Materials: 32"- to 40"-gauge sheet metal in aluminum and copper
Cutting mat
Ruler
Large coffee mug
Felt-tip pen
Scissors
Craft knife
Metal straightedge
Awl
Glue or "Liquid Lead"
Cork tiles
Hammer
Safety glasses/goggles
Ziplock plastic bags
3/4"-square vitreous-glass tiles (one 24-tile bag of each color required)
Five bowls or plastic containers
Sanded mosaic tile grout (in 1-lb. bag -- white)
Teabag (Earl Grey or other brown tea)
Household glue
Craft sticks
Chipper Nipper
Precision Nipper
Mosaic Adhesive & Grout Applicator Set (Mosaic Mercantile -- see Resources, below) for stirring grout
Mixing bowl
Rubber gloves
Sponge
Soft cotton lint-free rag
Thin leather or felt
Glue gun - Create a base for the mosaics: Partially unroll the sheet metal on the cutting mat. Place the coffee mug on the sheet metal and trace around it (figure A).
- Repeat, tracing 3 to 5 more circles on one or both sheets of metal. Cut around the circles with scissors. Repeat on the cork tile, tracing the same number of circles, and cut with a craft knife. To create a border or lip around the base, using the metal ruler, measure a metal strip 12" long by 1" wide. Cut with a craft knife against the straightedge. Repeat to make as many strips as you have circles.
- Center the straightedge lengthwise along one of the metal strips and, using an awl, score along the center of the strip (figure B). Repeat for the other strips.
- Fold the strip in half lengthwise. Center the straightedge lengthwise along the strip again and score again on both sides. Bend along this strip to form an L-shaped angle.
- Using the scissors, snip into the unfolded edge, cutting to the score line and making snips about 1/2" apart along the length of the strip. Repeat on the other strips. Gently shape the strip around the circular base and fit one folded end over the other when you get back to the starting point. Remove the shaped edge, run a bead of glue or liquid lead around the edge of the bottom of the circular shape and position in place in the shaped edging.
- Apply glue to the bottom of a cork circle and place inside the metal base (figure C). Put a mug on top until the glue dries completely.
- Draw a flower or leaf shape on the face of the cork. Nip one tile in the color of your choice for the center of each flower. Place about half the tiles from each 24-tile bag in individual ziplock bags. Place on a floor or other hard surface. Then break the tiles with a hammer into various sizes. Do not over-hit the tiles or glass will be crushed into powdery pieces. You'll want broken shapes in a range of sizes. Pour each bag of tiles into a different glass bowl or plastic container.
Work Smart: Always wear safety goggles or glasses when working with glass. - Begin by applying glue to a narrow craft stick, then spread the glue to the back (or grooved) side of a small piece of colored glass for the center of a flower. Position the tile in the center. Then continue this process for the petals with the color of your choice.
- For the leaf, position the tiles for the center vein first, positioning each subsequent tile next to the preceding tile about 1/16" apart. Use the larger pieces of clover tiles to fill in the leaf. If necessary, put on safety goggles and use a tile chipper or precision nipper to shape the tiles to fit. Lay newspaper on the floor to catch any pieces of chipped tiles -- you may want to wear work gloves too. Break more tiles, if necessary, to finish all vines and leaves.
- Fill in the background areas of each coaster, gluing and positioning the tiles as described above. Let the glue dry overnight. Once all these tiles are in place, allow the glue to dry overnight.
- When the glue is dry, pour about 9 tablespoons of white grout into a bowl, make a cup of tea, then add the tea-stained water in the proportions on the package instructions into the grout, and mix with a grout stirrer until the grout is a thick creamy texture. (The tea slightly stains the grout to make it a creamy color, which creates a subtler effect with the vitreous-glass tiles.)
- Let it set for a few minutes following the package instructions, then, wearing plastic gloves, spread a handful of grout over the tiles on the base (figure D ), filling in the gaps. Continue until the entire base is covered with grout. Let it set for about 15 minutes to an hour, or as indicated on the package instructions. Then wipe off the excess grout with a clean, damp lint-free cloth until the tiles are clean. Let the grout dry, misting two or three times a day for the next three days to help the grout set. The grout should continue to dry for the next 10 days.
- After the grout has dried, apply sealer to grout. Let dry completely. Cut circles of thin leather or felt and glue them to the bottom of the coasters (figure E) with glue gun.
Tip: As an alternative to making your own bases, you can buy inexpensive ready-made coasters to use as a base. The same steps apply to making a mosaic tea tray. You just buy a cheap plastic tray or an unfinished wooden one and apply the mosaics as described below. For the unfinished wooden one, you finish the tray in the color of your choice and paint the bottom white, before you lay the tiles. Products: For information on glass tiles, tile nippers, grout, sheet metal, metal adhesive, cutting mat and scissors, see Resources, below. All other supplies available at craft, art or home-improvement stores nationwide.
RESOURCES :
Arts and Crafts Supplies (Fiskars)
Fiskars
Website: www.fiskars.com
Making Mosaics: Designs, Techniques & Projects
Model: 0806948728
Author: Leslie Dierks
(February, 1998)
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
Classic Mosaic: Designs & Projects Inspired by 6,000 Years of Mosaic Art
Model: 1570761590
Author: Elaine M. Goodwin
(February, 2000)
Trafalgar Square Publishing Co.
Website: www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
Mosaics in an Afternoon
Model: 0806958030
Author: Connie Sheerin and Mickey Baskett
(August, 2000)
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
Mosaics: Inspirational Ideas and Practical Projects (The Weekend Crafter Series)
Model: 1579900038
Author: Martin Cheek
(February, 1998)
Lark Books / Altamont Press
Website: www.larkbooks.com
Mosaics: Inspiration and Original Projects for Interiors and Exteriors
Model: 1561583731
Author: Kaffe Fassett and Candace Bahouth
(October, 1999)
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
Outdoor Mosaic
Model: 1570761965
Author: Emma Biggs and Tessa Hunkin
(October, 2001)
Trafalgar Square Publishing Co.
Website: www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
The Mosaic Idea Book
Model: 1581800959
Author: Rosalind Wates
(September, 2000)
F & W Publications Inc. (North Light and Betterway Books, Story Press, Popular Woodworking Books)
Website: www.fwpublications.com
Glass Tiles, Tile Nippers and Grout (Mosaic Mercantile)
Mosaic Mercantile
Website: www.mosaicmercantile.com
GUESTS :
Jean Gorman
Woman's Day Specials
143 W. 29th st. Suite 101
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-947-9240
Email: jgorman204@aol.com
Editor
Jean is a contributing editor for Child Magazineand Woman's Day Specials. Click here for Child Magazine's Web site.
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