A Fun Mosaic Project

This week I am joining my fellow Thrifty Chick bloggers for another fun re-use project challenge!  This month we will be re-using items using mosaic techniques!

You might think mosaics are tile or glass, but they can be made with other materials, as well!  I recently found this large wood tray at the thrift store.

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The tray is very large with nice looking wood, but had a commercial logo right in the center.  I started my re-use project by painting the tray white. 

I want to use the tray this summer for serving out on our deck.

  

I sketched out the SIMPLEST design of a beach scene on paper.

Told you it was simple...just a guide for what I wanted to make.

My mosaic material is very unexpected...vintage playing cards!

I have a lot of decks of cards from my vintage selling days.  There are some great designs and patterns on card backs. They work well for mosaics as they are heavier than paper, and appear raised on the tray, like tile.

I picked different color tones and patterns for each area and cut lots 

of small pieces. I started with a paper cutter, but it was actually easier 

using scissors.  This pattern looks like sand...

I also cut card pieces for water, sky, sun, and the umbrella.

Exterior Outdoor Modge Podge was used to attach the pieces to the tray.  I used a foam brush to paint small sections of the tray at a time with the medium and pressed down the pieces.  It was fun...sort of like putting together a jigsaw puzzle! And you can always trim pieces to make them fit a difficult space.  This isn't a quick project...I worked slowly over several days...but it is a relaxing craft.

See the little seagulls piece?  I hid a couple of those in the scene...

When I was finished attaching the pieces, I gave it a few coats of 
the Modge Podge as a sealer and let it cure several days before using it.  

The outdoor medium gives the mosaic water and sun protection.

I love how it turned out!  Much prettier than I expected, 

and I had such fun making it! I hope you'll try it!

Be sure to visit the other Thrifty Chicks posts, too!  Check out these "before" photos and click on their links to see the fun "after" projects!

Color Me Thrifty-Quick And Easy Faux Mosaic Art

Lora B Create And Ponder- Easy Faux Flower Mosaic Art

Audrey Would- Beach Rock Mosaic Border For The Garden

Shoppe No.5- Today I Am Making A Mosaic

Little Vintage Cottage- DIY Rock Mosaic Stepping Stone

Until next time...