How To Make A Mosaic

Step One: Choose The Materials

There are lots of different materials - properly called 'tesserae' - to choose from. You can mosaic with anything from marble and pebbles to mirror and shells - and all sorts of ceramics. I'm using a lovely mixture of old broken plates to give me a pretty ceramic edge, together with new glass tiles in the centre to give me the flat, even surface that a table needs.

Mosaics can be subtle and contemporary or completely over the top... the choice is yours - that's the beauty of it! I'm a slave to colour, so I want to create something that stands out from the crowd. The main colour will be blue, with a red heart at the centre. And I love the gold tiles that Emma has, but at £1 a tile - 25 times more expensive than Emma's average 4p glass tiles - I'm going to have to use them carefully.

Step Two: Create Your Design

Your surface should be scored with a craft knife first, so that when you come to stick the tiles down, the adhesive will take. Choose a simple design and draw it directly onto the surface.

Step Three: Cut The Tiles

Now you're going to cut the tiles to fit the design you've drawn. Don't worry about getting the shapes too perfect - part of the appeal of mosaic is its uneven texture and handmade look and feel. To give tiles a general shape, use side tile nippers, which you use by putting them on the very edge of the tile and gently squeezing. Be careful not to use side nippers in the centre of the tile, because you'll smash the tile!

If you need to have a more precise cut, you'll need to use wield nippers. They're rather easier to use; you put them right in the centre and just cut. I used these to cut my gold tiles into four thin parts.

Step Four: Stick Down The Tiles

Once all the tiles are cut, it's time to get sticky. I used a latex-based adhesive to fix the tiles. Starting at the borders of your piece, butter each tile with a small amount of adhesive before carefully pressing it down. Try and keep it neat and tidy - any excess adhesive will squidge up in between the pieces and spoil the appearance. As soon as each tile is laid onto the surface of your table, carefully remove the surplus from around the edges before moving on to the next tile.

Step Five: Grouting

Once the remainder of the mosaic is completed, it needs to be left to set for twenty four hours. Then you will need to grout between the gaps. Wear gloves and push the grout into the gaps by hand, making sure every gap is completely filled. Remember to take special care around any crockery pieces, as these will be less even than the glass tiles. When you're sure everything is grouted, use a rubber scraper to sweep across and give it an even surface, followed by gently rubbing with a cloth or old towel to prevent any of the grout drying on top of the tiles.

When you've finished, try and allow the piece to dry as slowly as possible, as this will give the finished piece more strength. You might even want to lay a damp cloth over it for a couple of days, as it dries, to make sure!

Step Six: Polishing

Once the grout is completely dry, it's time to give your piece those all important finishing touches. First, clean the mosaic with a damp cloth. If there is any dried-on grout, use a fine sandpaper to carefully remove it. Once you're happy with your mosaic, use a soft dry cloth to buff it. You can even use beeswax or polish to give it a shine.

Skill

Budget

Time

More Craft How Tos

Comments

Search all of 4Homes

Search 4Homes product finder

How To Decorate

Simple Decorating GuidesSee All

Cleaning Tips