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Faux Mosaics

Amy McIntire, Angel #1571
Trailblazers
Paper Arts & Multi Media Designer

I LOVE combining art and useable objects that need a new life.  In the paper arts world, this is known as altered art.

This project uses a unique faux mosaic kit from Ranger Industries that creates a mosaic look-alike using paper instead of ceramics or glass. Faux mosaics can be used with the smallest of scraps.  Those accumulating paper scraps that are so hard to part with can be used again in a fresh project. The possibilities are endless!

Supply List:

• Phenomenal Woman rubber stamp set (TAC)
• Angel Alphabet rubber stamp set (Retired -TAC)
• Archival Ink, Sepia (Ranger Industries)
• Archival Ink, Princess Pink and Waterfall (TAC)
• Distress Ink, Tattered Rose (Ranger Industries)
• Evergreen Fine Weave paper, green (Back to Back’s by Bo-Bunny Press)
• Vintage Floral on Sage Background Paper (Me & My Big Ideas)
• Warm White Acrylic Paint (Plaid)
• Eucalyptus Acrylic Paint (Delta Ceramcoat)
• Faux Mosaic Kit (Ranger Industries)
• Old picture frame (10” x 8 ½”)
• Cardboard and Chipboard tiles
• Plastic stencil (Helix)
• X~Acto Knife
• Silk flowers
• Fabric; cut to size: 2” x 3”
• Brads, Antique Brass (Making Memories)
• Adhesive dots (Zots)
• Pencil
• Sandpaper
• Masking or Painters’ tape
• Foam brush 

Instructions:

1.              Prep frame by removing backing and the glass and sanding down the surface. 

2.              Place a piece of tape to form the four corner “boxes” on the frame.  Refer to photo for placement. 

3.              Paint the top and bottom rectangle areas in the Eucalyptus paint, let dry (2 coats). Then paint one coat with the Warm White color over the green, let dry. After the paint is dry, lightly sand the white to let the green show through.  This provides an appealing rustic look. 

4.              In the corners taped off, paint with the grout mix that is included in the Faux Mosaic Kit. Make a stippling motion when painting to get a neat “grout-like” look and allow to dry thoroughly. 

5.              When the faux grout is dry, stipple on a small bit of the green paint over the grout. 

6.              Cut cardboard to these sizes: (1 ½” x 2 ½”) and chipboard “tiles”; 4-cut to size: (1/2” x 1”). 

7.              Trace letter with stencil onto the cut out cardboard piece. Cut out the “white space” inside of the letter with an X-Acto knife (be very careful as the blade is extremely sharp). Paint the cardboard stencil with the Warm White paint and let dry. 

8.              For the 4 - letter “tiles”, stamp out each letter and cut out to specified size. Ink each of the sides on the tiles with the brown archival ink. 

9.              Mat the painted stencil letter onto fabric with adhesive dots and position it and the tile letters onto the painted frame as shown. 

10.          Place a brad into the center of two silk flowers and adhere in two of the corners of the frame with adhesive dots. 

11.          Stamp the inspire bird and the word “Believe” onto two pieces of chipboard; cut to size: 2” x 1 ½” and 1 ½” x ½”. Ink the edges with brown ink and color in with Princess Pink and Waterfall archival inks. Adhere with adhesive dots to the frame, as shown.

 To create the faux mosaic tiles on the frame:

Tear scrap size pieces from papers. Place as desired onto the empty edges of the frame. After pattern is created, glue down with decoupage glue and dry completely. 

**Optional step: for a more authentic mosaic look, use the grout first (as used in the decorative corners of the frame), let dry. Then glue on the torn paper pieces. 

Take the mosaic glaze from the kit and trace along the edges of the torn paper and then “color” in the rest of the space. When using the mosaic glaze, do not shake it as tiny air bubbles will form causing it to “glob” up. If any air bubbles do form on the paper, use a pin or needle to pop them. Dry completely, which the glaze takes about an hour to dry.

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