Introduction: Sea Glass Mosaic Bowl

About: I am a therapist and in my spare time, I like to bake and craft to de-stress. Check out the link to my cake website to see more of my work. I also have a blog: half-bakedart.tumblr.com

This is a tutorial for a sea glass mosaic bowl that I made as a Christmas gift.

Supplies

  • Bowl (This one was painted at a paint your own pottery studio)
  • Sea glass
  • Glue (hot glue or guerrilla glue)
  • Grout (unsanded works best, but I used sanded for this piece) or plaster of paris
  • Sponge
  • High Gloss Stone/Tile/Group Sealant
  • Polyurethane/Varnish/Acrylic (optional)

Step 1: Glue on Sea Glass Pieces

I used hot glue to adhere the sea glass to the sides of the bowl like a puzzle. When I started the next step some of the pieces around the rim fell off so I used guerrilla glue to reattach them. Wipe off any excess glue off the glass immediately.

Step 2: Grout the Bowl

Apply grout by smoothing it between the pieces of glass (I used my fingers) and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Then begin to rub off excess grout off the pieces with a paper towel or cloth. Shake off the dust and then use a damp sponge to clean the glass. I used a nail to scratch off any grout or glue still stuck on the glass. You can also use paint thinner or acetone to remove grout from individual pieces.

Step 3: Seal the Grout

Allow the grout to dry (8+ hours is suggested but I did it after an hour) and then brush on a sealant. I suggest using a grout or stone/tile sealer that states it has a high gloss/wet finish. You can also brush polyurethane/varnish/acrylic onto the individual pieces for an extra shine (Do not brush it onto the grout or it will form bubbles)

Step 4: Finished Bowl

Here is the finished product. The outside of the bowl was painted at a paint your own pottery studio.