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Please note: Thank you for visiting my Cottage Garden topic and reading my columns, published here from February 1997 through spring 2003! This Cottage Garden column was written by Barbara M. Martin and is Copyrighted, including any photos, by Barbara M. Martin. It may not be altered or copied or published elsewhere in whole or in part without specific permission from the author. I regret I am no longer actively editing or contributing to this suite101.com topic as of mid-2003. Happy Gardening!
Last time, in Part 1, we discussed the overall plan for making mosaic step stones and the general list of materials you'll need. Now the scoop on the decorative mosaic pieces. FINDING YOUR MOSAIC PIECES. Certainly, traditional ceramic tile pieces look great and are easy to work with. You can purchase a selection or use left overs from another project. For a truly unique, one of a kind look, "Found Objects" are excellent. You can use almost anything with a smooth side and of about the same thickness. Hint: avoid sharp pointy things and protruding objects if you plan to walk on the stones. Ouch! Items should be nonporous and hold up to the weather Things with a flat bottom side work best because they will be glued to the stone. The thickness is important in keeping the finished stone approximately flat. (Hint: Do not use items made of plastic. It may photo degrade and the glue may melt it.) A good selection, for example, might include some broken pottery and stained glass scraps in colors you like. To her collection of glass and pottery pieces, my daughter added pennies, a flattened metal measuring spoon and some flat bottomed glass "jewels" from the craft store. More ways to find mosaic materials. Have some fun, be creative and scrounge a little! Quirky is fine, as long as you like it. For example, use that odd saucer in the back of the cupboard or hit the yard sales and junk stores and pick up saucers for a nickel a piece. Now break them! "How to break a plate on purpose": Fold the plate inside a newspaper and then drop a brick on it (watch your toes!) or hit it with a hammer (safer). If it didn't break enough, repeat. The newspaper keeps the pieces from shattering all over. We didn't have stained glass scraps handy, so we went to a stained glass studio and asked if they had any little scraps in their trash can. Sure they did! The nice lady gave us a whole bucket full. Most of it was clear glass, but there were plenty of pretty pieces, too. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Make Mosaic Step Stones Part 2 in Cottage Garden is owned by Barbara M. Martin. Permission to republish Make Mosaic Step Stones Part 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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