I like to read blogs written by artists because most times you learn something, or you come across some new-thing-to-you that you simply must try...or, it's just plain interesting! I find artists [whatever their medium] to be fascinating people. Another kind of insane thing I've discovered is that the world seems to have more than one 'Linda Smith.' Go figure! Actually there are quite a few and some are even artists like me, Linda C Smith.
A Linda Smith I met recently through Facebook is Linda Pieroth Smith who is located in the Tampa area of Florida - she wrote a how-to post on her blog - MosaicSmith - last year that sounded so cool I asked her if I could share it by re-posting it here on Mosaic Mandalas...she said 'yes.' Read on and let me know if you make your own Garden Art Ball - take a photo, email it to me and I'll post it. Isn't the internet simply the most cool thingymabob ever?
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How To Make Concrete Mosaic Garden Art Ball
You can make very fun garden art using found objects and scrap glass.
This post details how I made the garden ball pictured above, using a glass globe from an old pendant light fixture. You likely don't have one of those handy :) , but a little thinking outside the box and you can come up with other unique 'molds' to make bases for your own personalized garden art.
First- some general supplies:
- Some sort of 'mold'. Ideas- glass bottles, plastic containers such as milk bottles, takeout food containers... IMPORTANT: If you use a plastic form, you must have an opening wide enough for the cured concrete to be removed through. For milk jugs, cut off the entire top before adding concrete mix. The opening needs to be as wide as the widest part of your shape.
- concrete mix
- eye protection!, hammer, prying tools
- glass nippers
- scrap stained glass- often local stained glass shops will sell scrap by the pound or ebay and etsy both often will have listings for scrap.
- thin set mortar
- grout
Before adding concrete mix, I lightly coated the inside of the shape with a mold release- Vaseline but cooking spray will work in a pinch.
Add concrete mix slowly and tap occasionally (with your hand!) to raise air pockets. Don't want to break that glass yet! If your shape includes thinner sections, you will want to reinforce them with hardware cloth sections embedded in the center. See my stepping stone instructions.
If you use a plastic form, you can unmold, carefully, usually after one day.
If you use glass, WAIT a minimum of 10 days for the concrete to cure before breaking glass. Full cure is at 30 days.
Be sure to wear eye protection when breaking the glass off! I used both the hammer and the knob end of a glass scorer to break the glass in sections. Old dental tools and flat blade screwdrivers worked well to pry off sections.
Now that you have your blank concrete 'canvas', have fun creating!! I used the glass I removed to make the white flowers on my garden ball. They were especially pleasing to work with because the glass was curved and fit nicely back on the ball. I used thin set mortar to attach my glass. This is a weather friendly glue though if you live in a freeze zone, mosaic art lasts longer if brought inside in winter.
For adding flat glass to curved sections, smaller pieces fit around the curves better- and are less hazardous! Use extreme care when handling your piece as there will likely be sharp exposed points and edges. Grouting will minimize this.
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Thank You! Linda P Smith! I am actually going to attempt my own garden art ball this summer - it looks like such a great project to do that I'll fit it into my schedule somewhere!
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