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Have you been fingering those beautiful mosaic café tables, but found yourself unable to pay $100 and up for a surface barely large enough for espresso for two? In the back of your mind the suggestion lingered: “I could make that,” but you didn’t know where to begin. This is not one of those crafts that you can throw together intuitively, but, with a little patience and the right information, you can be on your way to an inexpensive and beautiful table of your own.
Getting started: The best thing about making your own table is that it can be personal. You don’t have to cry over broken cherished dishes, decorative bottles, or keepsake jewelry anymore. Just save the shards and bits in coffe cans until you have enough to make your mosaic table! If you are not clumsy or patient enough, you can buy bits of tile from hardware stores, specialty ceramics from second hand shops, and interesting focal pieces from craft stores.
Other materials and equipment: Once you have most of the decorative pieces you need, you are ready to purchase a simple table to decorate. The classic design is wrought iron with a glass top, but any table will do. You will also need mastic (the adhesive), unsanded grout, and an acrylic additive to make your grout tough enough for outdoor use. You may want to explore grout pigments as well, which can add real flair to your table by coloring the grout in just about any shade imaginable. For safety, a dust mask is a good idea when mixing grouts and grinding edges.
The process: Prepare the base by lightly sanding wood or texturizing glass with a thin layer of mastic. Apply the shards starting at the center of the table and working out toward the edge. Use only a dab of mastic on the back center of each piece and press firmly onto the table. Mastic should not ooze out. If it does, you are using too much. Allow table to dry eight hours before grouting. Spread grout by small sections and press into cracks between the shards, being careful to fill all holes throroughly. Scrape off large pieces of grout and wipe table with a towel. Allow grout to dry for a few hours, and then grind down rough edges with a metal file. Polish with a towel.
Congratulations! Now that you know how easy it is, you are on your way to enjoying a beautiful patio table of your own. Remember that these same principles apply if you want to make a mosaic picture frame or decorative flower pot, and all of these crafts make excellent gifts for friends and family.
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