| One of the most colorful forms of art around | | | | of paper. Work from the middle towards the |
| today is that of the mosaic. You can take the | | | | edges, and of course place the piece of tile |
| most ordinary item - a glass, a clock, a | | | | or glass with about 1/8 to 1/2 inch space |
| mirror, a birdbath, and by the application of | | | | between them, for the grout. Once you've |
| tile or glass or small stones, turn it into | | | | finished your design - let it "sit" for a few |
| an eye-catching piece of art. | | | | hours. Come back to it when you're fresh, and |
| | | | if you still like it, it's time to do the |
| Don't be too ambitious to start with! | | | | real thing. |
| | | | |
| If you are new to the world of the mosaic, | | | | Step Three |
| you do not want to start out with a somewhat | | | | |
| advanced project like making a table top. | | | | Trace your design with a pencil on the |
| Start out with small projects. You can | | | | tabletop backing. Then, slowly, transfer your |
| purchase kits to make coasters, mirrors, | | | | design, piece-by-piece, from the piece of |
| votivs and more. By doing so, you'll become | | | | paper to the tabletop backing, using the |
| accustomed to how to use your applicator | | | | adhesive to fix it into place. Depending on |
| tools - the trowel, the spreader, the grout | | | | the size of your pieces and the design that |
| sponge, and the craft sticks. You'll be | | | | you're creating, this process can take a long |
| working both with an adhesive and a grout, so | | | | time, so be patient, and careful. Again, work |
| you'll want to get practice in that before | | | | from the middle outwards. Remember to leave |
| you move on to more advanced projects. | | | | those spaces between the tesserae for the |
| | | | grout! |
| And after you've had a bit of practice, it's | | | | |
| time to make a tabletop for to fit into your | | | | Step Four |
| table base. (You don't need to stop there, of | | | | |
| course. You can also apply the tile or glass | | | | Once you've finished the design, allow |
| to the base and create an all-in-one piece!) | | | | everything to dry. (Read the directions on |
| | | | the adhesive to see how long it takes to do |
| Step One | | | | so. Then give it an extra hour just to be on |
| | | | the safe side!) |
| First, you'll need to purchase a table base | | | | |
| and backing especially designed for a mosaic | | | | Now you're ready to apply the grout. Mix your |
| tabletop, with an inlay into which you can | | | | grout according to the directions and apply |
| set the mosaic. | | | | it with your trowel. Use your sponge to wipe |
| | | | the grout off the tops of the mosaic pieces. |
| Your choice of the backing will depend on | | | | If you wait until the grout dries to do so, |
| where you will keep this table. If it is | | | | it will be much for difficult to remove it, |
| outside, you'll need to choose a backing that | | | | so don't wait! |
| will not warp in the rain or snow. Home | | | | |
| improvement stores carry such materials as | | | | Don't start using your table right away! |
| Hardibacker or Wonderboard, which are | | | | Again, read the directions on the container |
| recommended. The sturdier the backing the | | | | of grout to know how long you should let the |
| better, as mosaic does get heavy. | | | | tabletop "set" before you start using it. And |
| | | | if it's an outside table, spray it with a |
| Step Two | | | | sealer to further protect it. |
| | | | |
| Take a sheet of plain paper, as large as your | | | | Then sit back with a cold drink set on a |
| tabletop, and on it draw the design that you | | | | mosaic coaster on your mosaic tabletop, and |
| want to use. Create your design on this piece | | | | relax! |