Glass to Go: Kit

A mosaic is an artwork that is made of tiny parts to create an image, pattern, or decorative motif. Create your own custom mosaic artwork to hang, display, or use as a coaster! Arrange small pieces of colorful glass on our fun shaped bases to produce a unique piece of your own design.

Mosaics as an art form have been around for thousands of years. were first discovered in ancient Mesopotamia, where small pieces of tile were found in a temple about 4,000 years ago! It wasn’t until the ancient Greeks and Romans that mosaics began to depict real-life scenes, patterns, and symbols. These ancient artworks laid the groundwork for contemporary artists practicing today.

Modern mosaics are found on everything from park benches and flower pots to windows and guitars. Artworks can be as small as an earring or a large mural on a building. You might have noticed the mosaic on the front of PGC or the artwork in the windows by Pittsburgh artist, Daviea Davis. Mosaics can also be used in kitchen backsplashes, craft projects, gardens, and as fine art or public art.

Pictured left to right: Mosaic tree stump, Pittsburgh Glass Center mosaic, mosaic tires by artist Jason Middlebrook Daviea Davis Pittsburgh mosaic.

Make a Mosaic

Things You’ll Need (provided): ● Mosaic Glass Pieces: Decorative glass in a variety of shapes and colors. ● Base: The item you will make your mosaic on. Choose from many shapes. ● Adhesive: This is how you attach your mosaic to your base. ● Craft Stick: Safety first! Never dig through glass with your hands. Use this craft stick to search through your glass for the pieces you want to use. Craft Stick doubles as a grouting mixer and spreading tool! ● Grout: This is a cement-like mixture used to fill the gaps between and unite the pieces of a mosaic.

Additional Supplies (not provided): ● Tray or Plate: Used to contain your work space. Pour your glass out on a tray or shallow plate. Glass shards can be hard to see and dangerous on table surfaces. ● Grout Spreading Tool: A rubber spatula, craft stick, plastic knife, or trowel will help you spread grout over your artwork and in between glass pieces. Also used to scrape off excess grout. ● Grout Cleaning Tool: Use newspaper, towel, sponge, or rag to clean grout off glass and buff. ● Water: Use water to mix with the grout. ● Rubber Gloves: Grouting is messy. Gloves will protect your hands. ● Safety (optional): Anytime you are cutting glass you should ALWAYS wear safety eye protection. ● Nippers (optional): A tool used for cutting glass to be more precise with your designs. Safety Guidelines ● GLASS IS SHARP. Handle all materials carefully. Use the craft stick to search through your glass-- never dig through with your hands. Pick pieces up by the flat surfaces, as the edges are sharp. ● Wash your hands thoroughly after handling glass, adhesive, and grout. Do not touch your face or handle food without washing your hands. ● Anytime you are cutting glass you should ALWAYS wear safety eye protection. ● When you use nippers to , make sure that you work on a hard surface that can be easily swept. Glass shards can hide in a carpet for a nasty surprise later! ● Work in a space away from pets. Glass shards are invisible, so take care to work in a space where pets are unable to reach.

How to Make a Mosaic 1. PREPARE: Read through all of the safety guidelines and instructions. Gather all of your materials on a flat surface and cover your work surface with newspaper or other protective materials to keep it clean. Spread glass pieces into a shallow tray or plate. If you have a plexiglass base, remove adhesive cover from the side of the base you are mosaicing on. You may want to leave the other adhesive cover until the project is completed to reduce any scratching. TIP: Use provided craft stick to search through your glass. TIP: If any glass pieces have sharpie marks, use an alcohol based cleaner to wipe off. 2. CREATE: Create your design and attach your glass! We recommend laying out your design before gluing it down. Apply your glass pieces to the backing with the provided adhesive, make sure glass does not hang over any of the edges. You can either spread a layer of adhesive on the base to attach your glass, or apply the adhesive to the back of each piece individually. TIP: Use the craft stick to check your spacing. Glass pieces should have a space of about the thickness of the craft stick between them for grouting. 3. WAIT: Allow the glue to fully dry before grouting. Wait at least one hour to ensure the adhesive is fully dry. This is a great time to clean up your work space. Make sure all excess glass is removed from your area and refresh your newspaper. 4. MIX GROUT: You may want to grout outside to minimize any mess. Carefully add a teaspoon of water at a time to your container of grout and mix with a craft stick until you get a consistency like brownie batter. 5. GROUT MOSAIC: Cover your mosaic with grout using your choice of grout spreading tool or a gloved hand. Be sure to mush grout in between all of the pieces. Keep spreading around until the entire artwork is covered. TIP: Look closely and ensure that all of the spaces have been filled and that there are no bubbles. Once covered, scrape off any excess grout with the craft stick, and then wipe with newspaper, a sponge, or rag, making sure the grout is roughly flush or slightly lower than the glass around it. Allow grout to dry slightly (enough that it feels settled between glass pieces) then use a dry paper towel or rag to clean off any additional grout or residue from the glass pieces and make them shine! Allow to dry completely. PlexiGlass Bases: Remove adhesive covering from the back after grouting is finished!

To see a step-by-step instructional video visit: www.pittsburghglasscenter.org/glasstogo

Enjoy and Share: Please post a photo of your mosaic creations and tag us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @pghglasscenter and we might share your creation.

www.pittsburghglasscenter.org