Mosaics For Beginners: Tutorial 1 - Essential Tools

Hello everyone and welcome to the beginning of a short course that looks at everything a beginner needs to start creating their own

mosaics

at home and without any technical materials that you don't really need before starting today. I'm going to go over all the

essential

tools

you need, these are the ones you really can't avoid without having before you start, but fortunately they are all very easily available and not too expensive, but, in case you are wondering where to get them, I will show some links in the description for you to see, but without further ado, let's get started first of all, if you are planning to cut any tiles then you will.

You need a pair of calipers and there are two types for you to choose from: the wheel caliper and the standard caliper. These curious looking wheel clamps are

essential

cutting

tools

if you want to cut glass tiles. The wheels have a very thin lip that grips. The tile, by squeezing the handles down into the pressure line this creates, cuts through the glass without breaking it. Tweezers can also be used for ceramic tiles, although they can be a little clumsy if cutting in long lines, but they are really good if you are doing detailed work, standard nipples, on the other hand, cannot be used with ceramic tiles. glass at all, they will always break the tile rather than cut it, but they are perfect for working with all types of unglazed ceramics, so depending on the type of support you want to work with will probably determine the type of tongs you want to buy.

If you are tempted by the bright, vibrant tones of glass, then opt for wheels if it is the soft tones of natural ceramics. which really stand out, then you can get away with just the standard tweezers, if you're into mixed media then you're obviously going to balance both, but also keep in mind that this is only if you're really looking to cut the tiles, These mirrors and these coasters, for example, were made without cutting a single tile and are perfect beginner projects if you're just starting out with

mosaics

and just want to get an idea, but if it's the crazy pavement style then you'll definitely need to cut the mosaics. if you want to achieve that look.

The second vital and perhaps most obvious tool for mosaics is the mosaics themselves. This is a pretty broad topic though, so I'm actually going to cover it in more detail in the next video, but for now you just need to know that mosaics come in a wide range of different shapes, colors and sizes, there are glass, ceramic tiles, Mira tiles, shiny wands, striped walls, matte, the ones you name. it's available, it's available, some need to be cut and some really should never be cut, some are easy to work with and there are some that will really test your patience and you should probably continue with them when you're a little further along. but as I say, we'll cover them in more detail in the next video, there are three types of glue that are traditionally used in mosaic PVA glue, which is that type of white material that you used when you were a kid and spread it with a plastic spatula big.

It's perfect for flat projects, so your mirrors frame borders anywhere it won't fight gravity in any way. Cheek PVA is ideal because it doesn't dry too quickly, giving you time to readjust the tiles if necessary. but when dry, it provides a nice firm grip. If you are creating projects that will have a gravitational problem, such as working on curved stones or flower pots, I would use a fabric glue, this is just another type of PVA, but it is much thicker and adheres more quickly than standard PVA, which It means your tiles are less likely to slide into the wrong position before they have had time to dry.

Lastly, you can use the tile grout as a glue if it is an adhesive tile grout. It already has PVA and by simply pressing the tiles you can use it to stick it to your surface. This type of grout provides a good strong bond and is ideal for freestyle projects such as decorating rocks or mosaics with children as they can simply press the tiles wherever they want and the only real drawback is that it can be difficult to reposition the tiles. Most tilers use grout between the tiles as it strengthens the entire piece, firms the tiles in place and the different colors of the grout could also have a very strong effect on the appearance of the entire piece.

White grout makes the individual tiles stand out but also shows off the colors of the tiles more effectively, while a soft gray will push the grout into the background and this makes it much easier to see. tiles as a large group of colors rather than small individual pieces, on the other hand, very dark grout stands out more and could almost become the main feature of the entire piece, just keep in mind that black or gray grout Very dark can also stain ceramic tiles, especially if they are paler, so it is generally best to work with dark grays and blacks on glass.

There are many things you can use as a board or objects to decorate with mosaics. The only rule is that it must be solid. The mosaic will break very easily if it is distorted in any way. Wood is perhaps the most obvious choice for interiors, as it is solid, cheap and easily cut into all sorts of shapes and sizes. I personally like to create Hannibal wall art and wood is perfect for this because it's not too heavy and you can easily attach the little frame hooks to the back, but you can also use old coasters, trays, mirrors, furniture, anything thing where you can stick something on it, you can make mosaics, you can even use other tiles, the big ones that you use.

For kitchens, for example, they are perfect plant supports because it doesn't matter if they get wet again. Please note that there are no cuts in this project. Good for

beginners

, it's a no-brainer, but if you plan on cutting tiles then you really need to do it. Invest in some glasses. Small flying pieces of glass or ceramic won't really do your eyes any good if they get into your eyes. A lightweight pair is fine, as long as they provide good coverage and are comfortable to wear when working with the tiles. I don't really need gloves and I tend not to use them just because I like to have a really good idea of ​​what I'm doing, but when it comes to applying grout, it's a good idea to get some rubber gloves just to give the regular grout some sun protection. it will really dry out your skin and the color will crack and stain quite a bit too and a halfway decent pair of rubber gloves will prevent that from happening.

You should also be careful when applying grout, as it can be easy to cut the tips of your fingers when running them over the cut edges, so it is often best to apply a generous amount of grout and then wipe off the excess with a sponge instead. Just use a smaller amount and try to press it between the tiles with your fingers and that's it. The basic tools you need to get started with mosaics as a hobby. It can be as simple or as complicated as you want. In the next video we will look at the different types of mosaics and cuts that you can use. them and especially looking at which ones are the most suitable for

beginners

, but I hope you enjoyed this little video and I hope to see you in the next one, bye.