Mosaic How-To

I will explain two ways to make your mosaic, and the one you choose may depend on what pattern you are using and the mosaic supplies you have. The two methods we will talk about are The Glue Method and The Grout Method; read through the directions for each method and decided which will work best for you.

Glue Method Directions
If you use the glue method for making your mosaic, your pattern is traced onto the base and glue is applied to each piece of tessarae which is then stuck to the appropriate section of the pattern.

1. Make sure your base is free of dust and dirt. If your base has a smooth surface, you may want to run some sandpaper over it give the grout a porous surface to stick to.

2. If you have a design, draw out your design onto your base. You can either draw it freehand or using carbon tracing paper. You can also just make up a design as you go.

3. Carefully brush a thick coat of adhesive over your base. If your pattern will smear or be distorted, put on just a dab at a time as you are putting on each tessare. If you are working on a large project, work in smaller sections.

4. Apply your tessarae to the pattern, one piece at a time, by coating the back of the tessarae with a mosaic adhesive (check your local craft store) and sticking them in place on the base.

5. Continue to glue and stick your tessarae, leaving small gaps in between pieces, until your base is covered.

6. Let your project dry for several hours or over night.

7. Once the glue is dry, mix up a batch of grout and spread it over the top of your project to fill all the gaps in between the tessarae. You can use a rubber spatula or similar tool to spread the grout and remove any extra.

8. Immediately use a damp sponge or rag to wipe the excess grout off the tessarae. Get off as much grout as possible without removing any from between the tessarae.

9. Let your project dry for several hours or over night.

10. Once dry, use a damp sponge or rag to clean your mosaic, and it is now ready to use! If your mosaic will be used often or places outside, make sure you use a grout sealer.

Grout Method Directions
While many of the steps are the same no matter which method you use, when using the grout method for making a mosaic, grout is applied to the base and the tessarae are gently pushed into the grout mixture.

1. Make sure your base is free of dust and dirt. If your base has a smooth surface, you may want to run some sandpaper over it give the grout a porous surface to stick to.

2. Mix up the grout by following the directions on the package.

3. Spread the grout out evenly over your base. I would suggest you make it about 1/2-inch thick coating.

4. Lay your tessarae, right side up, onto the grout, pushing gently to embed. The grout will come up around the outer edges of the tessarae to secure it in place. You will see the grout between the pieces as you lay them down.

5. Let your project dry for several hours or over night.

6. Once dry, use a damp sponge or rag to clean your mosaic, and it is now ready to use! If your mosaic will be used often or places outside, make sure you use a grout sealer.

Now that you know how to make mosaics, start crafting! If you need some inspiration, try some of these mosaic projects.

If you make your own mosaic craft, don't forget to submit it to be published. If you want to be one of the first to know when new craft projects are posted, take a few moments to sign up for the Family Crafts Newsletter and you can also chat about mosaics with others in the Family Crafts Forum.