How to Create a Coffee Mug Mosaic Wall Hanging

Materials and Tools:

8½-by-11-inch primed plywood
12-inch squares of art glass: black, blue, light blue, gray, mirror, brown
oil glass cutter
glass nippers
clear silicone latex caulk
white sanded grout
sponges
glass cutter
pencil
black permanent marker
grout
gloves
safety goggles

Steps:

1. Sand and prime plywood. This will be the "canvas" for the mosaic painting. Transfer a sketch of the project to the wood, using pencil and permanent marker.

2. Cut a large piece of black glass into manageable tile pieces. Use the oil cutter to cut blue, light blue, brown and mirror glass into small tiles. It helps to separate the glass into color-matched piles.

3. Make the outline of the coffee cup and saucer from black glass.

4. Cut the lettering for cuppa joe from black glass.

5. Cut a brown circle for the coffee color.

6. Cut the curls of steam from gray glass.

7. Cut the main body of the cup and saucer with mirror glass. Cut the shadow section of the cup and saucer from blue glass.

8. Cut the background tiles from light blue glass.

9. Glue all pieces in place. Optional: To use an ancient mosaic technique called "haloing," place two rows of blue tile around the cup and saucer and curls of steam in a circular fashion, as pictured. Then apply all remaining background tiles in straight rows that line up both vertically and horizontally.

10. Let the mosaic dry for 24 hours.

11. Mix grout and allow to set up. Apply grout to the entire tiled piece. Clean off the remaining grout and haze.