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Mosaic Herb Pots

Mosaic Herb Pots

From Australian Handyman Magazine

Each design depicts the herb growing in the pot, (from left) chives, chilli and basil. Buy small glass mosaic and large white ceramic tiles from a hardware store (or ask a supplier for broken tiles), and find terracotta pots at a garden centre (about $5 each). Sketch the design in coloured pencil first. For effect, change the grout from white to grey or black. Shards tend to fly when glass tiles are cut, so wear goggles, mask and gloves, and sweep up after cutting.

What you'll need

Baking or Tracing paper
Scissors
PVA adhesive
Small paintbrush
Sponge and Cloth

Tile nippers
Small plasterer’s tool
Cement-based adhesive
Grout
Rubber gloves.

STEP 1

Make the design template
Create a rough paper template by rolling the pot along a piece of baking paper and making a pencil line to indicate the top and base.
TIP: If making a separate pattern around the top, repeat the process to make a separate template of the rim.

STEP 2

Seal the pot
Make a mixture of one part PVA adhesive to one part water and apply with a paintbrush to seal the pot.
TIP: The water prevents moisture in the adhesive from absorbing into the terracotta and drying too quickly as you work.

STEP 3

Cut the tiles
Use tile nippers to cut the glass mosaics into random shapes for the design background.
TIP: Mosaic design is fairly random, so you don’t have to follow the templates precisely.

STEP 4

Lay out the mosaics
Sketch the design onto baking paper. Using the templates as a guide, lay the mosaic tiles out on the paper ready to transfer onto the pot.

STEP 5

Create the main design
Mix up the cement-based adhesive and apply to each tile using a plasterer’s tool in a buttering motion. Turn the pot upside down to apply the tiles, working outwards from the central design.
TIP: Use a disposable plastic plate for mixing the adhesive.