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How to Make a Cement & Glass Mosaic

Mosaics can transform materials that would normally be considered worthless into priceless art. Making a mosaic can add your own creative touch to your home. Instead of copying other designs, be sure to create your own for a truly unique piece of art that no one else will have. While the process may seem difficult at first, your skills will improve with practice. Besides, minor errors in your work can actually make your art more unique and will add to its personal value.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • 1/2-inch-thick plywood
  • Glass
  • Wheeled glass cutter
  • Wire mesh
  • Weldbond adhesive
  • Mosaic cement
  • Grout
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Instructions

    • 1
      Start with sketching a simple design.

      Draw a rough sketch on a piece of paper of an image you would like to create. For beginners, this should be a fairly simple image, with about the same amount of detail you would find in a coloring book. Once you have some experience, try more complex designs.

    • 2

      Create a drawing from your sketch that's the same size you want your mosaic to be.

    • 3

      Choose the colors you would like to use for the mosaic and decide what size of glass pieces you would like to use. If there are spaces in your sketch that require small pieces, such as nooks, be sure to account for these spaces when cutting the glass.

    • 4
      Materials can come from any source, such as old bottles or dishes.

      Gather your glass materials. These can come from beads, bottles, plates or any other material you can find.

    • 5

      Cut the glass into uniform shapes and sizes using a wheeled glass cutter.

    • 6

      Arrange the final drawing on your work area, and place the mesh over it. Using the mosaic adhesive, glue the glass pieces in place. Be sure to use the glue sparingly, and don't leave more than 1/8-inch of space between the glass pieces.

    • 7

      Prepare the ceramic cement according to the package's instructions, and spread it over the plywood.

    • 8

      Place the mesh with the glass onto the prepared plywood, and gently press down until it is secure. Allow the cement to dry according to the package directions.

    • 9

      Apply grout to the mosaic according to the package directions. Be sure to clean up any excess grout as you work. Allow the grout to dry. Be sure to complete this step outside, as the grout can be quite messy.

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