Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Moasic Shelf
Mosaic Shelf with Vintage Saucer Picture Frame |
All the better, since we want to "smash" them anyway. No sense in
breaking expensive, beautiful plates. I must admit that I have boxes of
plates. Sometimes people even give me their plates when they chip. I
like to spend an afternoon just breaking plates and then organizing them
into colors so I am ready when I begin a project. You can also use
glass beads or stained glass pieces. For this segment, I will be using
plates.
The two shelves below were done with broken plates.
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I used a special tool, called wheel glass nippers, that I had from working with stained glass to make rather consistent cuts (give or take a little). They cost about 13-17 dollars. I used glue that you can get from a craft store like Michaels or A.C. Moore. Some people use E-6000, but I find that on pieces that are curved, it doesn't dry fast enough, causing the pieces to slide off. With a shelf, it is flat so that would not be a problem. I use several types of glue, the one in the picture is one example. (Mosaic Tile Adhesive)
Generally I lay out the pieces on the surface and glue only after I am satisfied with the design. However, other times, I glue as I design. If this is your first time, you may want to lay out your design first and then glue. See the image below for each of the items that I used.
Mosaic Tools |
Apply the grout over the glass pieces making sure to get in all the crevices. Be careful as the edges of the mosaic pieces will be sharp. As it begins to dry, use a sponge to wipe off the excess. You don't want to begin wiping off too soon, or you will wipe the grout off. Again, follow the manufacturer's directions. You will find that this process takes a little time, to make sure you have cleaned off the unwanted grout. It will not stick to the glass. When you are done wiping, take a clean cloth and wipe any residue that is left. The glass should be shinny at this point. The last step is to apply a grout sealer. Once again you can get a small package from the craft store or if you have any left over from a home project. I usually apply two coats. This helps to protect the project and makes it easy to clean.
* Caution, when breaking or smashing plates always wear safety glasses. I often begin the process by wrapping the plate in a towel so that the pieces don't fly everywhere when I smash them.
Labels:
how to mosaic
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Mosaic Shelf
,
shelf with saucer as picture
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