Materials:
wooden furniture (an old thrift store bench is featured)
fine sandpaper
soft cloth
1 quart latex paint in desired base coat color
paintbrushes
clear acrylic finish
white craft glue
various pieces of art paper (base colors and types on chosen design)
craft knife, scissors, cutting mat and ruler (optional)
art books on Etruscan or Italian mosaics/tiles for inspiration
drawing paper and pencil
Steps:
- Lightly sand piece and wipe clean.
- Apply a coat of chosen paint and let dry.
- While paint is drying, refer to art books or magazines to choose and draw a rough design.
- Transfer design to furniture with a pencil.
- Use scissors and a craft knife to cut pieces of art paper into approximately one to 1-1/2-inch squares (to resemble real tile). Work with a variety of colors for a fun finished piece.
- Begin placing paper tiles onto furniture as desired.
- Once satisfied, attach each tile with white craft glue that dries clear, leaving about a 1/8-inch area around each (figure A). Press firmly to avoid air bubbles and turned-up edges. Place a heavy object on top as you go to keep paper flat. Cover entire surface and let dry overnight.
- Lightly sand over paper tiles to soften the edges and create a smooth surface. Wipe clean.
- Apply two coats of acrylic finish (allow to dry and sand lightly between coats).
Tips:
- This is a useful bench in a bathroom or entryway.
- Use a tinted varnish to finish the piece if desired. This will give it a toned -down look that will slightly yellow with age (figure B).
- Simplify this project by making a wooden footstool with children using colorful construction paper.
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