How to Make Indoor Mosaic Plaques for Your Home
A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Making Mosaic Art
From the ancient art of the Greco-Roman era to the Byzantine age, we see intricate mosaic works that brings out the child in us. The Greeks started this art using pebbles; it then spread its fires to the Romans. Archaeological sites show many marvelous mosaic artworks used on the floors of every type of building, from homes to temples. Christian churches are the best places to see mosaic depictions of saints, often crafted in jewels and gold.
You may not be a professional artist who can make beautiful mosaic work like those done in the ancient world, but this is not a reason why you cannot start having fun making your own mosaic artwork. It is important to remember that you will be working with sharp edges and chemicals, so safety must be observed at all times.
Choose a well-ventilated area in your own home that is free from food, drinks, children and domestic pets. The last thing you want is to have shards of glass in places where it is not supposed to be.
Materials for Your Mosaic Project
- A base (cement board or plywood with well-sealed undercoating )
- Pen or marker
- Adhesive or glue
- Glass tiles
- Bathroom tile grout (any color )
Instructions for Making a Mosaic
- If you are going to cut tiles into custom shapes, always put on safety goggles and a dust mask. Wear safety gloves in handling sharp objects.
- With the pen or marker, draw a simple outline or design on the sealed side of your cement board or plywood. You can copy patterns from the web, a coloring book or fabric. The drawing doesn't have to be perfect.
- For this project, you can buy pre-sized glass tiles from your local DIY craft store; they come in various colors and shapes. This will save you time and make the project safer. Advanced users may want to make their own custom shapes with glass or tile cutters.
- You can try laying the glass tiles on the pattern to see how they look. It is necessary to leave space between the tiles.
- Love the way it looks? You can now glue these tiles to the surface of your board, one tile at a time. The gaps between the tiles should not be more than1/8 inch.
- Wait for the glue to dry. It is best to choose quick-drying glue, otherwise, let the work sit for 24 hours.
- Apply the bathroom tile grout over the mosaic, completely filling the spaces in between. Make sure the grout color brings out the best in the colors of the tiles. The darker the grout, the better. Grout becomes lighter in color when it dries. Also, keep the grout damp so it will not crumble as it dries.
- When the grout is completely dry, you can wipe off the excess stain from your glass tiles with a clean, damp cloth. You can also opt to spray a sealant on your work, to protect it from moisture.
Your mosaic art plaque is ready for display. You can have it framed, hung or just lean it against the wall. You may also use mosaic tiles on your bathroom in simple steps. When you are more comfortable with this craft, you can always experiment with the style that suits you best. Enjoy mosaic!
I Love Mosaic
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Home & Style
Latest Articles