Stained Glass Mosaics Garden Nursery Landscaping Guide
Stained Glass Mosaics Created The Easy Way
By Joel F Mornigstar
Though they may appear complicated and detailed, stained glass
mosaics are surprisingly easy to create. With just a few supplies,
like tiles (bought or made from your own objects), backing, adhesive
and grout, and a mosaic pattern or template, you can begin to
experience the fun of creating mosaics.
If you don’t have objects at home you want to sacrifice, then
yard and estate sales often have what you are looking for at good
prices. You may even find that every surface you see turns into
a canvas for you to transform, once you get started. Glass tile
pieces are also available for order online, in bags or as part
of a kit.
Finding Tile Supplies
When choosing the mosaic supplies for your stained glass mosaics,
your first thought should be the glass tiles, or tessarae, that
you will use. Tiles, tile shards or remnants can be purchased
from a store that specializes in such supplies, or you can create
your own tiles by breaking glasses and mirrors that you already
have at home. You will also need grout, to fill the spaces between
the tiles. Sketch your design on paper to get an idea of what
your project will look like when you are done.
Tile nippers are designed to cut tiles into smaller pieces. When
looking for nippers, be sure the handles are spring-loaded and
have a quality tungsten-carbide cutting edge for best results.
They also work with ceramic and china.
You Will Need Nippers, Spreaders and Sponges
There are nippers made specifically for glass, which are called
glass nippers, and are similar to tile nippers, but they use wheels
instead of a cutting edge to shape glass and mirror pieces.
You will also need spreaders and sponges. Also called a trowel,
a spreader is used to apply adhesives and grout. You can use plastic
knives, spatulas and palette knives as well. Sponges are used
to wipe away excess grout. Have some containers on hand in which
to store your glass tile mosaic pieces and keep them organized,
as well as some for mixing grout and cement.
Perfecting Your Cutting Technique
Once you have decided on the stained glass mosaic design, make
sure that you clean and dry the surface of your backing, as well
as your tiles. Next, cut your tiles. Practice on extra pieces
of glass until you perfect your technique. Don’t forget to wear
safety goggles and gloves to protect your eyes and hands.
Apply the adhesive to your surface, using enough adhesive to
make the tiles to stick, but not too much. Allow the piece to
dry completely for one to three days. The next step in creating
your art mosaic is to apply the grout to the spaces between your
tiles using a spreader or trowel.
Protecting Outdoor Displays With A Sealant
Before you wipe away any excess, allow the grout to set slightly.
Use a non-scratch nylon sponge to remove specks of dry grout on
your tiles. If you plan on displaying your project outdoors, such
as with garden mosaics, then be sure to use a sealant to protect
and preserve your artwork from the elements.
Many different types of surfaces lend themselves to becoming
stained glass mosaics, so it can be hard to choose what kind of
surface you want to work on. It is best to go with the shape that
interests you, while considering how you intend to use the finished
piece. If it will be left outside, then it will require a few
extra steps to protect the mosaic from sun and rain.
About the Author:
Joel F Morningstar has written a number of articles on gardening
and landscaping including Remodeling
Contractors, General
Contractor, Construction
Remodeling, Find
A Contractor, Home
Improvement, Home
Improvement Services, Home
Remodeling, Improvement
Services, Local
Contractors, Backyard
Landscaping, Front
Yard Landscape, Stone
Walkway, Deck
Ideas, Outdoor
Decor, Patio
Garden, Furniture,
Design
Landscaping, Lawn
Care, The
Landscape, Lawn
Garden.
Keep a lookout for more of his articles on this website.
Little Known Mosaic Facts....
What is digital imaging?
Digital imaging is when non-overlapping images
are arranged in a tessellation. You can often find digital imaging
used in a photomosaic. Have you ever seen a large picture but
when you examined it closely found that each pixel was actually
another picture entirely? That is an example of a photomosaic
and digital imaging.
Digital imaging is used quite frequently
now to make up the sketches and templates that artists use when
forming their mosaic. They can do this by using computer aided
design software. This way they can manipulate each tessera into
place and apply any color. Changes are easily taken care of and
then the final sketch is printed out and sent out to the workers
who will assemble the mosaic piece by piece.
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