How To Make a Mosaic Bowl

There is a simple satisfaction in taking an object destined for a landfill and up-cycling it into a beautiful piece of mosaic art. This project walks you through the steps involved in taking an old bowl and up-cycling it through mosaics. This is an excellent beginner's project with the limited cutting of tiles.

Materials

A ceramic bowl
A selection of 2cm Venetian and 2cm Iridised Glass tiles
Cement based adhesive
Slate grey grout
Two-wheeled nippers
A clean-up tool (for removing excess adhesive before grouting)
Grout clean-up supplies - a container of water, sponge & cloth to buff the mosaic
A permanent marker for drawing guidelines on bowl

DIRECTIONS

Step 1 - Plan Your Design

Plan your design and mark it out on your bowl. Draw concentric circles down the inside of the bowl to act as a guide when laying the tiles.

Step 2 - Cut Your Tiles

The tiles used on the sides of the bowl are 2 cm glass tiles that have been cut in half (rectangles). While the tiles that form the brickwork pattern on the bottom of the bowl have been cut in half. Along the top rim 2 cm glass tiles which have been cut into quarters have been used.

Step 3 - Lay your tiles

Work from the outside rim first by laying your tiles into a bed of cement-based adhesive. To ensure that your adhesive doesn't dry out, work in small sections at a time, laying the adhesive first and then pressing the tiles into it.
The bottom of the bowl has been completed using an Opus Tessellatum or brickwork pattern. To create this effect, lay your tiles in an offset pattern, whole tiles first then cut tiles to fill in the gaps as required.
Colour is vital in this design as it draws your eye into the bowl. Work with your darkest colour on the top of the bowl and graduate the colours as you get further down. White and pink tiles have been used sparingly throughout the design.

Step 3 - Grouting Time

Slate grey grout has been used on this project.

When mixing the grout, it should be the consistency of thick oatmeal before it is applied. If you accidentally add too much water, let it sit for a few minutes, and it will thicken up, or you can add more grout. Stir until smooth. If mixing your colour, mix enough grout to cover the mosaic to ensure colour consistency. Allow the mix to stand for 10 minutes, re-stir and then the grout onto the tiles. We suggest you use gloves when working with grout; while it is non-toxic, it can dry your hands. You will go through a few pairs whilst grouting.

Apply the grout in a diagonal motion, ensuring that the grout goes into the entire depth of the joint. Sculpt it on your edges, and remove the excess grout with your gloved hands or sponge. Keep a water container next to you to wash off the sponge as you go.

Once you have covered your entire piece, wipe off as much excess grout as you can with your gloves or hands. After doing this, allow it to sit for 20-30 minutes or until the grout becomes hazy. Then take a slightly damp sponge or cloth and wipe off the haze. Buff and shine the tiles with a dry cloth. Remove as much grout as possible from the tile surface, as it will be much harder to remove later. Do not use paper towels as they flake off and stick in your grout.

A grout sealer can be applied once the grout is dry to keep the grout clean and protected (optional).

Tips:
· Safety first – use protective eyewear when nipping glass
· Never dispose of grout down the drain
· Mix grout in a disposable container for an easy cleanup

Legal Disclaimer: No warranty is implied by these instructions. Use at your own risk. The Mosaic Store and its proprietors are not responsible for the results of any actions taken on the basis of this information, or for any omission in the advice. Please wear appropriate safety equipment when cutting mosaic materials and using grouts and adhesives. Keep out of reach of children. This newsletter is copyrighted and is made available for personal use only. Please ask permission if you wish to copy any part of it.