Ages 18+
Mosaic Mirror Decor
Skills/Topics:
-Mosaic
-Home Decor
Supply List:
-Furniture piece (end table, tray, flower pot, lamp base, etc.)
-Paint & paintbrush (optional)
-Tile Adhesive (I used a adhesive/grout mix)
-Grout
-Sponge
-Mirror(s)
-Hammer or glass/tile cutter
-Towel or fabric
-Wire Cutter (optional)
-Goggles
-Gloves
-Putty Knife
-Scrap cardboard, paper plate, magazine paper, plastic, etc.
Alternative Supply List:
-If you don’t have a furniture piece you can mosaic a piece of wood then create a shadow box/put it in a shadow box to display it or alternatively display it on its own without a shadow box for example by putting it on a shelf leaning against the wall.
-If you don’t have tile adhesive you can use hot glue
-If you don’t have grout then complete the rest of project and finish it when you get grout (it is the last step)
-If you do not have a sponge use a paper towel/napkin
-If you don’t have a mirror then use glass, ceramic, stone for example do you have mugs you no longer want, stones in your yard, etc.
-If you don’t have a hammer use some other hard tool or object
-If you don’t have a putty knife use an old spatula, popsicle stick, screwdriver, etc.
Overview:
During this project you will create a mosaic using a piece of furniture or wooden board and a mirror. I turned a free small shelf that I got off the facebook tag sale site last summer into an exciting and renewed piece of furniture!
DISCLAIMER: This is a fairly time consuming project and took the better part of the week! I was unable to completely finish it due to the unexpected time commitment. I will be updating pictures as soon as I finish it! However for now I posted some pictures similar to what my project looked like!
Project Directions:
Step One:
Paint your furniture piece if desired. You do not need to paint the spot that will have the mosaic. For example I painted my furniture piece besides the top where the mosaic went.
Step Two:
Break the mirror(s) into smaller pieces by putting the mirror between an old towel or fabric. I used an apron. This will prevent glass flying everywhere. Then hit the mirror with a hammer. Wear safety goggles and gloves while working with the broken glass. Vacuum the area you're working in when done and work in an area free of children or pets. If you have a wire cutter you can use these to adjust the pieces as needed. Alternatively you can use a glass/tile cutter if you have the tool available. I ended up with approximately 50 percent waste because I did not use any pieces that were shattered, cracked, or had the mirror film missing. Your mosaic pieces should be around the same size. It is absolutely fine to have varying sizes but if you have three pieces the size of your hand and the rest the size of your pinkie nail it will look strange unless the large pieces are intentionally placed such as in the shape of a letter.
Step Three:
Lay out the pieces of glass until you have about an ⅛ inch between each piece. The space can be slightly smaller or bigger but there should be a space and it should be consistent. So for example you shouldn’t have some pieces ⅛ inch and some ½ apart. The more space the more grout that will be visible. This is the most time consuming part - it’s like a puzzle to see how and where the pieces will fit.
Step Four:
Add a thin layer of tile adhesive to the back of the mirror piece and press the piece into the spot it will stay. If you notice it is not staying after the adhesive is dry add more adhesive. Sometimes tiny pieces need a thicker application of adhesive. If you notice as you press down the pieces that the adhesive pushes out from underneath add less. I found that I liked to set down about 30 pieces and then add adhesive otherwise I bumped into them too much when working and then they would move around. If the adhesive came out from under the piece and I was adding pieces immediately around the piece I left the excess but if I wasn’t adding pieces immediately around the piece then I would scrap the extra adhesive away otherwise it would sometimes get in the way when placing other pieces. When using the adhesive I would take a scoop of adhesive and place it on a scrap piece of cardboard so the container of adhesive did not dry out. I used a putty knife to apply the adhesive. Try to keep the top of the pieces clean so cleaning up is easier later. I used an adhesive/ grout mixture because then if the adhesive excess gets between the pieces it acts as a grout. Additionally if you run out of grout you can use the extra adhesive/grout mixture as long as your adhesive and grout are the same color.
Step Five:
Verify that all the mirror pieces are secure and not moving. Scrap any excess adhesive off the tiles. If you are using the same color adhesive and grout then don’t worry about any excess between the pieces. If not then scrap out any adhesive between the pieces but just enough so the grout will completely cover the adhesive. Add the grout by spreading grout with the putty knife over the pieces. Check to make sure the pieces are not falling off, especially the small pieces. Reapply if needed. Make sure the grout completely fills the spaces and is even. IMMEDIATELY and carefully use a damp sponge to remove the grout from the top of the pieces. The longer you wait the harder it is to remove! Try not to remove the grout between the pieces in the step. If the sponge is removing too much improvise using a paper towel, a toothpick, a popsicle stick inside a paper towel, etc. The surface will get a film over it and will need to be cleaned several times. If too much grout was removed add more. Try to do this carefully without covering the tiles in grout again if possible.