miycreations, mosaic garden ball, diy garden mosaic

Miy Garden Decor Project
C r e a t i o n s & I n s p i r a t i o n s
"f o r t h e p u r e j o y o f m a k i n g t h i n g s"

Miycreations Project article and photographs
by Madeleine M Langlois

Mosaic Garden Gazing Ball
“Mosaic gazing balls will add an ambiance of mystique to any garden.”

Hands-on time: Half a day
Total time: Needs 48 hours to cure
Skill: Easy skill patience is required)

Materials & tools:

-Protective eyewear and gloves
-Tiles of your choice. and colors and (broken in small pieces)
-An old heavy towel
-Hammer
-Tile cutter or nipper (optional)
-Styrofoam ball, approximately 6 inches (15cm) in diameter
-Jar lid from a peanut-butter container (to use as a stand)
-Tile adhesive, available at hardware stores
-Colored crystal accent pieces, available at Wal-Mart
-Glass beads, available at craft stores, dollar stores, florists and at pet shops
-Mapei (fast-curing polymer tile grout) available in assorted colours at hardware stores
-Old bowl or disposable container
-Spatula or spoon
-Ziploc bag and scissors
-Flat rectangle sponge, or a sponge sanding block
-An old toothbrush
-Damp cloth, clean rags or paper towels

This Spring decorate your garden with mystic, give it spirit with a hand-crafted mosaic
gazing ball.

First you need to plan the design, colors and theme for your project. I made five flowers
around the ball, using pink crystal petals, green crystal leaves, yellow glass beads for
the center of the flowers, and electric-blue mosaic tile pieces placed around the floral
design. I used leftover tiles from a previous bathroom renovation.

Make sure that you are wearing protective eyewear and gloves. Take two to four tiles at
a time, wrap them inside a heavy towel, put them on a hard surface, and smash them
two or three times with the hammer. Open the towel to see if you have enough small
pieces; repeat if needed. You can also use a tile cutter or nipper to prepare smaller
mosaic pieces.

Place the Styrofoam ball on the jar lid, to serve as a stand for the next few steps. With
the adhesive, put the crystal pieces and glass beads into place while rotating the ball.
Once all the pieces are applied, repeat the same procedure for the mosaic pieces
around the design until the ball is covered, working on one section at a time. Leave a
minimum of one-16th of an inch (1.5mm) spaces between pieces for the grout. Let
stand over night for the mosaic pieces to be secured in place.

With a spoon or spatula, mix the grout according to manufactures directions in a
disposable container or an old bowl. Let the mixture stand for about 15 to 20 minutes (it
needs to become a little thicker in consistency than recommended on the directions,
since it is use on a round surface).

Put the mixture into a Ziploc bag, and cut a small diagonal hole in one corner. Using the
bag like a cake-icer, squeeze out the mixture to fill in all of the gaps around all of the
mosaic pieces while rotating the ball. (an extra set of hands to help you here is a good
idea). This is where the project gets messy before it gets better.

Once all of the gaps are filled, take a damp, flat sponge and wipe all around the ball to
remove excess grout. Keep rinsing the sponge throughout this step. Let the ball stand
for 30 to 40 minutes, and wipe again (you might have to repeat a few times). Use a
toothbrush to remove excess grout in the grooves.

Let the ball dry and cure for 48 hours until it has completely hardened. Use a damp
cloth for the final polishing. Place the gazing ball on a stand in your garden - preferably
a sunny spot - and watch it sparkle.

Tips: Tips: Try different decorating ideas, like displaying the balls in baskets, or on
front steps, or placing one in a bird bath. Pebbles and even costume jewelry can be
part of your mosaic design. Bring the outdoors in for the winter, to add dazzle your
entrance hall or fireplace mantle.