Once I wanted to play a little bit with mosaic for a door board (see photo) but without having to buy all those materials. I didn’t know if I would use them ever more.
Therefore I figured out how to make my own mosaic stones from plaster and wrote a German tutorial.
I’m giving here a translation, see some photos at the German tutorial.
How to make your own mosaic stones:
You need:
- Plaster
- (Rectangular) plastic lid
- Water
- Brush
- Paint as used in school
- Vinegar
- Finish
What to do:
-
Make plaster following the instructions and cast a thin layer. The consistency should be yoghurt-like and the layer not thicker than 3mm / 0.07 inches.
Note: Use the plastic lid of a margarine jar for casting. - After hardening paint the plaster cakes with the paints.
Note: The cakes must have become hard, but they don’t have to be dry when painting. - After the cakes are dry (about one day) coat with the finish.
- Then break the cakes into mosaic stones.
Note: This can be done in an irregular way, but you can also score the cakes and then break in square or rectangular pieces.
Note: The scoring of the cakes can best be done when the cakes aren’t dry. Although you can score dry cakes they break more easily than the moist ones. - Now make your mosaic by casting a form with plaster and setting your mosaic stones into the plaster.
Note: To delay the hardening mix the plaster with some vinegar.
Note: Only cast plaster in flexible forms because it expands slightly and you won’t be able to release it from a solid form.
Links:
Make your own mosaic stone (German)
Slow down drywall-plaster drying time with vinegar (English)
What to do to delay drying time of plaster? (German)
(Somebody here tried a drop of dish liquid in place of vinegar and said that it worked)