| Fused Mosaic Tile Tutorial by Patti Gill Materials list: 3 copies of your pattern. 1 copy to cut up, 1 copy to work off of and 1 copy for your records and just in case! This can be anything. Stained glass patterns work really well, applique patterns work well, even pictures out of coloring books! Be sure to match the size to your 6" tile using a photocopy machine. All glass must be compatible! I will be working with Bullseye fusible glass. Clear fusible glass. Enough to cut a 6 1/4" square. Fusible glass for your pattern pieces. Fusible glass for your mosaic tiles Powdered fusible frit in your "grout" color (I'm guessing a couple ounces but I really don't know because I work out of a 1 lb jar) White Elmers glue Xacto knife with a curved blade or paring knife Rubbing alcohol Toothpicks Tweezers Sharpie pen As far as glass equipment goes: Ability to score and cut glass Glass grinder Glass nippers (the ones with the wheels preferably) Kiln Shelf paper or kiln wash Ready? Let's go :) 1. File away one copy of your pattern. Number 2 copies of your patterns identically making sure to mark an up arrow on each piece. One copy will be cut up and the other is for reference. |
| 2. Using just one of the numbered copies, cut out first along the outline and then trim off an additional approximate 1/16" of the pattern (this is the allowance for the grout lines). |
| 3. Re-assemble your pattern pieces to make sure they fit together while leaving room for the grout lines. |
| 5. Using whatever method works best for you, transfer your pattern to the glass. I prefer to trace around the pieces, but many people glue the pieces onto the glass. |
| 4. Cut a clear piece of glass 1/4" larger than your final tile size. So if you want a 6" tile, cut a 6 1/4" square of clear. |
| 7. Grind the pieces so they fit will together leaving 1/16 - 1/8" between each piece for grout lines. |
| 6. Cut the pieces of glass. |
| 8. Cut a bunch (100 for a 6" tile) of 1/2" squares. |
| 9. Clean your pattern pieces (not the mosaic tiles yet) and the clear glass THOROUGHLY. Some people swear by soap and water. I prefer rubbing alcohol. Lay the clear glass, SMOOTHEST SIDE UP (very important) on something clean (it will be there a while). A cookie sheet covered with a clean tee towel works well :) |
| 10. Lay the pattern pieces on the clear glass wherever you would like the final pattern to rest and lay out one vertical (not shown) and one horizontal row of tiles. I like to leave enough room for at least one row of mosaic tiles on all 4 sides of the pattern. Be sure that the pieces are pretty tightly fit, but leave room for the grout. If there is too large a gap between the pieces, the grout will separate and you will see clear glass between them. |
| 11. Before starting, take just a moment to remind yourself that you are looking at the back side of the tile. You will not be able to see the front side of your tile until it comes out of the kiln! Mix up a small batch of glue consisting of 1/2 Elmers white glue and 1/2 water. Just a word about gluing before we start. The biggest obstacle I had to overcome with this technique was the problem of the powdered glass grout creeping under my pattern pieces. While gluing down the pattern pieces as well as the mosaic tile, you are not only keeping them in place, but also trying to "seal" the pieces to the clear glass which prevents the "grout" from creeping between your pattern pieces and the clear cap. So when applying the glue to the "right side" of the glass, try to "puddle" the glue on the glass and cover it completely. |
Fused Mosaic Tile Page 1
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