Content

• Part 2 of 3: Laying the mosaic with mortar or glue
• Part 3 of 3: Applying grout and varnish
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

1 Select the material with which you will create your mosaic. The small pieces of material used to make a mosaic are commonly referred to as mosaic tiles. They can be glass, stone, porcelain, shells, or whatever you can find. If you don't have the right materials in your home, try purchasing mosaic tiles from a craft store.

• The mosaic can be complemented with other objects and decorations, such as small ceramic flowers.
• Broken porcelain plates can be used as mosaic elements. Hit the plates one at a time with a hammer, placing them in a plastic bag beforehand. For better control over the size and shape of the resulting debris, use a manual tile cutter. For a medium-sized mosaic, you will need 5-7 plates. Cups are not suitable for this purpose, since they do not produce even shards, so they are more difficult to fold into a pattern and stick on.
• Round glass pebbles are a child-safe mosaic material as they have no sharp edges. These pebbles can be found in craft supplies. They come in a wide variety of colors and sizes.

2 Choose a base for the mosaic on which you will glue it. The mosaic can be applied to almost any surface. However, it must be strong enough to support the weight of the mosaic itself, tile adhesive and grout. Tables, flower pots, bird baths, and floor tiles are all great options for a mosaic base.

• The base for the mosaic can be any shape, but be careful with strongly curving shapes, as you will need very small pieces of the mosaic to fill in all the curves.
• The best base for outdoor mosaics is concrete, as it is resistant to all weather conditions. Finishing concrete panels are available at home improvement stores.
• Wire mesh pizza boards are especially suitable for making decorative glass mosaics.
• Clay base is the most risky for outdoor mosaics, as it can suffer from frost. If you want to decorate with mosaics, for example, an outdoor clay pot, either bring it home for the winter, or protect it from the weather with a few coats of varnish.

3 Sketch the mosaic pattern from the base. Copy a pattern from a coloring book or create your own. Remember, the more detailed your image is, the finer the pieces of the puzzle should be.

• If you have previously sketched on paper, transfer it to the mosaic base using carbon paper.

4 Lay out the mosaic pieces on the pattern before securing them. Place the mosaic pieces on top of the pattern to distribute them in the way that best suits you and to evaluate the appearance of the image before you finalize the mosaic with mortar or glue. First, make sure that the pieces of the mosaic are completely clean, and only then proceed with the layout.

• If necessary, the pieces of the mosaic can be made even smaller with a hammer or tile cutter.

Part 2 of 3: Laying the mosaic with mortar or glue

1. 1 Choose a suitable mortar for fixing your chosen mosaic. Traditionally, the mosaic is fixed on cement mortar. It is composed of cement, sand and water. You can also use acrylic glue, epoxy, or other types of tile adhesives. Find the solution that works for you at a craft store or hardware store. In this case, carefully read the area of ​​application of a particular solution, which should be indicated in the instructions for it. You need a solution that will provide high-quality adhesion between the chosen base for the mosaic and the material of the mosaic itself.
   • If you are creating an outdoor mosaic, make sure the solution you choose is water resistant.
   • For mosaics that will get wet on a regular basis, such as on the shower floor, it is best to use thin-layer tile adhesive.
   • Acrylic adhesive is easy to use, very tough and works well for gluing slippery surfaces such as ceramics and glass.
   • An epoxy-based solution fixes mosaic to metal well, but it is rather dirty to work with it and it smells strong.
2. 2 Prepare mortar or adhesive according to manufacturer's instructions (if required). Read the instructions on the package of the solution (or glue) to find out if it needs preliminary preparation. For example, a cement or epoxy mortar will need to be mixed. Acrylic adhesive is usually ready for use immediately.
   • If you have purchased a powder mix, mix it outdoors and be sure to wear a face shield to avoid inhaling flying dust.
3. 3 Apply the mortar to the mosaic base using a trowel or spatula. Use rubber gloves when handling the glue to avoid getting your hands dirty. Spread the solution over the entire surface of the mosaic base.
   • Alternatively, you can apply the solution directly to each piece of the mosaic, as if using butter on a sandwich. In this case, place the pieces of the mosaic in their place against the base and press down to fix them in the desired position. This also applies in cases where you attach the mosaic with glue from a tube.
4. 4 Arrange the mosaic pieces on the backing according to the pattern provided. While the mortar is still damp, gently stick the pieces of mosaic onto it, pressing them into the mortar. Start sculpting the mosaic from one corner of the pattern and work in rows. Be sure to keep the space between the mosaic pieces about 3 mm or less.
   • If you are using concave backs such as shells for mosaics, not only grease the edges to be glued, but also fill the inside of these elements with glue before applying them to the base.
5. 5 Let the solution solidify. The waiting time will depend on the mortar used or the glue to which you attached the mosaic, so refer to the instructions again and wait exactly as long as indicated there. When the grout has hardened, wipe the mosaic with a damp sponge to remove any traces of grout that may have remained on it.
   • If you have used classic cement mortar for your home mosaic, it is usually sufficient to wait 24 hours. The street mosaic should be left alone for about 72 hours.

Part 3 of 3: Applying grout and varnish

1. 1 Choose a grout. The use of grout (a more liquid analogue of mortar) allows you to fill the free space between the pieces of the mosaic. Grouting also helps to give the mosaic pattern a more beautiful uniform look. The grout comes in a variety of colors, and you can even use a dye and color it yourself to match the mosaic perfectly. It is best to use a contrasting color of grout to make the mosaic pattern stand out.
   • If you have used textured or porous materials for your mosaic, such as shells or uneven stones, then you do not need to use grout.
   • If you are in doubt about the color of the grout, black is usually the best choice, while pure white grout makes the mosaic patterns look faded. If you still want to use a light grout, try a creamy color.
2. 2 Prepare your grout. Prepare the grout according to the grout manufacturer's instructions. It is best to do this work outdoors, as it is a rather dirty and dusty process. Wear rubber gloves, goggles, and a dust mask to protect yourself while preparing the solution.
3. 3 Apply grout to the mosaic with a trowel. Cover your work surface with newspapers and lay your mosaic on it. Cover the entire mosaic with grout and spread the composition with a tapestry so that it fills in all the gaps between the pieces of the mosaic. There should be enough grout to fill all the gaps in the mosaic. It is best to work outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
4. 4 Let the grout harden and wipe off any excess. Refer to the instructions for how long the grout will take. This usually takes only about 20 minutes. Then you should wipe the mosaic with a clean sponge moistened with warm water. Rinse the sponge regularly, wiping off excess grout from the surface of the mosaic tile.
   • If grout marks remain on the mosaic tiles, remove them with a lint-free non-woven cloth or a crumpled piece of newspaper. Remove large chunks of grout from the mosaic with a non-scratch kitchen nylon sponge or a small wooden stick.
5. 5 Cover the mosaic with varnish for protection. The lacquer coating will protect the mosaic from damage, especially when it comes to outdoor mosaics that are exposed to temperature extremes and changes in weather conditions. Also, varnish will give the mosaic a shine, which will brighten the colors of its patterns.
   • Instead of a glossy varnish, you can use a matte varnish if you don't want your mosaic to shine.
   • For reliable protection of the mosaic it is necessary to cover it with 2-3 layers of varnish.

Tips

• When choosing a solution or tile adhesive, opt for a product that will allow your mosaic to be preserved for a long time in the environment where it will be located. This is especially important for those cases when the mosaic will be located outdoors.
• If you make a mistake, don't be afraid to rip off pieces of the tile and try to do everything from the beginning.

Warnings

• Wear protective goggles and gloves when working with mosaics. Broken tiles have sharp corners, and when you break or cut them, it is important to reduce the risk of injury to your eyes or hands.

What do you need

• Broken tiles, custom mosaic tiles, or other small objects that can be used as mosaics
• Mosaic base
• Pencil or pen to draw the desired pattern
• Copy paper (optional)
• Manual tile cutter (optional)
• Cement mortar or tile adhesive
• Master OK
• Putty knife
• Tile grout
• Sponge
• A bucket of warm water
• Mosaic varnish
• Newspapers
• Protective glasses
• Latex gloves
• Dust mask