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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 (1.5
mm) 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.
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