How to Make a Mosaic Planter

A mosaic planter makes a beautiful addition to a garden, outdoor patio, or as a decorative fixture inside the home. Learning how to make a mosaic planter is not at difficult as you may think, and it can be made for a lot less than what you would pay for one in the store. Use mismatched China dishes you already have at home, or pick up an odd set at a yard sale or flea market for very little money. Use the easy-to-follow instructions and supply list below to make a mosaic planter today!

Materials needed to make a mosaic planter:

– Terra cotta or ceramic planter
– China dishes
– Hammer
– Newspaper
– Towel or heavy rag
– Mosaic tile adhesive
– Sanded grout
– Craft sticks
– Sponge
– Putty knife
– Safety goggles and gloves

How to make a mosaic planter:

STEP 1 – Wearing safety goggles and gloves, wrap the dishes in newspaper and a towel or heavy rag and break them up using a hammer. You’ll want to break up the China until you have workable pieces of varying sizes. Pick out the smallest pieces and set them aside.

STEP 2 – We’ll begin by covering the rim of the planter with the smaller pieces. Use a craft stick to apply the tile adhesive to back of one of the small pieces. Press it on the rim of the planter and continue this process until the rim is covered entirely with all the small pieces. For best results, keep the spacing between the tiles as uniform as possible. You’ll want to have approximately the same amount of spacing between each one. (SAFETY TIP – Wear gloves during this process to keep the adhesive off your hands)

STEP 3 – Wipe off the excess adhesive from the tiles with a damp sponge.

STEP 4 – Attach the larger pieces to the remaining area of the planter. Use the same technique listed in STEP 2 and STEP 3.

STEP 5 – Allow the mosaic planter to sit overnight.

STEP 6 – Using a putty knife, apply the grout beginning at the rim, and work all around the top and body of the mosaic planter. Take care to get the grout inside the crevices between the mosaic pattern. If necessary, use a craft stick or your finger to get into small cracks and spaces. Press the grout firmly all around the planter. There’s no such thing as applying too much grout!

STEP 7 – Wipe the entire mosaic planter down with a damp sponge. Allow the grout to dry according to package directions. After the allotted time has passed, wipe it down again. Remove all trace of grout residue, and use a putty knife to chip off any excess pieces of grout that you find difficult to remove from the top of the mosaic.

STEP 8 – Use a clean dry cloth to buff the mosaic planter.

TIP – Once your mosaic planter is complete, allow it to cure for several days before using. Wrap it in newspaper and set it out of the way during this process.

More from Jennifer Wagner:

Easy Wood Garden Signs for Crafters

How to Make a Cactus Garden

Ideas for Unusual Garden Containers

SOURCE:

Personal knowledge and experience

Jennifer Wagner – Yahoo! Contributor Network