Mosaic a Different Shape

Now that Wedi board is readily available, take a leap and mosaic something wild. If your normal substrate is a square, cut out a circle instead. If you normally use a circle then cut out a wavy rectangle. The shape of your substrate can completely change the look of your finished piece. The piece shown is done on Wedi.

Once I found Wedi I realized that I could cut out circles very easily. To get a large circle, tie a string that is the length of your radius (distance from the center of the circle to the outer edge) to a thumbtack and then tie the other end to a pen, marker, or pencil. Stick the tack in the center of your board and drag the pen around to form a circle. This is the same process as using a compass but allows you to draw a large circle.

After you get your circle drawn on the Wedi then take your utility knife and cut it out. There will be rough edges unless you are perfect at cutting. If so, just scrape them off to even out the edge.

If you want to do a wavy rectangle just draw your pattern before cutting it out. You have the freedom to make it look like whatever your fancy is at the time. As I always say...try something different whether it be a new tesserae or a new substrate or even just a new shape!

Wedi Board

As you probably know, we are carrying Wedi board again. This is my all time favorite substrate to use. It is the easiest to use. If you have never used it before then read my Wedi review below.

Wediboard is a lightweight substrate that you can literally cut with a utility knife. It has a styrofoam center covered in a layer of mesh and then a layer of cement. Even though it is so lightweight, it will hold a lot of weight. This includes the weight of glass mosaic tiles! My favorite thing to mosaic is a round shape. This is very difficult to achieve with a wood base. But with Wedi, I can cut whatever size circle I want with my utility knife. I don't have to ask my hubby to cut my surfaces anymore!

Wedi board comes in two thicknesses, 1/2" and 1/4". While the 1/4" is perfect for some projects, I think hanging 1/2" is so much easier. This is because I found this cool hanging nail thingy at Lowe's that makes it a snap. All you do is hammer the sharp end into the wall where you want your finished piece to hang. Then take your mosaic and press it onto the blunt end of the nail thingy. That is it! I have a piece in my showroom that is about 2 1/2 feet in diameter that is hanging this way with no problems. As long as you get the right size, it won't poke through to your surface and pop your tiles off. Please remember that you can't do this with 1/4". It is too thin.

The other issue people have is with how to finish the edges of Wedi. When you cut it there will be exposed edges that show the blue styrofoam. I have done several things to cover it. The best way for me is to simply rub my grout along the edge. It covers the edges and keeps consistency with the grout color of the mosaic itself. I have also used the copper foil from stained glass stores and the aluminum tape from Lowes for duct work. It all works well for me I just prefer the look of the grouted edge.

I have heard people say that Wedi cannot be used outdoors. However on the Wedi website it shows that they use this stuff to create showers and such. I imagine it would be fine as long as you prep it well by covering all of your exposed edges with thinset.

There will be more to come on the subject of Wedi...

Is a latex additive necessary?

Yes and No

Latex additive is a liquid that you would add to your thinset mortar instead of water when mixing. It makes the thinset more flexible once it dries and makes it very sticky. So why would you need this stuff?

Glass tiles are nonporous. This is what makes them great for use outdoors. You don't have to worry about water absorption and then freezing issues. However since they are nonporous it is a little bit harder for the thinset to grab and hold these tiles. The latex creates an amazing bond between the glass and the thinset that will make you feel safe that your tiles are going to stay on.

Obviously if you are using any other adhesive the latex additive is not necessary. Or if you are using ceramic or porcelain there is really no need for it. But it doesn't hurt to use it since it does add the flexibility of the thinset.

New Stuff

It is that time of year when we say out with the old and in with the new! This means that we are discontinuing some items while getting some new things in stock. New stuff is always a lot of fun around Tile Shack. It is like Christmas everytime a new shipment comes into the warehouse!

So what is new for 2008? We have 15 new colors of AfterGlow Series. The pics on the website are actually pretty horrible right now. This tile is difficult to photograph. The shipment is due in this week so we will get better pics then. Basically there are a lot of the softer colors needed to round out this tile line. There is a soft yellow, bright white, mauves, and many pastel shades.

We also are now carrying Wediboard in the form of Wedi Packs. Wedi gets destroyed when shipped by the full sheet so we found a company that will be drop shipping this for us in precut sizes. We will have a few packs in stock at our showroom too. Those are due to arrive this week too.

If you love iridescent tile then you are going to love the Luster Series. It is everything that the Fantastix is not. These colors are pastels with a smooth iridescence to them. They are also 3/4" so they can be incorporated with all of the other 3/4" tiles that we have.

We are now selling our Mapei grout and thin set in 5 pound resealable buckets. This keeps you from having to buy it in 25 pound bags only to have it go bad on you. I have had so many people tell me that they want to use the latex additive in their thinset but don't want to buy that huge jug at the home stores. So along with the grout and thinset we are also selling grout sealer and latex additive in smaller sizes.

We have several other new items that will be on their way from overseas soon. We will announce those when they get a little closer.

Now what are we getting rid of??? It is not by choice but the Sq Palette is being discontinued by our supplier :(. We love this tile and still have a bunch in stock. Just remember to buy all that you need for your project at once. As we run out of colors we will just remove them from our site.

The glass shapes and electric gems are not going to be restocked. If you need a large amount of the glass shapes let me know. I can make you a deal on these.

If there is anything we don't have that you would like us to carry, let me know. We are always looking for new and exciting products.

Electricity is back on!

We froze for most of the day but we now have power at the store. Orders flew out the door today and more will go tomorrow. We really appreciate your patience with this situation.

Oklahoma Ice Storm

We didn't think it would be this bad but Oklahoma got hit hard with an ice storm over the weekend. We chipped off over 1 inch of ice yesterday from our cars. It is weighing down trees and snapping power lines like crazy.

This storm has knocked out power to over 200,000 people. This includes Tile Shack's showroom! We are still packing out orders but it is taking a little longer than usual. Wandering around a warehouse in the dark is difficult! So please be patient with us.

If you have any questions, feel free to email us. I have power at home so I can check email often. I am also checking voice messages from home and can return your call easily.

They say the power won't be fully restored until next week. Let's just hope that happens a lot sooner!

Mosaic a Terra Cotta Pot

One of the most popular applications of mosaic tile is on a terra cotta pot. These finished pieces make great gifts and look terrific no matter what you put on them. Creating a mosaic pot is a little different than doing a piece that will hang on a wall but is usually what a first time mosaic artist to be wants to do.

Prepping your pot is extremely important. You have to seal it on the inside, outside, bottom, and top. This is very important since terra cotta is very water absorbent. Use a mixture of 1 part Weldbond and 5 parts water. Brush this on every surface of the pot and allow to dry. After the sealer has dried then you can draw your design directly onto the pot with a pencil.

Using the proper adhesive is important too. I always recommend using Liquid Nails for Small Projects (not the clear stuff). This adhesive is very tacky so you don’t have to deal with your tiles sliding down your pot while you work. It is also great for a piece that will sit outdoors as it is not water soluble.

Choosing glass tiles is the safest tesserae since these can be set outside without any worries of freezing temperatures. They are also small enough to go around your pot smoothly. You will still probably need to cut these down with the wheeled cutters so they lay flat. I usually lay the pot on a towel in my lap to work on the sides. It makes it easier to see the design.

You are going to grout as you normally would. It is sometimes easier to turn the pot upside down and grout from the bottom up. This is especially true with angled sides of a terra cotta pot. After the grout has cured for at least 48 hours, seal it well. Your beautiful pot is ready to set out on your patio for years and years.

Project Idea #4 - Christmas Ornament Mosaic

Christmas ornaments make great Christmas presents especially when they are handmade. Mosaic ornaments are beautiful when done with glass tiles. They reflect light and really twinkle.

Materials Needed:

1 plastic ornament

Glass tiles

Wheeled Cutters

Liquid Nails or silicone adhesive

Grout kit

The plastic ornament can be found at various dollar stores. They are usually covered in a ribbon like material. This can be pulled off easily.

You can choose to use MatrixColor Q-Tiles or any other tiles. If you use larger tiles they will have to be cut down to smaller sizes to fit around the curves of the ornament.

The adhesive you use depends a lot on the tiles. If the tiles you use are translucent then use silicone. If they are completely opaque then use Liquid Nails. Don't use too much so you don't have glue squishing up around your tiles.

Attach the tiles in whatever design you choose. You will find it easiest to lay the ornament on a towel so it won't roll while working. You will probably have to attach one side of tiles and let these set up before turning the ornament over to do the other side. Always check back to make sure your first tiles didn't slide down.

After the glue has completely set, you will grout as normal. You will need to clean off the hanger part well when clearing the grout. Use q tips or something similar to get it out of the grooves.

These ornaments are heavy but still hang on a tree nicely with no worries of falling off. Whoever receives this as a gift will love and cherish it forever.