Here is how to make a DIY mosaic frame!

This project came about because I was invited to teach this class in my hometown of Phoenix, and I had such a great time, I filmed the entire process. I’ve made mosaics before, but not like this. I hand cut several pieces for the students, which made it more special.

These are ceramic clay roses I made for the students in the class.

You can do the same! Traditional mosaics use repeating patterns and textures, but this style is a mishmash of all kinds of ceramics pieces, tiles, gems, pebbles and more.

DIY Mosaic frame

Supplies:

Wooden board or MDF (sealed to prevent moisture absorption)
Ceramic tiles & mosaic pieces (store-bought, hand-cut, and sculpted) NOTE: Only use broken tiles if you are working with all even pieces. If the broken tiles are too thick, they will easily cut you because of their sharpness. You can file the edges, but that is a lot of work. So if you want to use broken tiles, just make sure to use other objects that are the same thickness.
Glitter tiles, glass pebbles, and chunky mosaic pieces
Tile adhesive or Aleene’s Tacky Glue
Grout (sanded or unsanded, I used the latter)
Tile nippers and safety goggles (optional, this is if you plan to cut your tile pieces smaller)
Sealer, like Mod Podge (you can also mix in iridescent micro glitter for sparkly grout!)

Here is the video I made of the process.

Plan your layout

Before you start gluing, lay out your design on the board. If you are using all kinds of different pieces, consider how the heights of each piece will interact. It’s fine if your pieces go over the edges, as long as they are not sharp.

clay cacti — These are ceramic cacti I made for the students. You can use ornaments, old dishes, etc.

💡 REPEAT: Chunky Mexican tiles tend to be thicker than store-bought mosaic pieces, so placing them together can create an uneven surface. If you’re using different heights, arrange them in a way that creates a natural transition.

Glue it all down

I use Tacky Glue – any heavy bodied glue will work great. Apply a generous amount on each piece, it works better if the pieces are porous, they will grip better. For the chunky rose, I used a lot of glue and made sure to let it set until fully dry.

Keep about 1/8″ between each piece. Consider the grout as you are gluing. Do you want a lot of grout to show? Make your pieces a bit further apart.

Let it dry completely before moving on to the next step (at least 24 hours).

Grouting your mosaic frame

Mix grout (wear a mask and gloves!) according to the package directions until it has a peanut butter consistency.

Use a grout float or your hands (wearing gloves!) to spread grout across the entire surface, pushing it into the gaps. Seriously, look closely to make sure you didn’t miss any spots!

You’ll have about 15 minutes before it begins to stiffen. Wipe excess, then let set for 10 minutes.

Wipe away remaining grout with a damp sponge. Let it set another few minutes, then go in with a damp cloth to wipe away any haze. Polish each tile until it shines!