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.