Ep. 117 MAKING AN EASY MOSAIC MIRROR and an Exterior Mosaic Sculpture!

Ep. 117 MAKING AN EASY MOSAIC MIRROR and an Exterior Mosaic Sculpture!
I started working on an exterior mosaic sculpture in last week in this video: • Ep. 116 COMMUNITY MOSA...
I begin by chiseling out two pieces that are bothering me as the key stoning is a bit too slanted. After those are out, I mix up some black tinted thinset and get started on the opposite side, saving the repair for the end of my work session so they don't get knocked out. The second mosaic side gets a treatment similar to the first side - a spiral swirl of smalti that splits into two lines a few times as it expands outward. Bits of 24K gold, pops of bright color and millefiori add interest to my blue themed 3-D mosaic work.
Then I tackle an estate sale frame that I purchased a while ago. I have some facetted clear beads I want to use, so I prime the area with white Kilz primer. After two coats have dried, I start adhering some long white tiles with Weldbond. I am using lots of white leftover from my snowflake ornaments from last season. It's great to use material I already have on hand to make such a beautiful mosaic! They are placed on both the exterior edge and the interior edge of the frame. Next, I switch to a bulkier adhesive (GE II Silicone) to set the beads. I add some metal colored teardrops in silver with Weldbond and fill in with little white triangles. Then irridized white vitreous tiles and little rounds are added to fill it in. The spaces are quite large, but I am planning on black grout to make them pop!
Back to my mosaic sculpture, I cut a bit of smalti down with my hammer and hardie and then start building up around areas I have already worked. I set the copper mounting pole in place with Apoxie Sculpt. I find it very relaxing and meditative to add the pieces, one at a time. Then I work just a little bit more since I still have workable thinset.
Finally, I grout my sparkly mosaic mirror with black sanded grout, spreading it over the whole thing and gently wiping off excess. I have to wait for it to set up a bit and a haze to form before I can buff it off and finish! It was such a pretty project and very easy. A good project for beginners!
That's Putting It Together Ep. 117. Thanks for watching! See you next time.
WATCH NEXT:
Ep. 97 HOW I MAKE A MOSAIC SKY FOR THE SUNFLOWERS, 2nd Mosaic Stepping Stone, and a Glass on Glass!
• Ep. 97 HOW I MAKE A MO...
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[@rupashukla5916]

Lovely how the garden sculpture is coming up. The mirror looks classically ethnic. Keep it up gal...

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I have four more of these mirrors...

[@donnajosephsonblatz5058]

That mirror is stunning! Thanks Julie.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

It really is! And you are welcome!

[@cleojones4427]

Your work is SO BEAUTIFUL!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks for watching!

[@sundaysunshine2925]

What a gorgeous mirror !

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks! It was super easy. Hardest part was making sure I had enough materials to go around the frame!

[@speedmom1702]

The mirror was a great idea! It turned out great! I love it!!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you! Cheers! I have four more mirrors...

[@speedmom1702]

@@mazzonimosaics8222 Can't wait to see how you will adorn them! Do you know where you will put them when you're done? Or are you going to sell them?

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I’ll see if my kids want one, then sell them.

[@deeannhansen1469]

Amazing!!!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you for watching! Cheers!

[@diannecrea7090]

Wow!

[@cherylnull9890]

Awesome video!! Thank you!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

You are so welcome! Glad you liked it!

[@suus7967]

Love the mirror 🪞 😮😊

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you! 😊

[@poorsjm]

Wow! I just found your KZbin channel and so glad I did! Looking forward to many more in the future. This is amazing!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Welcome aboard!

[@jenihead129]

Beautiful work! I love how the mirror turned out and the progress on the garden sculpture is stunning!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you so much! Glad you like them.

[@arlenebain5678]

Love the mirror! Thanks for sharing your process with us. That would make a wonderful gift, I may give it a try. Really enjoyed watching you on the exterior sculpture, the smalti is so beautiful. I have never used it, can you cut it with nippers? Thanks again, Julie!!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you Arlene! I cut the smalti with both nippers and hammer and hardie.

[@charlenemurphy3959]

Wow that mirror came out beautiful! You make it look so easy ! Love watching your channel ☺️

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you! Cheers! It really was pretty easy as there wasn't much cutting.

[@MsK-xm7vw]

You are the fastest mosaic artist I’ve ever seen. 😊 I’m just conversing with Mango Mosaics about how much I procrastinate, especially when it comes to grouting. I have a completed piece taped off, I’ve plasticined (I know it’s not a word) the edges, and it’s ready to grout… Still ready to grout… Prepped my next three projects. Still ready to grout… 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I think it depends on the project. This mirror had very little cutting. In fact, the part that took the longest I didn't record, which was making sure I had enough materials to go all the way around. Figuring out the corners took a minute too.

[@pmarlowe1638]

That frame is spectacular - has a Moroccan vibe to me. And the garden sculptures are going to be amazing! Is that Mexican smalti? Can you recommend a good source? Thanks for making Mondays marvelous!

[@pmarlowe1638]

Hmmm…Marvelous Mazzoni Mondays!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

It is Orsoni smalti. I recommend mosaicsmalti.com/. You can get Mexican smalti from that same website.

[@pmarlowe1638]

@@mazzonimosaics8222 Thanks so much!

[@caseymadison6243]

I just love the outdoor sculptures! Two questions: how did you get the silver raindrop pieces so clean after grouting the mirror? Mine looked smudged no matter how much I brushed them. And do you use a grout remover on the wooden edges of the mirror to clean it up?

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I just buffed each one. They had a tendency to collect grout on the sides. And I just wiped off the edges. Although I will likely tape it off next time so I don't need to do that. I did end up removing the mirror to clean it all and then put it back in with silicone.

[@lizstroud6531]

I have the same question. They seem so detailed, but gorgeous mirror!

[@Jeanmcb47]

I am learning so much from you. Thanks! Sorry if you have already answered this: What is the blue scraper you use to apply grout?

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

It is a finishing rubber used in ceramics. It has the perfect amount of flexibility for spreading grout! www.amazon.com/Kemper-FRSO-X-Molded-Finishing-Rubber/dp/B0042ST8FO/ref=sr_1_3?crid=264SCK13JVMUC&keywords=blue+finishing+rubber&qid=1661182918&sprefix=blue+finishing+rubber%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-3

[@FeliciaAaron]

Love, love the mirror! I am looking at doing the same but more of a mandala mirror! You knocked yours out of the park and I hope mine will have a great finish as well! One question, where did you get the metal-colored teardrops? I just love them! One person commented that your mirror had a "Moroccan vibe" and I feel the same, so cool! That is actually the "vibe" I want to get with my mandala mirror and those tear drops would be so great with it!! Thank you so much for sharing your talent and creativity with us! :)

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

You need to look at Zetamari Mosaics. She sells the teardrops, but also mosaic bases, and even mirror kits including materials! Also, she makes amazing mirrors, birdhouses and other products that are gorgeous!!!!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

www.zetamari.com/

[@FeliciaAaron]

Thanks so much, I will definitely do that!!! 😁

[@Rose-zz1oe]

What’s the name of the first song, Julie? Love it

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks so much! It is A Minute Too Early by Arc De Soleil via Epidemic Sound.

[@carolzutski7739]

I have a question about the gold piece, I was surprised by the side you placed down, I thought it was supposed to go the other way? How do you know which is the correct side, I got a sample in the mail and thought the shiny side went up? Mine looks like a thin film with a matte finish on what I thought was the bottom and clear glass on top.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

The thicker glass goes on the bottom (although I've used it the other way as well.) There should be a nice luster to the gold side. There is a very thin layer of glass on top that protects the gold. Sometimes the glass on the bottom is slightly blueish or yellowish. Does that make sense?

[@carolzutski7739]

@@mazzonimosaics8222 thanks, yes, but mine looks better the other way....LOL Also, mine is not from italy, its from Maryland Mosaics.