Here are some crafty ideas for using leftover ceramic tiles. Post your own below.
Coasters, Trivets and Other Craft Ideas
I have a home daycare and we have used tiles to make coasters for the living room, a base for another project, glued a picture on one and sealed it, make a trivet, and I think that's all. You could let the kids make their own photo collage on a couple and hang them with pretty ribbon, rafia, or rope. The coasters we put felt on the bottom so they would not scrath the furniture. Good luck!
By Suzi Homemaker
Mosaic Table Top
I am planning a project that uses tiles. My sister's glass patio table top is broken, and she gave me the frame. We are cutting plywood to fit the opening. Then we are breaking up my white tile, grouting the plywood, and making a mosaic table top. I want to purchase a few blue tiles, also, as my home is blue and white. There are colored grouts, also.
Let Kids Decorate Tiles
My grandaughter went to a birthday party last summer and one of the activities was decorating ceramic tiles and using them to set hot dishes that were to hot to set directly on the table. I collect angels so she painted an angel on mine and gave it to me for Christmas last year. When I opened it I got all teary eyed. It was My favorite gift and I use it every night!
By BJ, Ky
Photo Christmas Ornaments
You could use them as Christmas ornaments with the kids pictures on them. You could use a copy of the picture if you didn't want to use the original. Just glue the picture onto the tile with school glue watered down. Then seal it with several coats of the school glue once the picture had dried. Hot glue a hanger or ribbon on the back and it will be ready for the tree. You could also get them to just decorate the tiles any way they like and use contact paper over that and sit them around.
By Michele
Use Glass Paint
You use glass paint on tiles. Then let them dry over night. Next day you bake the tiles in the oven following manufacturing directions. Let cool completely and then take out. You are ready to decorate now.
By Sandy in Vermont
Mosaic Tips
I enjoy mosaics and have made everything from candleholders (broken colored glass is my favorite material for the candleholders) to tabletops. Just make sure your plywood is thick enough that there is no bend or give and be sure to seal it before you begin glueing. You can use broken china on your table also. Find it cheap at dollar stores or garage sales. There really are no rules, you can use almost any material to mosaic.
What am I doing wrong? I wash tiles and clean well with alcohol. I bake as directed, but the paint still comes off tiles. Does not seem to be lasting. Please let me know what I am doing that prevents the glossies from adhering. edwinafox @ live .com
Do you know where I can find a "copper strip" or any type of metal banding to line the edge of a mosaic on plywood table? I have searching online for many , many hours!
To paint on ceramic tiles use "GLOSSIES" paints by "Liquitex" The paint is so good that after painting some juice glasses for my son, they looked brand new after 9 months of repeated washing in the dishwasher. To increase the durability of "Glossies" paints, bake your glass or ceramic project in the oven. You can buy Glossies at your local craft supply. The paint is a bit darker when it dries. Glossies also workes on glass & cleans up (before drying) with water or alcohol (when partly dry). Do not thin Glossies paint with very much water. To paint tiles ALREADY INSTALLED on wall, use Glossies, then heat set tiles with a blow-dryer.
more information about GLOSSIES paint by Liquitex:
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