DIY Photo Frame

Have you ever wanted to design your tiles? This new project takes you through the four simple steps of creating tiles in your theme and colour scheme. Add images, photos, quotes and words with ease. Using transparent glass tiles, adhere the paper and trim the excess to create your mosaic. Create a personalised piece for yourself or make a treasured gift. The extent to which your project can be personalised is endless.

Transparent glass tiles come in a range of sizes and shapes, click here to view the range.

You can create personalised mosaic tiles in 4 easy steps.

STEPS

1. Choose your paper

What types of paper can you use?

Colour photocopies
Black & white photocopies
Tissue paper
Wrapping paper
Scrapbooking paper

Avoid gloss paper as it doesn’t work well; the paper needs to be porous.

2. Apply the paper

Use a clear drying PVA adhesive, like Weldbond or Sullivans.
Have you selection of transparent glass tiles ready to use.
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.

3. 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 a 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.
You can use a mix of commercially manufactured and paper-backed tiles in your design.
When planning your design, use the same shapes throughout the design, for instance, a rectangle or square and keep them in a straight line. This will reduce the amount of cutting and filling of spaces you will need to do.

Tile Cutting

Use two-wheeled glass cutters to cut the tiles. Cut the tile as you usually would but be careful to keep the paper backing intact. I pre-cut the tile to size for fiddly cuts and then apply the paper.
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.

4. 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.

Legal Disclaimer: No warranty is implied by these instructions. Use at your own risk. The Mosaic Store and its proprietors are not responsible for the results of any actions taken based on this information, nor for any omission in the advice. Please wear appropriate safety equipment when cutting mosaic materials and using grouts and adhesives. Keep out of reach of children.Text