Sorry, I meant the mosaics! Most of the posts I've read have shown various mosaic projects, both flat & 3d.

Go to the library. They have soo many books to give you ideas..lots and lots of ideas~and how to sections. I have many many books and all of them tell me something different. If you want to make something small look at my last thread on tray WIP it took me one day to do another day to grout and paint and one more day to put the resin on the tray. I would gladly help you (as would everyone) just let me know what you need to do.

LOL Caution Mosaics are addicting. There will be no way to hide it from hubby.

You need to seal your wood so when you grout the moisture does not get into the wood and make it swell. I use Oil base primer. For me the light white color of it makes the glass colors show up better. But you need to play with it to get what color primer is right for you. Wood is not good outside.

Grab a tube of GEll or E6000 or ?? and start laying down some glass. Have fun with it.

I have found tile nippers do not work well with glass. I use the lepps and some use the wheel cutters. I do not know how to use them yet.

There is a FAQ you can read actual step by step directions. I printed them out for my first piece and kept reading them over and over while working on the project. The FAQ in on the page you made your post at the top.

Welcome. Have fun with it. And do not forget we are visual people we like pictures.

Chris

Welcome, you will be hooked in no time at all!!!!
Yep, like Chickee said...check out books at the library. Start with a small project...I used wood sealer on my wood birdhouses and then I either used Weldbond (interior wood projects) or GE II clear caulk to start gluing glass or dish shards down. For exterior use, use thinset or the GE II. You've already got the glass so what are you waiting for? Start gluing and if you have any questions...just ask!

Barb

Just thought if this. I can link you to the FAQ. Of course you are welcome to come ask here. Hope this helps.

Here is a link that might be useful: FAQ

Wecome! Already addicted and you haven't sniffed a bit of silicone....ooops I mean you haven't glued anything LOL

Good advice above - Library books ( save money buying books for all the cool new supplies you will need). PLENTY of good info. FAQ, Reads past posts. A lot of the great people here have posted tutorials. And just ask!! You don't get that snotty "do a search" answer here, although the search at the top can be helpful too!!

Many of the sites that sell mosaic supplies have tutorials too. I linked one below for you

There is even a little advice here about how to hide...uh, slip it by...CONVINCE DH this is a good idea. LOL

And as Chris said we are visual, more pictures the better!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Happy Craftin's Mosaics

Wow, thanks everyone! I've got the FAQ bookmarked, will visit the library tomorrow. I think I want to make a small table top for the front porch, something to set my tea on (maybe 18x18?) while I'm reading... if I ever have time to read anymore;) I just had a thought, maybe I could use an 18x18 tile for a base... good idea or not? I could get my DH to weld some legs for me, he likes welding.

and while I was heating water for my tea, I decided I need to do a clay pot for a cutting my sons GF gave me, and also make a bowl out of pottery, glaze the inside & mosaic the outside just to see what it looks like. Maybe I'm getting carried away?

carried away? welcome to my world LOL

Tile as substrate for a little table is perfect, clay needs to be sealed inside and out, bowl sounds awesome. Did you see the bowl challenge gallery? anyone got links for panther???

Welcome, btw we like pics so be prepared to show us what you make too!

Thanks for the confirmation on the tile to make the table. I think I hear Home Depot calling me, I need a pot anyway. I think I read in one of these threads that I could use clear silicone to glue the pieces on if I use transparent glass..?

Hmm, I'm glad I mentioned the glazing the inside of a bowl only (pottery, another hobby), I just assumed that the pieces would stick better to the fired clay, but we all know what happens when we "assume":) I'm guessing I don't want to do that because the unglazed clay would absorb water? Oh my! Sometimes I don't like the glaze on a piece, and now I know what I can do with those pieces besides put them out in the garden with sand in them as butterfly drinking bowls!

I did a search, but can't find anything about a bowl challenge.

Hopefully I'll have something someday to post a picture of (photography is another hobby, ~~~ sigh)

Thanks so much for the help.

GEII silicone for windows and doors in clear is a favorite here, also thinset is a good choice for outdoor prodjects.

Indoors, weldbond is nice for horizontal work but on vertical - silicone rules.

here's the gallery of bowls

Here is a link that might be useful: bowls

WHAT DO YOU DO NOW? hehehe. Glue, glue, glue. So, glad you found us! Can't wait to see your first piece!

Books are the best thing for newbies. You learn stuff like grouting using a bucket. (I had no clue.) Dry grouting v. wet grouting. (Dry is better.) Plus what is the most economical tools to start out.

BTW- we have yet to meet someone who has gotten carried away. Nothing can be TOO MUCH! Have fun and welcome!!

Carried away - I was G.O.N.E. from my first mosaicing project, and can't find my way back to ANY of my former hobbies, so you might as well forget your other hobbies (except that pottery thing - what a combination!!), once you start mosaicing. Welcome to a fun playground. Along w/the advice above, visit Joys of Shards for a wonderful tutorial. As mentioned above, we are a helpful bunch. The main advice I can add is to really pay attention to the inside/outside issue. Your books/tutorials w/tell you which adhesives to use on which substrate. Ask away when you need more help. We love new people who post lots of pictures.

NT- shoot- really on the silicone indoors, huh? I already HAD the GEII from my BB project, and went out and got 2 tubies of E6000. Crud. This is for my vertical backsplash project. The silicone will stick to that hardibacker board?
Just checking. Thanks!

Hey panther- welcome to SGM! I've only been here a couple weeks, and I'm already hooked, and like you, I'm looking at every flat surface in my house with new ideas!!!! I'm still in "hunter/gatherer" mode, too. I'm collecting small tools, tiles, plates...whatever I can get my hands on. And looking up stuff on the internet for ideas. "coloring page" is a great couple words to add to the end of any search you might do, and from there, you might find other ideas...one idea leads to another, etc etc.

I've run the gammit on my backsplash idea from:

Abstract color shapes
Nature focal points
Turtle, frog, snail, slug, monkey simple shapes (I even thought I might add crafters "googly eyes" to them for fun)
Mandala circles
Currently thinking my space is smaller than I anticipated, and my 'skill' at cutting my plates isn't honed yet for 'smalti' type sizes, so I may go back to the abstract shapes idea.

Needless to say, the ultimate design has yet to be determined, it's still evolving considerably.

Welcome, Panther! You have a lot of good advice. I agree with Chickee about searching your library because there are so many wonderful books out there. Then add a few of your favorites to your Christmas list.

Where are you in Florida? Looks like you could be near since your page said zone 9. I live in St. Augustine.

welcome panther,glad to have you! I recommend going to a Barns and Noble or good bookstore and looking thru some books and buying some for inspiration.My library does not carry any here .The books are about 20.00 but i go over and over them loving to look at them.Also go online to SAMA and look at all the members art,you'll love it.Start with a small flowerpot or something and then just let go.On a flowerpot you can use thin-set for outdoors.

Mosaics had me at the first hello.

M&M - I HIGHLY recommend thinset for the hardibacker board for your backsplash.

WOW! Can you tell we like adding to our fold of addicts?!ha! Welcome Panther! Mosaicing is sooo much more forgiving and way faster than stained glass! All you need is some silicone adhesive and some grout, you can cut up you pcs with the tools you have! Just get started, you'll Love it!! Also, Rosemarythyme hasn't piped in yet, but there is a mosaic convention coming to Florida early next year and a few gals from this forum are going!Jane

And don't forget the one in Mexico on Feb. 17-24th.

I was lying in bed at 3am last night, and a memory was teasing me.

I finally remembered that long ago, though not far too, too away, in 7th grade, we did a project where we brought empty cans (soup I think) and we had the little ceramic tiles that come on a mesh background (1/2 inch I would guess, although that sounds too big) and we put them on our cans to make pencil holders. I wonder where that went.

I also got to thinking that I can make something in clay, and cut some recessed stripes in it, then fill them with some thinnish material for glitz after glazing.. although maybe that won't work, I'll have to see how deep I can cut the channels & how thin a glass/tile/?? I can find to fill them.

I think I have a bowling ball up in the attic that I'm sure my fingers won't even go in the holes anymore....

D3bbi, I'm just north of Tampa.

It sure is a good thing I took early retirement a few months ago!

oh yeah Panther...you are hooked if you are already dreaming about mosaics!!!!

Barb

Calamity,
Do you know where the convention will be held? It would be great to see things in person.

Welcome, panther! Another Floridan! I'm in Cape Coral.

ooh, yeah - sounds like you're hooked already.

Below is a link to a post where several of us provided names of our favorite books and some websites. I think you'll find this helpful.

Here is a link that might be useful: Helpful books

oh, and here's the info on the SAMA convention - it's in Miami!

Here is a link that might be useful: Sama site