How to Make Glass Mosaic Inlay Tile

Materials and Tools:

safety glasses
rubber gloves
dust mask
2 copies of a pattern
lead shears or mosaic shears
glass marker
opaque glass
glass cutter
running pliers
grozing pliers
grinder (optional)
form
white petroleum jelly
wooden work board larger than form
adhesive-backed vinyl large enough to cover pattern
wire mesh
hammer

Steps:

1. Cut one pattern apart.

2. Place pattern pieces on glass and trace around them using the glass marker. Remove pattern. Put on safety glasses and score (cut) the glass to the inside of the pattern line if using lead shears.

3. At this time, if so desired, glass can be ground down on the grinder in order to make it smooth and exact. Then arrange cut pieces of glass face up on the second pattern.

4. Cover the glass with the vinyl adhesive. Cut away excess vinyl.

5. Place the vinyl-covered glass, vinyl side down, into the bottom of the form. Next, place the form on the wooden work board.

6. Put on rubber gloves and dust mask. Mix premixed concrete with water according to the directions on the package. Pour half of the concrete mixture into the form, spreading it evenly over the glass and into the grout lines (between the glass pieces). Tap gently on the wooden board with the hammer to release air bubbles from the concrete.

7. Place wire mesh over the concrete in the form and pour in the remaining half of the concrete. Again, tap gently on the wooden board in order to release air bubbles. Allow concrete to remain in form, according to package directions, until it hardens.

8. Invert the form in order to remove concrete. Remove vinyl adhesive and any excess concrete from the glass. Glass can then be grouted in order to fill in the spaces between the concrete and the pieces of glass, if necessary.