For environmental, economic and political reasons, it is increasingly important to purchase materials produced here in the United States. In the long run, it doesn’t benefit anyone to ship jobs where people and the environment are exploited for short-term gains, and it makes little sense to throw away our manufacturing base, which is the real source of any nation’s economic strength.
Fortunately, some of the most colorful and beautiful art glass in the world is made in America.
Real Stained Glass
Our stained glass is made by four different American manufacturers.
This is NOT the cheap chips of barely-tinted glass commonly sold in assortments for craft projects.
Our stained glass is proudly made by Kokomo, Spectrum, Armstrong, and Wissmach right here in the US, and it has much greater color density, opacity and consistency than art glass produced in Asia.
There are several reasons to use stained glass in your mosaics. First of all, stained glass isn’t grainy like most varieties of vitreous glass mosaic tile. The colours are much richer and more luminescent than vitreous, and this is true even when comparing muted and less-intense colors like gray or olive. Unlike fully-opaque tile, most stained glass is partially translucent which allows light to penetrate into the glass and produce maximum color.
Another reason to use stained glass is that it comes in larger pieces, and you can hand cut your own individual tiles with slightly irregular shapes. This gives a mosaic a more authentic handmade look, which can be difficult to achieve when using machine-molded square tile.
However, stained glass has more or less the same thickness as vitreous glass mosaic tile, and that means it is possible to use both materials in the same mosaic, provided no sharp edges are left exposed.
The main safety concern with stained glass is the potential for sharp edges, which are sharper than most other types of tile, but this problem can be minimized by taking care to install the tile flat and flush, and then grout thoroughly.
Dual-Grit Rubbing Stones and Marble Files are useful for reducing sharp edges on hand-cut tile.
American-Made Glass Mosaic Tile
The glass gems we sell are made in the USA.Glass gems are blobs of glass that look like large beads of water: rounded domes that are flat on the bottom. They can be used as an improvised form of glass mosaic tile and work well as accents in stepping stones and mixed-media mosaic.
Most brands of glass gems can only be used in vases and other containers because their colors are too faint to show up well when the gems are laid out flat.
Our glass gems were chosen for their luminous colors and pigment density. They were made by Marble King in the US in their Paden City, West Virginia plant, and they knock the socks off most glass gems made in Asia.
Ceramic Number and Letter Tile
CowTown Ceramics makes these ceramic letters and numbers.Ceramic Letter and Number Tile sets are made in the US by CowTown Ceramics. The letters and numbers come in sheets that are easily snapped apart by hand to produce individual embossed letter and number tiles. These are great for mixed media mosaic projects like stepping stones, mosaic “samplers” with quotes, and address plaques.
We receive school, church and camp project questions every week, so we know how to make things easy and help you save money!
Project Ideas for Kids
The 3/8-inch vitreous tile is recommended when cutting is to be avoided, but keep in mind that the 3/4-inch size is cheaper and can easily be cut into quarters that are the same size as the 3/8-inch tile. For more ideas on how to source inexpensive materials, click here.
Mario Gamer Mosaic Art second view by Jason Oakley.
Many types of tile can be easily used to create fun and simple to design ‘pixel art’ style mosaics based on your own designs or even video game characters. Students can be instructed how to make their designs on graph paper in colored pencil before laying them out in tile using a grid. We carry grids in most common sizes to make the process painless!
Outdoor Mosaic Patio Table with bench seats by Naomi Haas.
Benches, tables and other outdoor furniture are popular group projects for kids. We have a ton of information on our blog about outdoor mosaic materials an methods. Keep in mind that the materials used for a mosaic which is to survive exposure to the elements aren’t the same as indoor mosaics. Review our guide on outdoor mosaic for details.
Coaster sized mosaics can be a simple and satisfying mosaic for all ages.
For smaller projects, coaster sized mosaic bases can be used to great effect! The designs can be very simple and freely executed with much satisfaction. In fact, this type of small project can be a fantastic, low stress introduction to mosaic for kids and adults alike.
All children should be given adequate adult supervision. Wear safety glasses with side shields when cutting glass or mixing grout.
While many forms of mosaic involve cutting glass with cutters, nippers or pistol-grip cutters – uncut tiles can be handled safely and used to build a satisfying mosaic without cutting. However, children should be instructed in sound handling practice, as even a molded tile can occasionally have a sharp edge.
Our line of 12mm Morjo tile is easy to handle with safe rounded edges.
It also comes in a full spectrum of colors as well as iridescent varieties.
Note that it is often easiest to grout the children’s mosaics for them outside the class or session for several reasons. First, the glue needs to dry a day or two before you grout. Also grouting is the messy and mildly hazardous part, and the focus of the children’s work should be the creation of their own unique design and gluing the tiles. Many instructors report having some of the older children help with some of the labor of grouting with great success, but all agree that having an entire class play with wet concrete is a bad idea, especially with young children. Always read manufacturer’s safety instructions on grout and glue. Keep in mind that even whole glass tile can be sharp due to occasional chips and breaks that occur with shipping and handling.
How to Save Money on Mosaic Projects
Grout
Grout can be purchased cheaply in large bags at building material stores. Our packages are small convenience packs for individual projects, and they require a shipping charge to get to you.
Mosaic Backers
A popular project for church and camp mosaics is a 6-inch x 6-inch mosaic trivet. The best backer for 6×6 trivets is 1/2-inch cabinet-grade plywood which comes pre-sanded. We sell plywood mosaic backers for small projects, but you can buy a sheet of plywood and skill saw to cut it much more cheaply than you could buy the expensive backers from one of the craft websites! Ask one of the parents or a friend if they could cut up the plywood. Someone probably already has a saw and a truck to pick up the plywood.
Glue
Instead of buying a separate convenience bottle of glue for each child, you should buy a jug of Weldbond glue and pour a little bit for each child in a styrofoam plate. They can use popsicle sticks to apply the glue.
Mosaic project kits may at first seem like an easy solution, but most popular kits we’ve reviewed have poor quality materials (sometimes even plastic tiles!) in quantities that make them much more expensive than ordering individual materials would be. It’s much better to plan the project out and order all the materials at once, avoiding extra shipping charges. Furthermore, kits are usually marketed with eye catching ‘results’ that can leave a young mind disappointed and stifle their self expression. Joe has stated about craft kits in general, “The kits were about producing over-the-top results instead of experiencing a traditional art form in the way it had been experienced for generations. But even that statement does not adequately explain what was wrong. The kits were about PROMISING over-the-top results, but they were pretty weak in the delivery.”
How to Order Supplies as a School, Church, Camp or other Organization
We accept purchase orders! Read our Purchase Order instructions by clicking here.
Questions, Concerns & Project Advice
Still have unanswered questions about your project or how to order? We’re happy to help with any step of the project. Contact us via email by clicking here. We respond to e-mails faster than any other type of inquiry!
These instructions are for an indoor mosaic not subjected to excess moisture. The mosaic process is similar for outdoor mosaics (such as pools and fountains) but thinset mortar is used outdoors instead of Weldbond adhesive. For wet mosaics such as shower floors, you also need to use thinset. Thinset is a sticky concrete with polymers added for strength, adhesion and water resistance.
More information on outdoor mosaics, specialized topics and advanced mosaic methods can be found on our Outdoor Mosaic Guide.
Our FAQ page also contains additional mosaic instructions, tips on using thinset and answers to many specific mosaic questions. It is constantly being expanded and has solutions for many common mosaic problems. Also, here are some tips on how to avoid disasters while grouting.
For an indoor project not subjected to moisture, it is very simple:
The Mosaic pattern is transferred ready for tiling. This is a dry indoor mosaic, and so the tile can be attached with Weldbond Adhesive. For outdoor and wet mosaics. aconcrete stepping stone or piece of flagstone could be used for a backer and the tiles mounted with thinset mortar.
2. Decide what size mosaic tiles are most appropriate for the level of detail in the design (don’t use 1″ tiles to make details that are 1/2″). Lay a few tiles down just to make sure the colors look right together.
It’s better to take a loose, creative approach to picking colors and textures for your mosaic – a variety of surfaces and color often delights the eye more than even fields of color. Have a look at our Mosaic Artists Gallery for inspiration!
3. Glue the tiles to the surface one at a time. We recommend Weldbond Adhesive. Make sure the gaps between the tiles are about 1/8 inch or less.
We’ve extensively tested Weldbond, and consider it the most practical adhesive for indoor mosaic projects.
For more complicated designs, you can lay the project up on fiberglass mesh (by gluing sparingly with Weldbond adhesive), or you can pick up the tiles with clear contact paper. In either case, the next step would be to spread glue or cement on the surface and press the sheet of mosaic onto the glue or cement.
See the Mosaic Tips below for more help with your mosaic.
Mosaic Tips from Our Resident Mosaic Artist
Start simple.
Make a small mosaic plaque before you mosaic a wall or floor. That way you can work out your materials and methods before the big job.
How can you draw a design? Simple drawings like those in a coloring book work best. The color and the details come when you add the tile and glass. I always sketch something on paper and then come home and draw a simple cartoon on my plywood or concrete board using a magic marker. If drawing is a sore spot, you can create mosaic patterns easily without drawing as well.
My first rule of grouts is to choose a contrasting color. If you use white grout with white tile or grey grout with grey tiles, then the tiles don’t stand out from the grout, and most of the detail of your design will be lost. When in doubt, black grout is usually the answer.
My personal second rule of grouts is that DARKER GROUTS ALMOST ALWAYS LOOK BETTER. I have almost always been disappointed when using plain white grout. White grout makes a nice mosaic look like a summer camp project! Try an off-white or light beige if you think you need a light color. Also remember that grouts are much darker while they are wet and get lighter as they cure.
Don’t know anything about glues, grouts or tiling? Your local hardware store or handyman is a mosaic expert even though they’ve never made one. (You might not know anyone who has made a mosaic, but you probably know someone who has tiled a bathroom or kitchen. The technical skills are very similar.)
Always wear safety glasses when cutting tile or glass or mixing grout. (Grout is mildly caustic and has sand and grit in it.) Making a mosaic can be fun but you should always be careful.
Grout mosaics outside. It’s a messy process. Look at books on home improvement for basic techniques of grouting if you’re not sure. Keep grout damp as it cures and do not allow it to dry out rapidly, otherwise it will crumble. Remember, the grout is binding water internally in a chemical process as it cure. It is NOT drying.
Keep mosaic tiles and supplies out of reach of children. Use caution when handling the broken glass and ceramics.
Spend a little more time on your mosaic. Don’t rush and don’t think about what you want to make next. It can make a world of difference in your satisfaction.
Avoid plywood as a backer unless you can seal the edges and bottom. Wood materials absorb water over time and warp, and then grout and tiles pop off. You might not be trying to recreate a timeless Roman mosaic that will endure for centuries, but at least make something that will last 2 or 3 years. Use plywood at least 1/2″ thick inside and concrete or concrete board outside. Always use concrete or concrete board as the base of any mosaic that will be walked on. Concrete board can be purchased from building material stores. A common brand name is Wonderboard. For my indoor mosaics, I laminate 1/4″ Wonderboard to cabinet grade plywood backers.
The best all-around glue for making mosaics is Weldbond. It is a water-based adhesive that looks and handles just like plain white glue, yet it cures stronger than many of the smelly solvent-based glues. The manufacturer’s brochure calls it “the most versatile, non-toxic, non-flammable adhesive on the North American market.” I agree. It bonds to hundreds of different materials and is very water-resistant once it dries. It cleans up easy with soap and water.
If you make a mistake, don’t be afraid to pry some of the tiles off if you don’t like what you see. (Wear goggles or safety glasses with side shields.)
I always wait for a week or two before I grout a piece. That way I have a chance to change things before they are literally set in concrete.
Simple and crude can also be noble. It’s ok if your art has blemishes and mistakes. That’s what makes it interesting and keeps it from looking like it was made on an assembly line. Don’t try to make it a perfect reproduction of anything, and you’ll probably be much happier with the time spent and the results.
Avoid making copies of phony arts-n-crafts stuff. There’s way too much of that around. Make your mosaic YOUR way and it will be genuine art in the highest sense of the word.
Legal Disclaimer and Copyright Information
No warranty is implied by these instructions. Use at your own risk. Please wear goggles when cutting mosaic materials or mixing grout. Mosaic materials are often sharp. Keep out of reach of children. Do not overload patio tables with mosaic materials so that the table becomes unstable (top heavy). You should also make sure that the table frame can support the overall weight. Copyright 2009 J.E. Moorman. Please link to these instructions freely, but email us if you would like to reproduce them for classes, etc.
Mosaic Tile Mounting Grid 3/8-Inch (10mm) is for temporarily mounting 3/8-Inch tiles on paper or clear tape for rapid installation using the indirect method. NOT NEEDED FOR BEGINNERS. Most artists glue each tile directly on the surface they are covering and do not need grids. In fact, original mosaic art looks best when tile is cut into pieces and mounted in a pattern that is not a grid.
The grid mounts 841 mini glass mosaic tiles 3/8-inch (10mm) on a 1.15 square foot piece of mosaic mounting paper in a uniform grid of 29 x 29 tiles with a standard grout gap of approximately 1/32 inch.
Note that sockets of the grid has bevels at the edges which match those on the bottom edges of glass mosaic tile, such as found on most varieties of 3/8-inch metallic glass and vitreous glass tile. In other words, the grid might not work as well for 3/8-inch tile which is completely flat on the bottom, such as usually found on stone tile and porcelain tile. With the flat-bottomed stuff, you might have to be a little more careful to keep the tiles from popping out as you apply the mounting paper.
Mosaic Tile Mounting Grid 3/8 Inch
grid size: 29 tiles x 29 tiles.
grid area: approximately 1.15 square foot.
grout gap: approximately 1/32 inch.
tile size: 3/8 inch (10mm).
The 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 temporarily 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 a wall or some other vertical surface. 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:
Place glass mosaic tile into the grid face up, filling up the grid with your design.
Dilute water-soluble glue such as Elmer’s Glue with 3 parts water to 1 part glue.
Paint the water soluble glue onto the mounting paper using a small artists paint brush. Use a light coat to avoid wrinkling the paper.
Lay mounting paper onto the face of the tile, careful to avoid wrinkles.
Allow sheet to dry completely and remove from the grid.
Spread thinset mortar or mosaic adhesive on the surface to be mosaiced.
“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.
Press the sheet of tiles into the adhesive-covered surface with the PAPER ON THE OUTSIDE.
Allow the thinset or adhesive to cure for 24 hours.
Mist the paper until it is soaked and peel it off the tiles.
This is a guide to all our pages of mosaic artwork and instructions, most of which address specific aspects of the process: finding patterns, grouting, cutting tile, etc. Note that it doesn’t yet include all the articles in our How To Mosaic blog, which covers all sorts of questions, and so if you can’t find what you need on this page, please check the blog.
If you’re new to mosaic art you can get acquainted with the process with our instructions for beginners. The rest of the material below is intended to help you learn about more specific topics and techniques in greater depth.
If you prefer to learn by getting your hands dirty with guided instruction, we have a listing of mosaic art classes where you can find a local mosaic instructor who is teaching classes.
Examples of Different Kinds of Mosaic Art
Portraits Examples of mosaic portraits with a discussion of how to create photo-realistic images in mosaic.
Mixed-Media Examples of mixed-media mosaic artwork with a discussion of the significance and the process of creating it.
Backsplashes and Showers Examples and instructions for creating mosaic backsplashes and counter tops as well as shower mosaics.
Inspirational Mosaics Inspiring examples of mosaic art that can be learned from and enjoyed.
Fun Mosaic Art Examples of mosaic art that are fun and whimsical without being cute in a tired sort of way.
Floor Mosaics Example of a mosaic medallion under construction with a discussion of floor mosaics laid out on fiberglass mesh.
Our frequently-asked mosaic questions page contains tons of information concerning mosaic materials and techniques, grouts, glues, mosaic tables, cutting tile, outdoor mosaics and related topics. Choose a topic category from the menu bar above, which will take you to section that includes MOST of the questions that relate to that particular subject. Or you can just scroll down through the list and browse (recommended).
If you have questions about an order or how to use the store please visit our Help page or Contact Us.
See our Legal Disclaimer and Copyright Information for questions regarding reproducing this information and the responsibilities of anyone using this information to make mosaics. Our information is not intended to be a substitute for manufacturer’s instructions or using standard safety practices such as wearing gloves, dust masks or safety glasses. These items are available on our tools category.
BEGINNERS
For an indoor project not subjected to moisture, it is very simple:
Draw a simple “cartoon” (outline) on the surface.
You can copy one from a coloring book or your favorite pattern of china or
fabric if you aren’t an artist
Decide what size tiles are most appropriate for the level of detail
in the design. Lay a few tiles down just to make sure the colors look
right together.
Glue the tiles to the surface one at a time with Weldbond. Make sure the gaps between the tiles are about
1/8 inch or less.
After the glue cures for 24 hours, grout the mosaic with regular bathroom tile grout.
For more complicated designs, you can lay the project up on mesh (by gluing
sparingly with Weldbond), or you can pick up the tiles with clear contact
paper. In either case, the next step would be to spread glue or cement on
the surface and press the sheet of mosaic onto the glue or cement.
For an outdoor project or a project subjected to moisture, you should
probably use thinset (a type of sticky cement with polymers added for
strength and water resistance. We now sell 2 lb containers of thinset. For larger quantities check out the local building store. You should also seal the mosaic with a tile
and grout sealer from your local hardware store. You can find more information about
making a mosaic
by following the link. Return to Top
Learn how to grout mosaic art in this tutorial.
Mix the grout according to instructions on package and avoid breathing dust. Spread the grout into the cracks. Wipe off the excess grout. Use a sponge instead of a rag because the rag will catch on any sharp edges. Don’t try to wipe it perfectly clean all at once.
Rinse out the sponge after each pass. Make sure your sponge isn’t dripping water after you rinse it out. Wipe flat across the surface. When cleaning the excess off, take care not to erode the grout from between the tiles. Keep the surface damp as the grout cures or it will crack.
Look at our in-depth grout tutorial for pictures of each step of the process.Return to Top
You can learn how to grout from our How To Grout Tutorial. It’s the same techniques and materials used for bathroom tile. If you were ever have a question that we haven’t covered here at our website, you can always ask at you local building material store or look at a basic book on home improvement if you need pictures.
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No. The grouts and sealers you need are the same ones used for ordinary bathroom tiling, and the techniques of applying are the same. For outdoor mosaics, or mosaics which will be exposed to moisture, using thinset as the adhesive and grout is recommended.
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If the tiles are spaced with all gaps under 1/4″, then you should be able to cover the entire mosaic of 18″ x 18″ with 2 lbs of grout. This is assuming your tiles are under 3/8″ thick. I always set my mosaic on an old shower curtain or piece of plastic to catch all the wet grout that falls off the side as I’m spreading it. That way, I can scoop it up and use it. Otherwise you need a lot more grout because most is wasted.
Note that a standard grout gap is 1/16″. If you keep your grout gaps small and uniform like this, you will use less grout, and it will be easier to grout. If your grout gaps are wider than 1/8″, then it is difficult to wipe away the excess grout without eroding the grout from between the tiles. Return to Top
Unless you are trying to patch hairline cracks, the answer is emphatically yes. Sand gives the grout strength like gravel gives strength to concrete.
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Probably black. Otherwise, choose a grout color which contrast the colors of the mosaic tiles so that the design is highlighted. If there isn’t a strong contrast between the grout and the tiles, then the individual tiles are lost to the eye, and the mosaic looks more like an ordinary picture and less like a mosaic made from pieces. I avoid situations like gray grout with gray tile. A nice red-brown grout works better in that instance. The key concept is color contrast – we receive many emails from people who regret having used white grout on their project.
Soyuz Space Capsule Mosaic Art
The mosaic above was grouted using black grout. The black doesn’t pull the eye away from the glass. The lines it creates on the space capsule add to the design, such as by showing the different segments of the solar panels. Sometimes the black grout can even look like line art if you make the mosaic look like an illustration.
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Usually black. Here’s why: The purpose of grout in visual terms is to make each tile distinct like a pencil line in a watercolor. Black contrasts well with most colors, causing the tiles to really pop.
Avoid pure white unless you are trying to make something that looks like a little kid’s summer camp project. Some mosaic artists use white grout with white tile to make a clean flat look, but for most projects white is not the way to go because it will outshine all of your tiles.
Most building material stores such as Lowe’s and Home Depot cary about 30+ colors of grout. Bring a few of each color of your tiles with you, and you can pick the color grout that works best with all the tile.
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Color is best provided by the tile, not the grout. In terms of a visual element, the grout is supposed to act like a thin gray pencil line that just makes each tile distinct. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a
mosaic that used colored grout that wouldn’t have looked better if all tile had been used instead. For example, let’s say you wanted red tile in pink grout. A better way to get the same color effect would be to mix in a few pink tiles randomly throughout the red tiles, or maybe use a few lines of pink tiles. Often this means you have to cut your tile just a little bit smaller.
There are mineral concrete dyes sold at building material stores, and these can be used, although the range of colors is limited to black, brown, gray, terracotta, etc. Vegetable dyes such as food colors will not be
permanent.
If grout of a specific color is required, the best thing to do is go to a local home improvement center and compare grout swatches against your work. Return to Top
If your mosaic is in a wet location and the grout is used to actually seal out water, then you will need to use a grout remover tool such as we sell to remove the grout and regrout with another color. However, there is an easier fix for indoor mosaics where water isn’t an issue. Artists acrylic paint can be used to paint the surface of the grout. For mosaics made from smooth glass tile, this can be done by taking a rag and wiping the paint onto the face of the mosaic similar to how you grout. The paint sticks to the grout, but the glass tile is wiped clean while the paint is still wet. Note that you can’t do this with rough or porous tile (tumbled stone, unglazed porcelain, etc.) because the paint will absorb into the tile. For these mosaics, you would need to use a small artists paint brush and carefully paint the grout lines. Return to Top
Never pour grout down your drains. Grout is concrete, and that isn’t good for your plumbing. Instead, pour your waste in
an old coffee can or milk jug and allow it to harden. In a day or so, you can pour off the water and throw the container away.
For easy cleanup, I always do my grouting in the backyard instead of indoors.
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If the backer is thin enough to flex slightly, even a miniscule amount.
If the grout was allowed to dry out while it was trying to cure.
Grout curing is a hydration reaction, not dehydration, and water is being chemically bound.
Sometimes bare wood can suck the moisture out of the grout,
but usually there is enough glue on the wood to prevent this.
Misting can help, but misting sometimes leaches the color out of the grout.
Wood was used instead of plywood.
Natural wood sometimes splits as it ages.
Plywood is less prone to splitting. (Note: use for indoor/non-wet mosaics only.)
Cabinet grade plywood is best to use in this scenario.
Using unsanded grout.
Unsanded grout should only be used to fill hairline cracks.
Normal grout gaps of 1/8″ require sanded grout for adequate strength.
I always use thinset for attaching and grouting. It never cracks and has polymers added to allow it to flex slightly without cracking.
When I do use glue, it is always Weldbond, which is a white PVA adhesive. Return to Top
It is possible to make a permanent attachment with thinset without filling in the gaps. Depending on how much thinset is used, it would loook rough in the gaps. If more thinset is used, the space between will look better. Too much thinset and it will squeeze to the surface of the objects and make a mess.
The appropriate amount of thinset is based on the size and shape of the pieces you are using. You have to make a functional and aesthetic assessment based on your tile and design. The same applies for determining what size gap to leave between the pieces.
I recommend making a small sample of what you intend to do on a piece of plywood of 1 to 2 sq. ft. This will allow you to work out any issues with your materials and method before you commit to the large project. This “extra work” nearly always saves days of frustration in the end.
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Make sure you mix the grout according to instructions on the package with sufficient water and stir it thoroughly. It should be like a moist dough when you start with no dry material or lumps. Also, you shouldn’t let the grout dry out as it cures. Keep it covered with plastic if necessary or lightly mist with a spray
bottle, taking care not to let drops accumulate on the surface of the mosaic. Return to Top
You should always seal stone tiles and unglazed ceramic tiles with a tile and grout sealer BEFORE you grout. This is necessary for all porous materials that can be stained by grout. You should seal using a Stone Enhancer instead of tile and grout sealer if you want to darken and enhance the natural color of the stone. Both of these products are available at local building material stores. Ask there. For a stone mosaic that is already stained, you might want to try some of the muratic acid that contractors use to clean cement from bricks. Also ask at the building material store about this product.
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Yes, but it isn’t necessary. If you want extremely hard grout, then you should probably just use thinset, which is cement with polymers added to make it sticky and give it added strength. Return to Top
No, grout isn’t sticky enough and makes a poor adhesive. If you want to set your tiles in concrete instead of glue, then use thinset, which is concrete with
polymers added to make it sticky and give it added strength. You can buy a large bag of thinset from a building material store relatively cheaply. Here are
some instructions I wrote for using thinset for detailed mosaic artwork.
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For the most part, our mosaic instructions are written for making indoor mosaics with small details.
This is why we recommend the “glue-then-grout” method using Weldbond glue,
a water-based adhesive with no fumes. With proper grouting and sealing, these indoor mosaics
should last for generations, if not thousands of years. However, mosaics for outdoor walls, patios, fountains,
birdbaths and pools are more vulnerable to moisture penetration, especially over time, and Weldbond should be avoided.
While a solvent-based glue such as Liquid Nails can be used for mosaics on outdoor
walls, it is probably best to avoid glues altogether and use thinset bonding mortar to attach
the tiles, especially if the mosaic is in a pool, patio or
fountain. Thinset bonding mortars are a cement product. Currently, we are using the
Versabond brand of thinset bonding mortar for outdoor mosaics. This thinset or another
brand should be available at most any building material store. Whether or not thinset
mortar is used the attach the tiles, you should grout and seal your mosaic as described
elsewhere in our instructions. We also have more detailed information about thinset here.
Mosaic materials are heavy. Iron patio furniture is a better candidate because aluminum furniture is often thin and flimsy. You would need to make sure
that the legs could hold the weight and the top is sturdy. If the aluminum top flexes even slightly, it will crack the grout. There can also be issues with the grout reacting chemically to aluminum if it directly contacts it.
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We get emails about these falling apart all the time. If I had to make one, I would make it from foam-core tile backer board, as can be bought at local building material stores, and I would use thinset mortar to cement the pieces together. You can use concrete backer board to make the house if weight isn’t an issue. Return to Top
Yes, glass tile is non-porous and impervious to moisture penetration and therefore frost-proof. That means glass is actually more durable than
materials like ceramic tile and stone, which can be flaked away by freezing water. The weak points in an outdoor mosaic are the grout and adhesives,
and the best way to protect those is by using a tile and grout sealer from the building material store.
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If the mosaic isn’t outdoors or in a wet environment, then you can leave it ungrouted. Outdoor mosaics should be grouted so that water can’t
get between the tiles and freeze. Similarly, mosaics in showers and fountains and other environments should be sealed so that moisture doesn’t
degrade the adhesive over time.
Indoor mosaics can be ungrouted. Note that even outdoor mosaics can be “ungrouted” if the tile is pressed into thinset mortar that is thick enough
to squeeze up between the tile and fill most of the gap. That is how ancient Greek and Roman mosaics were made. Return to Top
Weldbond. It’s water based, has no fumes, dries clear and water resistant, bonds to most any surface, is non-toxic and cleans up
easily. However, we prefer to use thinset bonding mortar for floors.
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It is probably best to avoid adhesives altogether and use thinset bonding mortar (a sticky concrete) instead. Liquid Nails Adhesive would probably be best
for outdoors, if you have to use an adhesive. It’s thick and tarry and bonds to anything, but it is solvent based and the fumes are an issue.
We use Weldbond adhesive for mosaics for indoor mosaics where water or rain isn’t an issue because there aren’t any fumes and clean up is much easier.
We have used Weldbond successfully on several outdoor projects, but these pieces were grouted and sealed very well, and they were vertical surfaces that
didn’t have water standing on them. Liquid Nails Adhesive might have been a better choice, but thinset mortar is recommended instead of any adhesive.
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Thinset bonding mortar should be used for outdoor mosaics and mosaics where water is an issue, such as shower floors, pools and fountains.
Mastic is used to attach ceramic tile to bathroom walls. For indoor artistic mosaics, we use Weldbond, which is a white PVA adhesive.
Using Mastic on outdoor mosaics can lead to disastrous results.
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You should read and follow the instructions on the package for mixing, handling
and disposal. In brief, thinset is like grout and other concrete
products. This means that the best place to mix them up is outside, and
you should wear a dust mask if you have trouble mixing it up without creating a
lot of dust. (Some artists merely stand upwind and mist it with a spray
bottle until they get it mixed up.) Breathing silica (such as dust on a windy day) can have long term health effects on the lungs.
I usually mix up about 1 or 2 pounds at a time and smear it on the wall with a small trowel or putty knife. I spread it out to about
1/8″ to 1/4″ thick and press my mixed materials directly into the concrete. I wear rubber examination
gloves and keep a damp rag so I can wipe away any excess that squeezes up to the face of the tiles.
If you keep the concrete in the bucket covered so that it doesn’t dry out, then it should stay workable
for several hours. I made the mosaic columns at the gallery using thinset mortar in this way.
I always keep a small bucket with a little water and rag to clean my hands from time to time and a
dry rag in my lap.
We have very detailed instructions for using thinset here. Return to Top
When using found objects, the best method is to adapt how much thinset you spread as you go along, for each piece or a small set of pieces. Be careful about using too much thinset, as it will squeeze to the surface of the objects and make a mess. As you are working, you will probably develop a rhythm in relation to the different pieces and their sizes relative to the amount of thinset you need. Also, when grouting, instead of trying to rub in then wipe off the grout, the typical method for flat tile, fill in the voids selectively with a grouting bag.
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I can only find thinset mortar in 50-pound bags. How can I use such a large bag without making a dusty mess?
Buy a 5-gallon bucket with lid at the same store where you buy the thinset. Put the whole bag inside the bucket, bag and all.
(Do not dump it in because that would create a lot of dust.) Slit the top of the bag open and scoop out thinset as you need it.
You can use a plastic cup or scoop or soup ladel or whatever you have. The point is that you don’t try to pour the thinset. Keep
the lid on the bucket so that humidity from the air doesn’t clump the thinset over time, and you can use the same bag for small
projects for years. Return to Top
Glue your mosaic tiles to fiberglass mesh at your work table. (Make sure your
table is covered with construction plastic or parchment paper, such as used in
baking, so that you don’t glue everything to the table. Most people cut the mesh in smaller sections, usually 12 inch x 12
inch, because it is difficult to handle sheets of mosaic larger than 1 sq
foot. Most people use Weldbond (sparingly) to attach tiles to mesh. When
the mesh is dry in about 24 to 48 hours, you are ready to mount this assembly to
the wall. This is done by spreading thinset or mastic or Weldbond on the wall
itself and pressing the mesh onto the wall. After this cures, in about 48
hours, you can grout the mosaic in place.
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You need to always clean up excess glue before you grout. I also use the following technique when using Weldbond indoors or outdoors. After the glue has dried for a day or two, I come back and mist the mosaic with water. After about 10 minutes, any traces of glue that are sticking up on the sides of the tile will start to turn white. I then take a razor knife like a box cutter or exacto knife and trim away the excess glue. This
cleaning step ensures that there will be no glue sticking up and not covered by grout.
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Weldbond is the adhesive commonly used to attach tiles to the mesh. The problem is that some novice users get adhesive on the sides of the tile. This means that the grout can’t properly cover the adhesive, and water/moisture can wick over time to the back of the tile. However, if the gluing and grouting are done correctly, and the mosaic is sealed with grout or concrete sealer, the mosaic can last for a long time. I use Weldbond sparingly so that there is some surface of the tile that can bond directly to the cement, thus making a more durable bond. I use thinset (sticky concrete) to attach the mosaic to the wall. I also use the same thinset for grouting. Some people avoid the whole issue of water penetrating to the glue by using paper for the reverse method and not using mesh. In the reverse method, the mosaic is laid out face down on sticky paper like clear contact paper, or mosaic mounting film. When finished, the sheet is pressed into thinset, and after the thinset hardens, the contact paper is peeled off. People also use brown mosaic paper instead of contact paper. The mosaic it attached to the paper using dilute glue like Elmers, and after the mosaic is attached to the wall, the paper is misted with water and peeled off. I hope this helps! Return to Top
We mosaic on cement bases, so we use thinset (sticky concrete) for attaching tiles. For fiberglass bases, most artists recommend an epoxy or a construction adhesive like Liquid Nails Outdoor Formula. You should test your adhesive on the fiberglass substrate by gluing the tile in an inconspicuous place on the sculpture. Keep in mind that you are testing not only how well the adhesive bonds but also how easy it is to work with and if it has bad fumes, etc. Note that some artist have reported using Weldbond, but I am not sure about that because Weldbond doesn’t bond to most plastics. As always, you should test adhesives by gluing on a tile and seeing how
difficult it is to pry the tile off. Also, scuffing the surface with a coarse-grit sandpaper helps ensure a stronger bond. Return to Top
If a thin residue of glue sticks up above the grout, water can wick down the glue over time and cause the tile to pop off. Even if water isn’t an issue, it can still interfer with the grouting process and make the grout look messy. Return to Top
Mist the mosaic very well with water. Within a few minutes to ten minutes, any thin residue of PVA glue will start to turn white. You can use a box cutter or knife to scrape off the residue. Return to Top
We use 0.25 pounds of water per 1 pound of thinset. It’s a good idea to check the instructions and labeling on whatever material you buy before using it. Return to Top
Indoors, these materials can be used with no problems. Outdoor use
requires some thought and preparation, and I would definitely avoid wood
outdoors if possible. I would seal the back and edges with water
seal or an oil-based paint. Fine mosaic work takes an investment in time
and materials. It only makes sense to mosaic on a backing that is
resistant to moisture and decay. Thus the best material to use for an outdoor mosaic is foam-core tile backer board from a local building material store. It is cheap, easy to cut, and resists the elements. Wood and even plywood make great backings for DRY INDOOR mosaics such as
mirror frames and wall plaques. For these indoor projects, we recommend using cabinet grade plywood. Return to Top
Only if you don’t care whether or not it lasts. Outdoor mosaics should be on concrete or concrete backer board. Concrete backer board can be purchased cheaply at local building material stores and can be used as the mosaic surface in metal patio tables. This is the best way to make an outdoor mosaic table.
This article, Materials and Methods for Outdoor Mosaic Tables, can give you an overview.
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People have done so, but if the mosaic is an interesting design, you’ll probably want to take the formica off and use a base that is sure to last.
The engineer in me hates the idea of wasting time and material on something that might not last. Also, I’m not sure what adhesive you would use to
bond to formica because the top of formica is made to resist things sticking to it. Return to Top
The brick is fine, unless it is old and slightly crumbling, and then you might need to buff off the loose material. I always scrub exterior walls
with a rotary wire brush and plaster the surface smooth and level with thinset a few days before tiling. Return to Top
Foam-core tile backer boards are best because they are relatively lightweight compared to concrete backer board. Brands include Schluter Kerdi-board, USG Durock, Laticrete Hydroban, Johns Manville GoBoard, and Wedi board. I suspect USG Durock will be the most affordable in most places. You can use concrete backer board, but make sure that you don’t overload the table or make it too heavy or unstable. Whatever you use, it is best if the rim of the table covers the edge of the mosaic or at least the backer.
This article, Materials and Methods for Outdoor Mosaic Tables, can give you an overview.Return to Top
I’ve mosaiced on raw wood and wood with stain, but not on top of wood sealer. I think raw wood is best because that probably allows the best bonding of glue and grout. If you’re concerned about the possibility of the furniture warping over the years due to humidity, you can coat it with Weldbond. This seals the wood from moisture, but still provides a surface that is good for bonding. Some people mix in a little water with the Weldbond so that they can paint it on with a paintbrush. A few coats should ensure that the wood is sealed. Once that is dry, you can begin the mosaic. Another thing that you can due to help your piece last for generations is to seal the grout when you are done with a non-gloss grout sealer. I always use non-gloss because that doesn’t change the color or appearance of the mosaic the way that gloss sealers can. Return to Top
We don’t recommend plastic for backers. Even a sloppy half-hearted
mosaic takes some work. Once you are done, you will be glad you spent a
little bit of time to find a backer that will last.
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Concrete backer board from your local building material store. It’s cheap and can be cut and broken by scoring with a box cutter.
Either glue the material on the backer board and mount the board to the studs in the wall or mount the board and glue mosaic material
to the board. In the latter case, you might want to glue the tiles to fiberglass mesh and then glue the whole piece of mesh to the backer.
In either case, you grout the tiles in place on the wall. Return to Top
Mosaic tile and grout are heavy. Don’t create a safety problem by using glass as a base. Simply replace the glass with a piece of wood.
People report that translucent Lexan can be used if you need a translucent base. Return to Top
Consider using foam-core tile backer board as an alternative to concrete backer board if weight is an issue.
Regardless of the backer used, you need to frame and protect the edges. One solution is to have a local welder fabricate some frames from 3/4″ angle iron to fit around the edges of the mosaic. The frames can have mounting holes made from washers welded to the outside of the frame. The frame should be spray painted with multiple coat of outdoor paint in a matte color, preferably umber or something neutral depending on the color of the wall where they will be mounted. The mosaic is attached to the wall inside the frame with thinset or an outdoor construction adhesive such as Liquid Nails Outdoor formula. Return to Top
As long as the colors look right, you can mix any materials, except that you need to make sure they are close to being the same thickness.
You don’t have to wory about thickness if you are pressing them into wet concrete of course. On the other hand, a difference in thickness might add interest to a fine art mosaic not used as a surface.Return to Top
The two materials usually have different thickness. If you are pushing the tiles into concrete or mortar, then it doesn’t matter. If you are gluing to a surface, the difference in heights will be visible. This makes grouting a little more difficult, but it hasn’t stopped me from doing it on many of my pieces at the gallery.
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If you’re pushing them into wet concrete as you would for a stepping stone, then no problem. If you are gluing them to a surface and then grouting, make sure you use something thick and tarry like Liquid Nails brand adhesive. Also make sure that you use thicker tile around the marbles so they don’t stick out so far. Otherwise there is a danger that the marbles may pop off when you grout. I always wear grouting gloves and grout with my fingers. This allows me to remove all excess grout without bumping the marbles too much.
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Actually, there is a good way to use the millefiori, china and other objects of different thickness.
To use these materials, the best way is to use thinset bonding mortar (a type of sticky concrete)
instead of glue. It’s available at building material stores. I usually mix up about 1 or 2 pounds
at a time and smear it on the wall with a small trowel or putty knife. I spread it out to about
1/8″ to 1/4″ thick and press my mixed materials directly into the concrete. I wear rubber gloves and keep a damp rag so I can wipe away any excess that squeezes up to the face of the tiles.
If you keep the concrete in the bucket covered so that it doesn’t dry out, then it should stay workable
for several hours. I made the mosaic columns at the gallery using thinset mortar in this way.
I always keep a small bucket with a little water and rag to clean my hands from time to time and a
dry rag in my lap.
That way the thin pieces can have more concrete underneath, like in the “Plum
Tree Mosaic.”Return to Top
Yes and No. You want the surface to be even for safety and durability reasons, and the easiest way to do that is to do that is to use tile of the same
thickness. You can use tile of different thickness if you build up the rest of the area with concrete or mortar. Keep in mind that thinset mortar contracts
slightly as it cures, and so you would need to build up the area in advance of tiling. Return to Top
The vitreous glass is highly recommended for cost, ease of cutting and the range of colors available. The 3/4″ is much more cost effective than the 3/8″ minis. The 3/4″ tile can be cut into quarters and yield four 3/8″ pieces. The method of attaching and even the choice of tile depends on how large the mosaic is going to be. That is determined in large part by the design or picture you want to create. Specifically, it depends on what is the smallest detail you want to depict in the mosaic. You shouldn’t try to depict any detail smaller than what you can render with a few tiles. This is the starting point.
Select preliminary design.
Look at smallest details in the design and decide if you can render that in a few tiles. Note: Vitreous tile is embossed with ridges on the back
that make it difficult to use if you if you try to cut it up too small. I recommend experimenting with real tile to figure this out. It saves a lot
of frustration.
Determine how large the design would have to be based on the results of #2.
See if the room can accommodate a mosaic that large or that small. Does it look right aesthetically at that size and work with the
other design elements?
Determine method of installation. If the mosaic is large, then create it on mesh. If the mosaic is resonably small or medium size, create
on a backer and mount the finished mosaic on the wall by drilling into the studs.
The correct way to order tile is to make a small exploratory order to see what different colors look like
NEXT TO EACH OTHER before you order full quantities for the project itself. (Never start the project with
partial quantities due to the potential for batch variations.)
It is nearly impossible to order five or six colors for a particular project and have all of the colors be
correct, although some novices assume that they can. There are several reasons for this, and it is NOT just
a question of computer graphics cards or the limitations of digital photography. Any fine-art painter will
tell you that it is impossible to tell what a color will look like until it is applied to the canvas next to
the other colors. Biopsychologists and human-factor engineers will tell you much the same thing.
It really helps to have a small library of different colors and materials before you start. We carry sample boards, and can put together sample sets for you.
This means it actually helps to have a few “wrong” colors lying aroung your studio. What is “wrong” for one
mosaic, will be perfect for a later project. I’ve noticed time and again that I wouldn’t have been aware of this perfect
color if I didn’t have it already lying around. Thank heaven for “wrong” tile.
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We don’t offer sample boards because tile colors vary by manufacturer batch.
For a variety of economic and technical reasons, tile colors aren’t tightly controlled
like the colors of paint and other products.
Architectural suppliers pretend this problem doesn’t exist because they
can afford to send a sample if needed before each order because the orders are
typically for 50 sq ft or more.
We do offer 10-item samples for the cost of
postage. This way, we can provide samples from our current manufacturer batches
on an as-needed basis without giving the false impression that colors
are fixed consistently the way paint is. Return to Top
When starting any new mosaic project, try out different colors to see which work best. It helps to have odds and ends of different colors in small amounts as a “library” for exploring different colors. This is why it helps to have samples of extra colors lying around. If you don’t already have extra tile colors around, then ordering samples is a good idea, especially if your mosaic will be large. If you continue to do mosaics, it won’t be long before you have your own color library. I rarely complete a mosaic using all the tiles I originally ordered for it. I usually end up realizing that one of the sample colors I have lying around works better than what I had intended to use, and then I have to place a second or third order.
I recommend making a small pilot order of small amounts of many different colors before making firm decisions about a larger order for the actual project. If some goes unused, it’s not a problem because these scraps serve as “seeds” for future ideas.
If you are just beginning, you can order a starter kit and request that we ship specific colors you choose. To do so, paste the names of 12 colors of Kaleidoscope in the Special Instructions during checkout.
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When choosing colors for a mosaic design, instead of trying to match the colors of a painting or picture, I take the colors I have available and lay them in various combinations on a sketch of the design. A color can look completely different based on what colors are around it. Even if computer images were completely accurate, you would still need to play with the tiles before you knew for sure which colors were right. The bottom line is that you should have a small amount of many different colors laying around to experiment with before you commit to any design. That’s why we sell sheets of 25 tiles. In general, I recommend that customers make a small “exploratory order” before ordering the full quantities for the project. If a person has never made a mosaic before, I also recommend that they make a small mosaic plaque on a piece of plywood before they do the larger project to work out materials and methods first. People regularly report that the “delay” of doing the small project often saves them days of labor or disastrous mistakes on the large project. Return to Top
As you’ve noticed, the color palette is limited. The only product that is good for matching colors exactly is smalti, such as we carry, and is also offered at www.dimosaico.com
and www.smalti.com.
On the other hand, I always think of mosaic as an exercise in working in a limited color pallet,
and that is what makes the old mosaics so fascinating. I see more and more modern mosaics
that are more or less reproductions of paintings or made to look like paintings in terms of color
pallet. To me this art seems a little hollow in the sense that it has more technical resource than
imagination. (I’m sure other people would disagree.) Return to Top
Labeled sheets can actually be problematic. The sheet can completely be completely consumed while in the heat of an art project or lost while soaking the tile to remove paper. Here’s what we recommend: take the invoice and tape one tile on each color on the side of the invoice. The tiles only have to be in order. You don’t have to squeeze them beside each name.
This has several advantages:
Your record isn’t nearly as like to be destroyed in the studio.
You not only have the name of the tile, you also have the date it was ordered. (This is important because colors vary over time, so
you might need to know how long ago you ordered before assuming the color is the same.)
You have the price you paid for the color, which is important for cost comparisons or bidding on commissions.
Brightly colored ceramic tiles could be bought at any building material store in the 1970s and even into the 1980s, but I think they are as
rare as dodo birds now. People just don’t tile bathrooms in bright colors any more, so the factories stopped making them.
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The wheeled glass cutter is better. It works like a tile nipper only it has wheel-shaped blades that allow it to cut glass cleaner instead
of crushing it. Return to Top
I can cut vitreous in equal halves and quarters fairly consistently with the mosaic glass cutter,
although the glassier reds, oranges and yellows can be slightly more difficult. I notice that
I am more likely to get a crecent-shaped cut if I allow the tile to rotate, and I expect some
people might have less finger strength or flinch at the moment of cutting, so they might
not get the same results for that reason alone. However, the most important piece of advice
I can give is to cut with the tile upside down so that you can see the scoring on the bottom
as you cut and make sure you aren’t positioning one blade on top of a ridge, which will almost
always cause the tile to rotate in the blades at the moment of cutting.
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Look at any book on classical or Renaissance mosaics. They don’t use curved pieces. The artists make curved shapes by putting small pieces
together. Return to Top
Glass tile can be difficult to cut in a predictable shape due to the scoring on the backsides of the tiles. That is why you should cut the
tiles upside down so that you can see how the embossed ridges might be affecting your cut.
(Wear safety glasses as always.)
Here’s the more important information:
The pieces shouldn’t be perfect squares or triangle. The irregularity ensures a grout gap even when the tiles are pressed close together. More importantly,
non-uniform squares will make the mosaic much more interesting visually than uniform squares. (Look at traditional mosaics
if you doubt this.) Perfect squares make a mosaic look like it was made from a kit. A little
irregularity makes a mosaic look more like hand-made art.
Tiles should never be “shaped” or custom cut. Instead, cut up about 4 or 5 tiles, and then select
the piece that is closest in shape to what you need. You will find that you work faster that way with
much less stress. Return to Top
Choosing the best piece out of 5 to 10 random pieces is much easier than trimming a single piece down to size, especially if the material being used is brittle or breaks unpredictably. Also, some tile such as vitreous glass has embossed patterns or ridges on the bottom of the tile to help the tile bond more securely to the cement, and these ridges can interfer with the blade of the cutter. When cutting these tiles, then hold them upside down as you cut so that you can see how the cutting blade is resting between or across the ridges. It also helps if you hold the tile firmly during cutting to prevent it from rotating.
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Cutting up all the pieces takes too long. How can I work faster?
One common mistake is to cut or trim each piece as you use it. This is slow and tedious in itself, and it also requires that you constantly pick up and put down the cutting tool. While some trimming is unavoidable, it is much easier to select what you need from handful of pieces that were already cut up “randomly” than it is to custom trim each piece. The only potential problem with cutting up tile randomly before you start arranging them is that you could end up with a lot of shapes and sizes that aren’t useable. Here is the procedure we use to minize unusable pieces:
Estimate the size and shape of the piece you need.
Cut up 3 or 4 (or 10) pieces in that size and shape range.
Use the piece that fits best or cut up 3 or 4 new candidates.
Keep the rejects in a tray and try to use these pieces in other places in the mosaic later.
Pay attention to the sizes and shapes of the rejects in your tray that you don’t seem to use as often.
Traditionally, mosaic stone is cut with a hammer and hardie (small anvil), but many people use a tile nipper. Here’s the method I use: Since the stone doesn’t break that cleanly, and the cuts often mar the finish of the stone, I design my mosaic so that as few pieces as possible have to be cut. Most pieces in the design are full squares, and the few pieces I have to cut are cut with a tile nipper or small hammer and small chisel. This means you should probably buy small pieces (such as 3/8″ as opposed to 9/16″) to make your design. Return to Top
Some porcelain dinnerware can be extremely hard. The Compound Nippers for Hard
Tile take less force than the regular tile nippers, and so they may give you more control in your cuts. However, no compression tool can make
continuous long cuts like a pair of scissors cutting paper. Even with the compound nippers, you will still be snipping off chunks one at a time and
be at risk of breaking any pattern that might be on the dinnerware. Most pique assiette work features a pattern such as a flower or face that was
carefully cut out, but notice that these select pieces are almost always surrounded by pieces of the same pattern that are broken more randomly.
That should give you a clue about how the dinnerware was cut up: The artist cut up several identical plates before she got the pattern she needed for
the centerpiece, and she used all her “scrap” for the surrounding tiles. The point is that you shouldn’t count on getting the piece you need from just
one plate. Every time you snip, there is a chance that the plate will break in the wrong place and go right through the pattern.
However, if you see a pique-assiette mosaic where the dinnerware patterns are more uniformly cut, you can assume one or more of the following:
The person used a wet saw (powersaw used by installers of ceramic tile).
The person discarded a large amount of scrap.
The dinnerware used just happened to break more predictably than most. (Ceramic materials vary considerably.
Some types will be more friendly than others.)
Here are some general principles I have observed:
Plates of normal thickness of about 1/8″ or more are much more easy to cut and use than thin eggshell china.
Thin eggshell china is difficult to grout. The curvature of the pieces often means sharp edges will be sticking up.
Cutting out distinct parts of a pattern such as a flower is difficult and takes practice and usually generates scrap.
Allow yourself several practice plates, so when you approach those with the pattern that is most important to you, you’ll be ready.
You can if you don’t mind wasting a lot of your material and producing lots of dust and useless tiny sharp pieces. Sometimes a hammer is
useful for breaking up large ceramic tile or unpatterned dinnerware, but never glass tile or stained glass. You just waste too much material
that way. If you do use a hammer on dinnerware, wrap it in an old towel to minimize and contain small shards.
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The 3/4″ vitreous usually can be trimmed to halves, thirds and quarters with no problem. If you attempt to cut it smaller than that, then
the embossed ridges on the back sides can interfer with the cuts you are trying to make or the ability of your pieces to lay flat once cut.
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I use the regular clear contact paper from the grocery store. It can be problematic as well. Most people use the mosaic mounting paper we sell with diluted Weldbond. Here’s how I work indirect: I draw my pattern on piece of butcher paper. I lay a piece of clear contact paper on the pattern with the sticky side up. I lay my tiles face down on the sticky contact paper. Keep in mind that this method reverses the image from left to right. The easiest way to compensate for this is to draw the pattern on the butcher paper as you would like it to look, then turn the butcher paper over and trace the pattern from the other side, then use this side as your pattern for laying up the tile. Whatever mounting paper you use, I highly recommend making a small
“experiment” mosaic first to make sure you know how to handle and apply the mosaic. A square foot of mosaic attached to
clear contact paper can be heavy and unwieldy. Sometimes tile will fall off while you are about to press the mosaic into the
cement. Make sure you have done a quick and dirty mosaic on a scrap piece of board before you invest a lot
of time in laying up the real mosaic because it’s awful to suddenly realize you don’t have the confidence to mount what you’ve
spent so much time laying up. Return to Top
To make a simple mosaic, you sketch an outline or “cartoon” on the
surface. Then you lay tile on the drawing until you are comfortable with
the colors, the size of the tile, how it will look, etc. Then you start gluing
the tiles on one by one. The problem is that this takes forever and is
tedious because your fingers become sticky with glue and you disturb other tiles
as you work.
The solution is simple: Lay the tile out without gluing them
down. Keep going until the design is complete. Then carefully press
a piece of clear contact paper down on the tiles. (It might be useful to
have an extra pair of hands help you do this, and make sure you start in the
middle and work outward to avoid wrinkles, which can be disastrous.) Spend
as much time as needed pressing the contact paper down, rubbing carefully to
ensure that each tile is Then CAREFULLY slide the mosaic onto a temporary board
or table top just to store it for the time being. Now you can apply
thinset or adhesive to your surface and press the mosaic into the thinset or
adhesive. After the cement is fully cured in 24 to 48 hours, you can peel
off the contact paper and grout the mosaic.
An alternative method that may be easier for some people: You can lay
clear contact paper upside down on your outline and stick the tiles face-down
onto the contact paper. Note that this requires that the tiles be attached
to the paper upside down. This means that you are creating your design in
left-right reverse because the paper/tiles will be flipped over when installed.
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Small tile isn’t mounted on mesh. Instead, use mounting paper or clear contact paper instead to temporarily mount the tile FACE down. Paper mounted sheets
are pressed into thinset mortar or adhesive, and the adhesive is allowed to harden. Then the paper is removed by misting with water and peeled off.
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The normal procedure is to place clear plastic kitchen wrap or construction plastic over your pattern (usually an outline drawn on paper) and then lay
the fiberglass mesh on top of that. Remember to tack or tape the corners down to keep the mesh from moving as you work. Tile is glued to the mesh with a
white PVA adhesive such as Weldbond. Take care not to get glue on the sides of the tile, which could allow moisture to wick underneath the grout over time.
Leave some of the back of the tile uncovered by glue so that thinset mortar can bond directly to the glass.
Tip: Sometimes it helps to trace the outline of the pattern onto the mesh with a black Sharpie marker before you begin gluing tile down and things
get messy. Return to Top
Only porous materials such as unpolished stone and unglazed porcelain need to be sealed to prevent staining. Things like smooth glass shouldn’t stain. I use TileLab brand “Grout & Tile Sealer” for a normal seal. I use TileLab brand “Stone Enhancer & Sealer” if I want to slightly enhance/darken the stone colors (recommended). Both of these are available at hardware stores. I apply grout sealer with a small artists paint brush. I am careful to minimize the amount of sealer that drips to the sides where the grout should go. Make sure you don’t put on so much that you get it down in the cracks. You only want to seal the face. I do this before I grout. I also seal the grout after it cures for two or three days. Return to Top
I only seal stone and unglazed ceramics before I grout. I don’t worry about glass because it isn’t porous the way stone is, and it can’t be stained by the grout. Stone and Grout Sealer is available at local building material stores. I use non-gloss sealer because it doesn’t change the color or shine of the mosaic.
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The 48″ patio tables are very common. You should have a welder put some supports of angle iron underneath, and the concrete board is glued to that. The table probably needs to be reinforced anyway, and you should make sure that you aren’t making the table too heavy for the legs or top-heavy or unstable.
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Grout and glue are not needed. Most mosaic stepping stones are made by pouring concrete into a mold and pressing in mosaic tiles while the concrete is still wet. We have an in-depth stepping stone tutorial that shows how to make one using concrete. You can get ordinary concrete mix from a local building material store. Make sure you pick out most of the larger rocks before you mix it.
You can use a plastic dishpan as a mold or cut off a plastic 5-gallon bucket. Make sure you rub vaseline into it so the stone will come out later. Pour the concrete about 2 1/2 to 3 inches thick. Don’t buy the stepping stone kits that come with ready-made designs. They are boring and unoriginal. You can make beautiful stones just by collecting your own marbles, beach glass, shells, etc.
An alternative way of making a stepping stone is to buy a stepping stone from a lawn and garden store and attach tiles to it using
thinset. Keep in mind that you might need to scuff the stepping stone with a wire brush to remove any
invisible sealers that might keep the thinset from bonding securely. Return to Top
There are two different approaches for handling the edges of mosaics:
1. “Roman Fragment” In museums, small fragments of Roman mosaics are often displayed on small stands
with the edges left unfinished. When I make small mosaic plaques, I will often
use a flat piece of fieldstone from a lawn and garden center because I like the
non-square shapes. For square shapes, I laminate 1/4″ concrete board to 1/4″ plywood. I mosaic to the edge but make sure that no tile extends beyond the edge.
Once I have grouted the mosaic and let it cure, I will go back with medium grit sandpaper and clean
up the edge. Then I seal the back and edges with acrylic paint. This technique should only be used
on small mosaics because tiles can easily be knocked loose from the unprotected edges.
2. “Picture Frame” For larger mosaics, I build a frame from 1.5″ wide oak, but you can use a cheaper
and softer variety of wood. Usually I make the frame before I create the mosaic by glueing the frame to
the plywood wood backer and then cutting a smaller piece of concrete board to fit inside the frame.
You should find a friend with a miter saw to cut the frame for you because a miter saw can quickly and
accurately cut the ends of the wood strips at a 45 degree angle so that they fit together like the corners
of a picture frame. It is possible to build a frame around a mosaic you have already made, but again it
helps to have a miter saw or a friend with one. This method is recommended because you can drill through
the frame to mount your mosaic into the studs of the wall. Return to Top
Hardwood trims and moldings work very well for making a “picture
frame” type of border on the surfaces of wooden coffee tables. The
molding can be attached with carpenter’s glue. Tip: Stain a sample
piece of the molding to make sure that it can be stained close enough in color
to the color of the coffee table.
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African-American memory jars were home-made funeral urns that were covered with personal items
that belonged to the deceased loved one. The objects included buttons, cigarette lighters, keys, pieces
of favorite ceramics, etc. I’ve not done any research to find out what was used
originally to attach the pieces, but I always use thinset in multi-media
mosaics made of these type objects. Tip: You can turn the urn on its side and do a side each night.
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Creating a mosaic in one session isn’t that realistic, but it can be done, especially if the class
can finish up what they start on their own.
The class should be all about glueing the tiles down, because that is where the art happens. The mosaics
should then be grouted later outside of class, either by the instructor or by the students who are given
a handout of instructions and mistakes to avoid. You should review those instructions at the end of
the class. The concept is sort of like the you-paint-it ceramic stores where customers come in and
paint there designs on the pot, but the pot is fired later by the store. Trying to glue and grout in
the same class does nothing but produce disasters.
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Our vitreous tile is recommended due to price, range of colors and ease of cutting. There is also a way to do this cheaply using local materials. Large bags of concrete can be bought for a few dollars at a local building material store. Stepping stone molds can be improvised: use plastic dish pans, litter boxes and the bottoms of 5-gallon buckets. Grease the molds with Vaseline to ensure easy removal of stepping stones. Sources of tile: broken ceramic tile from local tile show rooms. They will often donate discontinued and damaged tile; broken pieces of old plates from thrift stores and parents garages. Our vitreous tile is the cheapest tile we have. Use this as an opportunity to show the kids how to improvise as true artists: have them bring in marbles, old ceramic figurines, rocks, old souvenirs and other things and make a few stones. It will be a great learning experience for them. If you decide to do indoor mosaics with them, I recommend backers/substrates cut from 1/2″ sanded plywood. You can build a frame around the backer with wooden molding. Alternatively, I have seen people take wooden picture frames and cut a backer to fit the frame. It all comes down to what you have on hand or what you can get cheaply. Return to Top
For wooden tables, there are several edge options, which might or might not be appropriate depending on the size, thickness and finish of the table top:
Use a plunge router to cut out the area where the mosaic should go.
Make a border/frame from wood molding from the building material store.
Make a border from a different type of tile with a rounded edge, such as ceramic tile with a bullnose edge.
Outdoor mosaic table tops are usually supported by metal bases, such as a metal patio table where
the table top is a separate piece which fits into the base, which usually has a metal rim around the
edge to protect the edge. The best option is to find a base which has an appropriate rim. Junk
shops and garage sales are good sources for metal tables. A local welder can also fabricate what you
need. In either case, it is much easier to find or make something appropriate than it is to try to use a metal
table that isn’t quite right simply because you happen to already own it. Wonderful art can often be made from
junk, but sometimes junk is junk. Don’t waste your creative energy trying to make a metal patio table
work when it isn’t quite right. The same applies to wooden coffee tables. Mosaic art takes too much work
to warrant using a base that will quickly fall apart or never quite look right. Return to Top
Legal Disclaimer and Copyright Information
No warranty is implied by these instructions. Use at your own risk.
Please wear goggles when cutting mosaic materials or mixing grout. Mosaic
materials are often sharp. Keep out of reach of children. Do not
overload patio tables with mosaic materials so that the table becomes unstable
(top heavy). You should also make sure that the table frame can support
the overall weight. Copyright 2003-2017 J.E. Moorman. Please link to these
instructions freely, but email us if you would like to reproduce them for
classes, etc.
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Hands holding a pile of millerfiori gems in assorted colors for use in mosaic art.
Millefiori is a traditional form of art glass that is disk-shaped with different multicolored patterns and is used in glass fusing, jewelry and mosaic art.Millefiori is an Italian word meaning “thousand flowers.” Italian Millefiori resembles tiny pieces of Christmas candy and is made in a similar way. The process used to create millefiori has not varied much since 1400 B.C.E. when it was first made by the Egyptians.
To make millefiori, glass artists take many thin glass rods or canes and arrange them in a bundle so that they form a pattern in the cross section. The pattern can only be seen at both ends of the bundle. Once the pattern is set, the rods in the bundle are fused together into one rod with a torch. This rod is stretched thin while it is hot, allowed to cool, and then cut into slices that we know as millefiori. Sometimes millefiori is also referred to as murrine, which involves small pieces of cut glass melted together to create a larger piece of glass.
Millefiori is often used to represent flowers in mosaic art. While flowers are the most common pattern in millefiori, other designs are also popular: stars, bulls eyes, hearts, swirls, etc. The millefiori assortment we sell includes many patterns and colors. It’s great as an accent in mosaic artwork, particularly mixed-media mosaics made with various types of materials, but the pieces are rather small (less than 1/2 inch in diameter.)
The thickness is roughly around 1/8 inch, so millefiori can be used with vitreous glass mosaic tile and stained glass.
White Rough Cut Millefiori with shards is cut to irregular thicknesses with some shards and slivers – an affordable product perfectly suited to glass fusing projects.
Affordable MTM Millefiori Glass rainbow assortment back in stock!
Steel mailboxes make a great outdoor mosaic project and can be mosaiced with a variety of materials, including found objects. This pique assiette mailbox was mosaiced by my neighbor with pieces cut from patterned china plates:
Mosaics made from cut pieces of dinnerware are called “pique assiette,” which is French for “plate thief.”
Relevant objects such as brass house numbers can be incorporated directly into the mosaic itself, and you might choose to do the entire mosaic in found objects such as souvenirs made of durable materials (avoid wood and plastic). On the other hand, ordinary vitreous glass mosaic tile can be used in the regular way to render figures such as flowers or people or trees or entire scenes. Or you might decide to write the street number or family name in mosaic tile. The point is that a standard-size mailbox provides enough space on the side to accommodate a variety of designs.
The mailbox itself should be unpainted steel, preferably galvanized, with no plastic clear coats that will interfere with bonding.
At Mosaic Art Supply, we normally use thinset mortar, a type of sticky concrete, for our outdoor mosaic projects, and I have written some instructions for using thinset for detailed mosaic artwork.
The problem is that thinset mortar and other portland-cement products will corrode steel, and so we recommend using GE Silicone II to attach the tiles when working on bare steel. We have a blog article with pictures about Jill Gatwood’s method for mosaics on steel mailbox using silicone adhesive.
This page includes examples of figurative mosaic art that are particularly exuberant and joyful. I consider these mosaics to be fun and whimsical without being cute in a tired sort of way. This is no small accomplishment in my opinion. The art on this page was made using 3/8″ Glass Mosaic Tiles.
Mario and Princess mosaic art by Katy Devlin.
I love this piece even though it is a copy of something that is mass-produced because that something isn’t typically used as a theme for mosaic artwork. Also, there is the play on tiles as pixels, however unconscious that might have been on the part of the artist.
Flying Angel mosaic art by Jena Wernor.
Angels might be common themes, but this angel is refreshingly different from the angels usually seen in religious clip art.
Whimsical but Fresh
I’m not a big fan of “cutesy” in art, and I really dislike how cutesy tends to dominate amateur art in general, but it is possible to be whimsical without being cliche or saccharine sweet. To understand what I mean, consider the work of famous painter Marc Chagall. Most of his paintings are playful in tone, but they are all genuine art in that they are original or take risks or are fresh in some way.
My goal for this page is to showcase work that is whimsical in tone but fresh. I’m hoping people email me pictures of their art, but I’m also hoping that their art isn’t a copy of something they saw at an arts and crafts show or on a holiday greeting card or something like that. All artists copy in one way or another, but to duplicate a craft product that is already being manufactured is a sad loss of an opportunity to make something different. Make something your grandchildren will keep as an hierloom not sell at a garage sale.
Bat Symbol mosaic art by Joy Bice.
From what I’ve read of the biographies of 20th century painters, more than a few began their careers by copying drawings and engravings from books. In other words, copying art has been almost as important a tool in art education as drawing from still life, landscapes and other natural models. Symbols and logos might not give an aspiring artist much practice in perspective or light and shadow or other skills needed for naturalistic rendering, but they do offer a fun way for someone to get started and produce something they can recognize and feel connected to. It’s very important to build confidence with small, simple pieces before attempting more ambitious projects. A favorite symbol on a small plaque is just such a project and makes a great art object for around the home. I have even seen smaller versions of mosaic plaques used as Christmas ornaments.
Rubber Ducky mosaic art by Joy Bice.
I love this one. The design is so simple yet so effective, and the color choices are spot on. Minimalism is a challenge because nothing is superfluous, and all your design decisions are in plain view and either obviously right or obviously wrong. The fact that this design is rendered in whole tiles arranged in a grid only adds to the minimalist charm. Normally I encourage people to use concentric rows around figures instead of tiling the background in a grid “as if they were tiling a shower,” but in this case it is appropriate and reinforces the theme of the design.
