Mosaic Magic 8-Ball

Mosaic Magic 8-Ball
Originally uploaded by sassycrafter

We've all heard the expression, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," but there's no need to be in Rome to create your own mosaic. This tesselating art form adorned countless Roman villas and can still be used to cover any number of exposed surfaces--floors, walls, and even Magic 8-Balls.

What you need:

+ Magic 8 Ball
+ Masking tape
+ Mosaic tiles
+ Metallic marker
+ Adhesive
+ Game pieces
+ Gloves
+ Grout
+ Sponge

What to do:

1) Find a Magic 8-Ball or other object that that you want to sass up (boxes, bowling pins, and bowling balls all work). If you're using a Magic 8-Ball, cover the message window with masking tape so that it's protected from any stray adhesive in step three.

2) Use a glass cutter and running pliers to create mosaic tiles from stained glass. If you've never worked with these tools, search the Internet for tips on cutting glass, or just buy a pack of mosaic glass tiles from your local craft store.

3) Sketch a design on the Magic 8-Ball using a metallic permanent marker. Start by gluing down the non-tile elements with a strong adhesive (try Liquid Nails or another strong adhesive). Add Scrabble tiles that spell "chance," three dice to act as feet, and a colorful game piece to top things off. Then start gluing your tiles in place, starting with outlined areas and then filling in. Let the adhesive dry.

4) Cover the Scrabble tiles and dice with masking tape. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and apply sanded grout to the mosaic, taking care to press the grout firmly into all cracks. Let the grout sit the recommended time (read the grout instructions). Use a sponge to wipe the tiles with a damp sponge until the haze is gone.

5) Once the grout cures, you'll have a funky fortune-telling sculpture!





Thanks to Julie Charles of Crackpot Mosaics for the inspiration for this project.

This project originally appeared in the November issue of Satellite magazine.