mosaic flower pots {part 1}

Tile has to be one of my favorite craft mediums to work with.
Don't let mosaics intimidate you!
I promise you, mosaics are super easy,
very forgiving (after all, you are making broken things look pretty!),
and lots of fun!

I'm in the process of making some flower & herb mosaic pots for my Momma's and I thought I would share the step-by-step "how-to" with ya'll!

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mosaic flower pots {part 1}

What you will need:
terra cotta pot (any size)
tile or dishes
hammer
tile nippers (optional)
ceramic tile adhesive
old butter knife or small putty knife
old towel to break tile on
brown paper opened up and laid down on your work surface to catch the mess (i use my old grocery bags)

Start by picking out your tiles/plates.
Turn them face down on a towel.
I always lay my towel down on carpet & then break my tile there. Less noise to wake up the kids and I don't have to worry about hitting it too hard and breaking the tile flooring too (cause that is something that totally would happen to me).
Here is what the tile looks like after broken & turned face-up.
If you don't like the break pattern, turn it back over and whack it some more.

Or, you can use your tile nippers to nip away at the tile to get it into the shape you'd like.

To apply the tile,

 I use this ceramic tile adhesive (purchased at Home Depot).

I use a butter knife to apply the adhesive.

  Spread out the adhesive evenly 

(if you are into depth measurements, it will be like 1/8" thick).

I work with small areas at a time so that the adhesive isn't drying.

  When you are ready to apply the tile, 

press the piece into the adhesive until you can feel it being grabbed 

by the adhesive and you have it pressed down all the way.

Note - Once you have a piece in place, do not move it.

If you want to reposition a piece, 

remove it, add more adhesive in that spot 

and then press the piece back down.

My arm usually gets tired of holding the pot
(silly tendonitis!)
so I have found that resting the pot on the adhesive tub
while I am working is super helpful...

Applying more adhesive as I go...

All my pots have tile attached!

Now I am waiting till the adhesive drys (24hrs) and then I will grout them.

If you are interested in what the finished project will look like,
click on over to
mosaic flower pots {part 2}

Blessings to you all!
Janiene