Hopefully this website makes it clear that I am a fully-admitted mosaic addict. So when my partner Mark and I decided we should have a formal celebration to honor our union in front of our friends and family this summer, of course I wanted it to include mosaics!
I started to google for ideas and wasn’t coming up with many. Most mosaics are individual projects and fulfill an individual vision. So after some brainstorming and practice sessions, the Wedding Mosaic Kit was born as an interactive alternative to a traditional (dust-gathering!) guest book.
What need does it solve?
- Entertain guests while they’re waiting for the ceremony to begin
- Create a special, ultra-unique and customized memory of the day
- Use special pieces of broken family china or other trinkets that have no purpose except to remind you of happy times
Example #1: From Our Wedding (with horseshoe from my grandpa’s farm)
Lessons Learned: I would have made the heart outline stronger and/or used the ball chain BEFORE I set it out for people to play with. Instead, I did that afterward. I also painted the grout of the heart a dark turquoise color (our house color) to help set off the heart shape. Because I was worried about the guitar tin box rusting, I sealed the entire piece with a two-part resin.
Example #2: Ericka’s Hearts
Lessons Learned: Ericka wanted these hearts to be color-themed, so she instructed her helpers to make sure that happened. They also decided it was best to glue the keys and earring onto the piece AFTER it was grouted so they would move vs. being fixed into the grout.
Note: the “grid” pieces are the backside of the tiles, but they make a fun texture turned upside down.
Example #3: Avery is a Peach
Lessons Learned: This shows a request for a simple and streamlined peach color palate with a mix of cut stained glass and small tiles.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
You buy a 12×12 stepping stone ($2-5 dollars at a box store) and I provide the rest of the materials needed to make a permanent moment of your special day. (Note: 12×12 wedi board can be ordered as an alternative)
1. Order Kit
2. Buy plain cement stepping stone no bigger than 12×12” (or order a lighter board designed for outdoor wall hanging)
3. (optional) put our included directions sign into a frame
4. (optional) cut out and trace pattern of your choice onto the stone (or board)
5. Set out stone and supplies at your wedding (or other event)
6. It is helpful to ask one or two people to oversee the project and make sure that people a) see the opportunity to add a stone to the project and b) don’t use too much glue. ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
7. Pre-break any special china you’d like to use as part of your stone (this is a great way to put that broken tea cup from your grandma to use!). The kit includes other pieces of broken ceramics for you to use as well.
8. Gather any special mementos you’d like to include. Think about weather and durability when finding items (coins, keys, stones, rocks all work well)
KITS INCLUDE
- weld-bond glue (low VOC, no smell)
- popsicle stick spreader
- hand towel wipes
- sharpie marker for tracing pattern onto stone
- assorted tesserae for your project (including broken ceramic/china plates/cups, glass tile, stained glass tile) —in small,medium, and large sizes
- a couple of bandaids to have on your table–just in case! (this IS glass, so even if edges are sanded, we encourage caution)
- links to pattern for cutting out
- link to directions print out
- bag of grout for after-event grouting (this really finishes off your project and makes it look amazing!)
- grouting instructions