| Mosaic art is becoming increasingly popular - with a | | | | run into two problems with a weak base: first, it can |
| renaissance as an art media, but also in the home | | | | be very unsafe, especially in the case of glass. |
| improvement industry. Whether you are piecing | | | | Second, if the base moves and bends and reshapes |
| together mosaic tiles and glass beads for the sheer | | | | itself, the grout will crack and the tiles with break |
| guilty pleasure of creating a piece of art - or if you | | | | away from the art. |
| are putting your skill to work as a craftsman - mosaic | | | | 4.) Take proper safety precautions - When you build |
| art is certainly a thing of beauty. | | | | your mosaic with tiles and glass beads, there is going |
| For those of you who are just getting started in | | | | to be some cutting, scraping and possibly breaking |
| your mosaic art creations, I have a few great tips to | | | | involved. You may even need to use tools that break |
| share with you - so you don't have to learn | | | | or snap the different pieces to achieve the shape |
| everything by trial and error. Following are 6 things | | | | that you want. It is always best to use glass cutting |
| every mosaic artist - or craftsperson - should know: | | | | gloves, and use protective eyewear when you do |
| 1.) Weldbond for indoor mosaics - This stuff is a | | | | this. |
| great all-purpose adhesive for your mosaic tiles and | | | | 5.) Use thinset for outdoor mosaics - Thinset is a |
| glass beads to stay securely fastened to their base. | | | | concrete-based adhesive - essentially a sticky |
| It is water-resistant, but also water based (no bad | | | | concrete - that is the best for outdoor mosaics. |
| fumes), and it dries clear so you won't see any nasty | | | | Sometimes the basic adhesives can breakdown with |
| residue on your creation. | | | | the constant battering from the elements - unlike |
| 2.) Seal outdoor mosaics - The sun, wind, rain and all | | | | thinset, which is an outdoor application. |
| of the other elements can play havoc with both the | | | | 6.) Use Leponitt glass mosaic cutters - Leponitt is the |
| mosaic tiles and the tile grout that you use in | | | | number one choice in cutters for cutting glass mosaic |
| between them. After your grout has cured for 2 full | | | | tiles, their cutters makes cutting glass tiles easy. |
| days, seal the outdoor mosaic with tile and grout | | | | Leponitt is preferred by both the craft enthusiast |
| sealer from your local building center. | | | | and the professional mosaic artists. |
| 3.) Mosaic material is heavy - Try to avoid using | | | | Those are 6 hints that I can share with you just so |
| lightweight or breakable material as a base for your | | | | you don't have to learn the hard way when you go |
| design. For example, if you have an older glass top | | | | to begin your mosaic art. Always remember, the only |
| table that you want to create a mosaic on, you | | | | limit you have on your mosaic art, is the boundary of |
| would be better off using a thin (3/8" minimum) piece | | | | your imagination! |
| of plywood - or another product that is sturdy. You | | | | |