Mosaic Madness Project at AMACO.com

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Mosaic Madness
By Linda Peterson

Materials

• FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay – Pacific Blue, White, Sahara, Tropical Green, Mandarin Orange, Sunflower
• Amaco® Pasta Machine
• Amaco® PolyBlade
• Ceramic tile
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Wooden Tray
• Wooden Tag
• Clay Pot
• Tacky Glue
• Credit Card
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Scrubbing Sponge

Step 1

Condition all clay before use, starting with the lightest colors first. Knead by hand or roll through the pasta machine until smooth and pliable.

Step 2

Bake the tag and wooden tray in oven at 265ºF (130ºC) for approximately 30 minutes. This will help to dry out the wood, allowing the tiles to adhere better. The tray shown is 8" x 8".

Step 3

Prepare marbled polymer clay tiles from colored sheets of clay. Combine White and Sahara, Pacific Blue and White, Tropical Green and White, leaving light and dark streaks in the clay. Flatten clay through medium setting on pasta machine. Flatten Mandarin Orange and Sunflower separately using pasta machine. Using a ruler, cut 1/2", 1/4" and 1/8" squares from clay sheets with PolyBlade. Bake all pieces at 265ºF (130ºC).

Step 4

Draw pattern onto surface. Apply tacky glue to tile and set in place just like a jigsaw puzzle. TIP: For the tough round areas (for example on the dragonfly wing) glue the tile over the pencil lines. Wait a few minutes for glue to set and then trim off excess using a craft knife.

Grout Step 5

Choose your grout color, then roll into thin logs and use fingers to press into grooves. Use a credit card to help press clay into cracks too. Scrape off excess clay with credit card. Use rubbing alcohol and a clean scrubbing sponge to remove clay from surface. Bake at 265ºF (130ºC) for 20 minutes. Seal with acrylic sealer to brighten colors.

Clay Pot Step 6

Base coat with burnt umber acrylic paint if desired. Apply tiles as above in certain areas giving a more weathered appearance.

Tag Step 7

Follow instructions for tray. Draw design, apply tiles and grout as above and bake.

Mosaic Madness in PDF format

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