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 Mosaics
have been a creative way to enhance decor as long
as people have been collecting rocks and breaking
pottery. Some of the earliest mosaics can be traced
back four thousand years B.C. when people pushed
clay into their walls for decoration and protection.
The Greeks used worn pebbles to mosaic their floors.
It was common practice in Byzantium to use mosaics
to illuminate the ceilings of churches. Mosaics
were even preserved in the floors and walls of
Pompeii.
In our modern times architects and designers
use computers to create mosaic patterns and envision
their effect in homes and buildings. However,
it is still rare to find two identical mosaics.
The very nature of the craft lends itself to customization.
A great advantage to this craft -- aside from
customization -- is how easy it is to learn and
then adapt to your own taste and style. Plaid
offers great project ideas and a getting started
guide, plus a variety of ceramic tiles, glass
chips and stones to bring your designs to life.
But don't let your imagination stop there! You
can put almost any found item -- old keys, shells,
pieces of broken china, even buttons -- in your
mosaic.
If you are new to mosaic, Plaid has several kits
to help you get started. Learn the craft with
our Flower Pot Kit and when you are ready, move
up to designing stepping stone patterns. For those
who are more daring, combining Make-It Mosaic
and Faster Plaster products creates an even wider
range of tailor-made items such as photo frames,
coasters and plaques. A great project for a beginner
interested in both Faster Plaster and Make-It
Mosaics is Plaid's Heart
Trivet Kit. This kit includes everything crafters
need from the first step to the finished product,
including detailed instructions.
Getting Started
- Prepare the Surface
The surface should be oil free and clean. If
you are using a ready made surface like a piece
of wood, sand it lightly with sandpaper or steel
wool.
- Plan Your Design!
Trace the shape of your surface onto a piece
of paper and draw out your design. Once you
are satisfied, use transfer paper to copy the
design onto your surface.
- Prepare Your Mosaic Pieces
If your surface has round or oddly shaped edges
or of your design calls for small pieces, you
may have to break your items to fit. Place your
pieces between several layers of newspaper or
in a brown paper bag and strike at a slight
angle with a rubber mallet or hammer. It is
recommended that you were safety goggles and
rubber gloves during this process.
- Glue Tiles to the Surface
Spread Make-It Mosaic Tile Adhesive to a small
area of your surface and apply your tiles. If
your pieces are large, apply extra glue to the
tile. Only apply the glue to small surface sections
at a time so that the glue will not dry out
before you place your tiles.
- Grout the Surface
Following the instructions on the package, add
water to the Make-It Mosaic Grout mix. The grout
should have an oatmeal-like consistency. Spread
the grout over the design and let it set for
about five minutes. Use a clean wet sponge to
wipe the grout off your tiles. Rinse the sponge
regularly during the process. Once you have
wiped the grout off the entire surface clean
your sponge and repeat the process. You may
have to do this several times to get all the
grout off your tiles. Once the tiles are showing
through the grout, allow the surface to dry.
If you are using a wood surface, this would
be the time to seal the visible edges with diluted
white glue to prevent warping.
- Polish Your Mosaic
Once dry, you may still see a grout haze on
your tiles. Polish this off with a soft, dry
cloth. Apply Make-It Mosaic Sealer over the
grout to keep it dry and protected.
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