage: Varies, but under 1 square foot

Compatibility

The thickness of this product is much greater than most of the products we sell, so this material is best used by itself or in multi-media mosaic where pieces of the different thickness are pressed into a bed of thinset mortar.

Cutting Tile

This product cuts with the Mosaic Tile Nipper that we sell.

Use in Mosaic Art

This material is best used in mixed-media mosaic where pieces are pressed into mortar. Indoor use only. Not frost proof.

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.

Smalti Assortment SM-RAINBOW 1-POUND

Smalti Assortment 1 Pound MTM SM-MX00

Smalti Assortment SM-MX00 1-POUND is a bulk assortment of our smalti. This mix contains all of the colors we carry, but there may be more of some colored tiles and fewer of others. We try to homogenize the blend, but getting an exactly even amount of each color would be exceedingly difficult.

Smalti is traditional hand-cut mosaic glass that has a different look and feel from molded tile. It is the glass to use for reproducing religious icons, antique mosaic art, or making modern interpretations of classical designs. This assortment is sold by the pound, which is 160+ pieces on average.

Mud Turtle Mosaic™ brand smalti is a next-generation smalti. It looks like ordinary smalti (non-molded hand-cut rectangles), but it can be cut more predictably and cleanly with less waste and fewer shards, which often an issue with smalti. Avoid having to discard a significant percentage of your expensive materials as cutting scrap. This brand cuts more efficiently because of how it is poured and cooled. With Mud Turtle Mosaic™ smalti, extra care is taken to ensure that the mixture is more homogeneous and that little or no cold seams are formed during the pouring of the molten material out on the slab. The result is that are fewer blobs and swirls and fault plains inside the glass. These artificial internal structures are what causes regular smalti to break in such odd ways and form such vicious finger-poking shards. With this brand, there are also fewer surface pits and crevices for grouts and mortars to contaminate.

Product Coverage

Traditionally mosaics made from smalti were not grouted. However, if your mosaic will be outdoors or in a wet location, then you need to leave a gap between the tiles so that if can be filled with grout to seal out moisture. Having a grout gap means that you will need about 10 to 15% less smalti than otherwise.

Piece Count

One sales unit (1 pound) USUALLY contains 160+ pieces, with 168 being the average for the material we sampled. However, the smalti is sold by weight, and if the factory cuts a batch with slightly larger pieces, then that batch will have fewer pieces per pound.

Compatibility

Smalti is hand cut when it is made at the factory, and so it had a different look and feel from regular molded glass mosaic tile that is pressed into a uniform shape. Smalti is also significantly thicker than most of the glass tile we sell. For these reasons, mosaics look best when they are made from one type material or the other but not both.

Cutting Smalti

Mud Turtle Mosaic™ Smalti cuts extremely well with the mosaic glass cutters that we sell.

Smalti Mosaic Glass

  • Price for this assortment is per pound, which is USUALLY 160+ pieces.
  • The factory could potentially cut the pieces slightly larger, which would reduce the piece count per pound.
  • hand-cut non-molded rectangular pieces.
  • variable dimensions: ~1/4 inch x ~5/8 inch x ~1/4 inch thick.
  • coverage: about 2.5 to 3 pounds per square foot with coverage being affected by how the smalti is cut by the artist.
  • Pigments: colorfast metal oxide.
  • Solid color throughout.
  • Opaque.
  • Cut surface is glossy.
  • Cuts relatively easily with mosaic glass cutters.
  • Heat, frost and chemical resistant.
  • Suitable for both commercial and residential installation, indoors and out.

Use in Mosaic Art

This smalti is probably the best you can find if you need to render small details in smalti because it can be cut smaller with less waste than other brands. It also has little or no surface pitting, so you can grout a mosaic made from this material without having specks of grout remaining all over the face of the mosaic in pits. The product is highly recommended.

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.

Smalti Sample Board

Smalti Sample Board contains all the colors of Mud Turtle Mosaic™ brand smalti that we currently carry. The factory makes some intermediate tints in addition to the tints shown on the board, but we don’t carry those simply because they are hard to distinguish from the tints we already have. We carry all the factory’s hues. The rest of the information below describes the smalti: Smalti is traditional hand-cut mosaic glass that has a different look and feel from molded tile. It is the glass to use for reproducing religious icons, antique mosaic art, or making modern interpretations of classical designs. It is sold by the 1/4 pound, which is 40+ pieces on average. Mud Turtle Mosaic™ brand smalti is a next-generation smalti. It looks like ordinary smalti (non-molded hand-cut rectangles), but it can be cut more predictably and cleanly with less waste and fewer shards, which often an issue with smalti. Avoid having to discard a significant percentage of your expensive materials as cutting scrap. This brand cuts more efficiently because of how it is poured and cooled. With Mud Turtle Mosaic™ smalti, extra care is taken to ensure that the mixture is more homogeneous and that little or no cold seams are formed during the pouring of the molten material out on the slab. The result is that are fewer blobs and swirls and fault plains inside the glass. These artificial internal structures are what causes regular smalti to break in such odd ways and form such vicious finger-poking shards. With this brand, there are also fewer surface pits and crevices for grouts and mortars to contaminate.

Product Coverage

One sales unit (1/4-pound) covers a little over 9 square inches uncut with no grout spacing. Depending on how you cut the smalti, you could get about 12 to 14 square inches of coverage per 1/4 pound. A good rule of thumb is 2.5 to 3 pounds per square foot. Traditionally mosaics made from smalti were not grouted. However, if your mosaic will be outdoors or in a wet location, then you need to leave a gap between the tiles so that if can be filled with grout to seal out moisture. Having a grout gap means that you will need about 10 to 15% less smalti than otherwise.

Piece Count

One sales unit (1/4-pound) USUALLY contains 40+ pieces, with 42 being the average for the material we sampled. However, the smalti is sold by weight, and if the factory cuts a batch with slightly larger pieces, then that batch will have fewer pieces per 1/4 pound.

Compatibility

Smalti is hand cut when it is made at the factory, and so it had a different look and feel from regular molded glass mosaic tile that is pressed into a uniform shape. Smalti is also significantly thicker than most of the glass tile we sell. For these reasons, mosaics look best when they are made from one type material or the other but not both.

Cutting Smalti

Mud Turtle Mosaic™ Smalti cuts extremely well with the mosaic glass cutters that we sell.

Smalti Mosaic Glass

  • Price is per 1/4 pound, which is USUALLY 40+ pieces.
  • The factory could potentially cut the pieces slightly larger, which would reduce the piece count per 1/4 pound.
  • hand-cut non-molded rectangular pieces.
  • variable dimensions: ~1/4 inch x ~5/8 inch x ~1/4 inch thick.
  • coverage: about 2.5 to 3 pounds per square foot with coverage being affected by how the smalti is cut by the artist.
  • Pigments: colorfast metal oxide.
  • Solid color throughout.
  • Opaque.
  • Cut surface is glossy.
  • Cuts relatively easily with mosaic glass cutters.
  • Heat, frost and chemical resistant.
  • Suitable for both commercial and residential installation, indoors and out.

Use in Mosaic Art

This smalti is probably the best you can find is you need to render small details in smalti because it can be cut smaller with less waste than other brands. It also has little or no surface pitting, so you can grout a mosaic made from this material without having specks of grout remaining all over the face of the mosaic in pits. The product is highly recommended.

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 Stepping Stone Mold

Stepping Stone Molds

Mosaic Stepping Stone Mold is a durable ABS plastic form for making mosaics using wet concrete and glass mosaic tile. The mold comes with rounded corners and a slight taper to make it easier to remove the stepping stones after the concrete hardens. We use thinset mortar mixed with small pea gravel (2:1) for stepping stones, but many people use ordinary concrete. Both are available at the building material store. Stepping stones are perhaps the easiest mosaic project for children and beginners. You can use materials of different thickness because you are pressing the pieces into wet concrete instead of gluing to a rigid surface.

Mosaic Stepping Stone Mold

  • ABS plastic for long life.
  • Deep enough to produce stepping stones 1.5+ inches thick.
  • Rounded corners and tapered edges for easy removal of hardened stones.

Compatibility

Tile of different thickness can be used in a stepping stone mold. You can also use a wide range of hard materials other than tile: found stones, glass figurines, toy glass marbles, glass gems, gemstones, quartz crystals, beach glass, etc.

Ceramic and Marble

Ceramic tile and unpolished marble can be used as well, but keep in mind that these materials are porous and susceptible to freeze damage. (Glass tile is nonporous and frost proof, so it is preferred for outdoors.)

Souvenirs Yes. Plastic No.

Old souvenirs of glass and porcelain can give your stepping stone personality and charm, but avoid plastic because it is degraded by oxygen and the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

Safety and Functionality First

No matter what materials you use, you should always take care not to create a slip hazard or leave sharp edges exposed. That includes not placing glass or ceramic objects in positions where they can be easily broken off. Never use large flat pieces of glass or fail to put a grout gap between smaller pieces of glass because that could result in a surface that is too slippery when wet.

Tip: If your mosaic stepping stone is ever damaged in such a way that a shard piece is sticking out, you can take a piece of rock and file the rough edge down by gently but firmly rubbing the rock on the rough edge (wear leather work gloves). A Marble File is also useful for this type of repair work.

Product Use

A thin coat of petroleum jelly (such as the Vaseline brand) or non-stick cooking spray should be used to lubricate the mold prior to each use. This ensures easy removal of the stepping stone once the concrete has hardened.

Most artists use the molds by pouring in wet concrete and then pressing tile in the surface of the concrete, but there is a second way the molds can be used: If you are wanting to make an elaborate design from ordinary flat tile, then you can stick a piece of contact paper in the bottom of the stepping stone mold with the sticky side up. Press your tile upside down onto the sticky contact paper. When all the tile is positioned, pour concrete on top of that and fill the mold to the top surface. Of course you should pour in a little concrete in at first and use your fingers in Grouting Gloves (gently) to make sure the concrete is making intimate contact with the tile and is in the gaps between the tile. Leave the stone in the mold for 24+ hours before removing to allow the concrete to harden.

How To Make Stepping Stones Last Longer

We seal finished mosaics with a grout sealer or concrete sealer for longer life, and you can also bring stepping stones indoors for the winter months to avoid harsh freezes.

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.