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