Learn How To Make Picture Tiles

This article demonstrates just how easy it is to make your own picture tiles. They are a fantastic way to incorporate special memories, words or designs into your projects. You can really let your creativity go wild these tiles. Other ideas include making your own glass pendants, magnets or special decorations to hang from the Christmas tree.

Materials

Clear Glass Tiles
Scissors or sharp craft knife
Good quality clear drying PVA adhesive
Image to adhere to tile (make sure the quality is good)
Rotary Wheel Nipper - to cut the tiles (optional)

1. Gather Your Memories

Your memories can include photos, works of art, letters, clipping from newspapers or poems. You can include anything that can be adhered to a glass tile!

2. Photocopy Your Memories

I've used a combination of full-colour images and black and white. The memories have been re-sized to fit into 5cm tile. If you have a letter or item that is too large, consider using a segment of it.

3. Glue The Paper Images To Your Tiles

Use a clear drying PVA adhesive, like Weldbond or Sullivans.
Brush the adhesive onto the paper, ensuring that you cover an area the size of the tile. Apply the paper to the back of the transparent glass tile.
Work the excess glue from under the tile. You could use a small ruler or squeegee to do this by gently rubbing it over the tile.
Leave it to dry completely, then cut the excess paper from around the tile using a pair of sharp scissors.

4. Adhere Your Tiles To The Base

A thin coat is all you need as they aren't heavy and have a paper backing.
Once you've adhered the paper to the tile, don't change the placement, as you could wreck the tile.
Keep the tiles close together to minimise the amount of grout you will need.
I've cut some of the tiles into smaller sizes and rectangles to add size and shape variation to the mosaic. You might choose not to cut your tiles; it's entirely up to you.

5. Tile Cutting

As the tiles are 5cm in size, I've used a Rotary Wheel Nipper to cut them. Rotary Wheel Nipper has a wheel to score the surface of the tile. Run this over the face of the tile, creating a scoring line. Then place the tile in the breaker arm and press down; it will break the tile along the scoring line.
If the paper doesn't break completely, use a box cutter or craft knife to cut the paper or bend the tiles upwards, so the paper doesn't tear.
If you have a two-wheeled glass cutter, you can use it to cut smaller-sized tile pieces. Using this tool to cut a 5cm tile will result in irregular shapes.

6. Grouting

Mix your powdered grout with water to create a thick paste. This is to reduce the amount of water, these tiles are paper-backed, and water is not their friend. If you use too much water, it will creep under the tiles creating watermarks. Mix the grout to a smooth paste with no lumps. Keep some of your grout aside just in case you need to thicken the grout later.
Spread the grout all over the top of the tiles and sides, making sure to work it into the gaps.
Once you have applied the grout, you will need to wipe it off straight away; we recommend using wet ones as they contain just the right amount of moisture. If you use a sponge, you will have too much water.
Once you have wiped away the excess grout, allow it to dry for 20 minutes, use a soft cloth, and wipe the mosaic clean.