Hi Deb, most use a ceramic tile as a base... wt isn't as much a concern with your plan as stability... grout is not a good "buildling" up product, and it isn't used as an adhesive. You could build up to the ht you desire with resin or even thinset 1st, allow that to cure and then mosaic over it.

Thank you so much, I will look into what you have suggested !

Curious for the mosaic trivet, should it be sprayed with something since this may be used for hot items ????
Deb

Well I played some today on the plate trivet, I guess I should have the tiles closer. Not sure what I want to do about the grout, use just the white or try a color ?

Wanted to play alittle with this before I tried the inside of the cabinet.

Now I see that I cannot get my picture to show ? I put it on Photobucket and copied link, what did I do wrong ?
Any thoughts, help or tips is appreciated.

Well DEB: You're off to a good start. You have the outside red edge all lined up nicely. Since you're asking for opinions, I'll toss in mine. If you cut your blue ones smaller, there won't be as much space between the tops. For a really nice look you could keystone them - that's cutting them smaller at the bottom than the top - sorta like you have those pointy ones in the middle. Then your third row of reds - same thing - cut smaller pieces, or keystone - Google for tutorials on keystoning. Of course, that goes for the same in the middle. If you don't want to go the keystoning way, just break them randomly and piece them together like a puzzle to fit more closely. Others w/come in w/more suggestions. Are you hooked yet? Anxious to see your cabinet work.

I realized I should have given you a website to show keystoning.
keystoning

Thank you so much !!! Great tips. I just need to figure out how to cut the pieces, I purchased these already cut on Ebay. This is my niece's pattern and thought I would practice on this to get some tips before I attack the cabinet.

Keep those tips coming.

Deb, do you have a pair of wheeled nippers? My husband recently bought me a really decent pair at harbor freight for 9 bucks and they're working just as well as my leponitts. I suggest them over the tile nippers because they give you a little more control.

on grout, I find using a grout that is lighter in color that the tesserae will make your grout lines look bigger and your eye will see grout as forward and the tess looks small and in the background... so for that reason I would rarely choose white acept in special circumstances

Here is a link that might be useful: wheeled nipper example

Thanks, what color would you suggest for this plate in the way of grout ? Thanks for the link for the nipper, I am going out later this week and will go by Harbor Freight

I think a dark green would be a good choice.

here's a link to a grouterizer, to help you see what different colors look like with different color grouts

Here is a link that might be useful: grouterizer

You are using the same plates I am using right now! That must have been a popular line of dinnerware. I used the orange and yellow paired stripes in a pattern as well.
The grouterizer is fun.

WOW what a great site I love the grouterizer !!!

I love those colors. My two cents: I would place three more triangle shaped pieces in the spaces in the center, and I would go with Sandstone sanded grout.

ahh a warm neutral... would work just as well as Slow's preferred gray

even a deep terra cotta would be good... Ok, I don't tend to be a nuetral grout kinda girl LOL... I suggest you try looking at mosaics and really think about how the grout is working in them...

About the grout, my advice is to use any other color than white. The mosaics I have done in the past where I used white grout were my least favorites. I went back and painted the grout on all of them.

In the past, I have used black, grey, ocean blue, sandstone, bone, terra cotta, and liked them all.

If you go to the link below and scroll all the way down to the end of the article, you will see an example of pale brown grout which is what I used on my stairs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Silva's stairs

I learn more on this group than any other place, book, etc. So glad you mentioned the plexiglass. I am tentatively planning a backsplash and was wondering how I would hold up climbing on the counter to do it.
Does Wedi board have flex to it?

Wow, both the "grouterizer" page and Silvamae's stairs have me been bookmarked! You all are so freakin' knowledgeable. Thanks!
Becky

ernie, Wedi does not have flex to it. It is excellent for mosaic. I recently did a 7 ft. mosaic piece on Wedi and right now I am working on a 5 ft. x 6 ft. sign on Wedi (for outdoors).

Here is a link that might be useful: Silva's blog (space mosaic and sign)

I love everyone's suggestion for the grout colors. I need to think about what I want to do. I do know that I want to add some pieces to the middle.

I know that the grout color on this piece will be very important, since I have alot of space between most pieces, good thing this is a practice piece.

THANK you all so much for the help.

Pictures! Pictures!