art, light switch cover, mosaic tile, Mosaic Tile Projects

DIY Mosaic Tile Light Switch Covers

December 25, 2015 tile gypsy 10 Comments

Custom Switch Plate Cover — Creating a mosaic tile switch plate cover @ tilegypsy.com

DIY Light Switch Covers:

Start with a HARD plastic light switch cover … found at home improvement and hardware stores. If the plastic is bendy … pass.
You can use wood and metal light switch covers too. Makes no never mind. 😉
Coat the light switch cover with Weldbond adhesive and let dry. You don’t have to coat the switch plate but … it really helps things stick better.
Glue color fast beads and/or tile around the light switch opening with Weldbond.
Now I glue from the outside in to establish how much room I have left to work with.
Continue to glue the rest of your design and let the glue set up for 30 minutes.
Now glue the color fast beads around the edges of the light switch cover and let it dry for for a minimum of 24 hours before grouting.
Before grouting … cover delicate items (jewels etc) with painter’s tape before grouting.
After the light switch cover is completely dry … mix sanded grout (color of choice) with liquid grout additive, instead of water, for more flexibility.
Grout on fill the cracks. Grout off.
Let dry for 24 hours the seal grout not delicates.
Again … let it dry overnight and install.
Depending on the height of the pieces surrounding the light switch holes … you may need to purchase longer screws for ease in use.

Custom switchplate covers sold. — Custom Mosaic Tile Switch Plate Covers • SOLD. © mara lee

MATERIALS:

Switch plate covers of your choice. Plastic, wood or metal
Weldbond Adhesive
Painters Tape
Wheeled Nipper
Bits and pieces of ceramic tile, china, jewels etc.
Foam Brush
Painters Tape
Wooden Skewer
Paper Towel
Sanded Grout, Grout Additive and Grout Sealer
Longer Screws, if needed

Mosaic Tile Switchplates — Private Collection.

Golden Mirror Mosaic Tile Light Switch Cover

After used mocha grout. SOLD.

SOLD.

Peace Baby Mosaic Tile LIght Switch Cover

Sleep Tight Mosaic Tile Light Switch Cover

Gypsy Soul

Nothing will stand between you and your glue.

black and white

November 27, 2015 tile gypsy 1 Comment

“The angel said, “I like black-and-white more than color because it’s more artificial. You have to work harder to overcome your disbelief. It’s sort of like prayer.” ― edited Jonathan Carroll

playing the daily post photography challenge trio … using the words of others so my passion doesn’t get in the way 😉

art, Photography

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 26, 2015 tile gypsy 3 Comments

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. ~Henry Ward Beecher

art, Photo Challenge, Photography

mission accomplished

November 14, 2015 tile gypsy Leave a comment

“Le doute détruit beaucoup plus de rêve que l’échec.”
― Suzy Kassem

playing the wordpress victory photo challenge

art, glass art, glass windows, Photography

knowing when to stop

November 13, 2015 tile gypsy 2 Comments

“We humans have two great problems: the first is knowing when to begin; the second is knowing when to stop.” ― Paulo Coelho

glass window art — beam me up scottie © mara lee

art, glass art, life, self

art shifts

November 11, 2015 tile gypsy Leave a comment

I’ll stop changing my mind when I’m dead. Maybe not even then.”

Pressing the play button.

P.S. The shop is Closed. 😦

art, glass art, Photography, wordpress

embellished

November 8, 2015 tile gypsy Leave a comment

When a certain artist who creates windows, mirrors, tables & bowls decorated with images, glass, trinkets, tile fragments & often hidden words in the designs was asked what her artwork meant to her she said: “I think I like it because it tells so much about my story.” Or anyone’s life, for that matter… “Life smashes things to bits and you glue it back together to make something beautiful with the pieces.” – author unknown

a writing prompt: Ornate

see more glass on glass

dogs, jake and charlie, Photography

last week with jake and charlie

November 7, 2015 tile gypsy Leave a comment

the boys have been very patient (and bark free) with the shop opening. here’s a photo recap of last weeks events from behind the closed-door. happy saturday!

two schools of thought © mara lee

u comin’? © mara lee

just try © mara lee

mac & meyer © mara lee

how dogs see it © mara lee

p.s. don’t forget that the shop is OPEN this WEEKEND! Sat 10-4 & Sun Noon-4

Adhesives, Artist, best glue, crash glass, glass on glass art, Glue, mosaic tile, Mosaic Tile Projects

Through the Looking Glass

November 5, 2015 tile gypsy 6 Comments

The vintage window was a gift from my sister friend, Tilly Evan Jones … it sat around for a couple of years waiting and wanting. Finally glued a bunch of my vintage glass collection to it.

All you need is a sturdy window (or frame) with good glass, wheeled glass nippers, small hammer, hand towel, safety glasses, random glass objects and e6000 adhesive. This project must be glued in a well ventilated area … without the kids and pets.

Break glass dishes under a dish towel with a small hammer and gentle hand or use wheeled glass nippers to break up glass objects.

FYI … There are glass plates that will shatter into a BAZILLION PIECES without warning so … don’t be … going to use the word stupid – because it really is … ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES when cutting glass or tile and do a different project with the kids.

Vintage Window gifted from Miss Tilly Evan Jones

Let’s the Sunshine In

art, glass art

what i do know

November 2, 2015 tile gypsy Leave a comment

always wear safety googles … other than that … in the words of John Lennon … “The more I see, the less I know for sure.” ditto.

don't text and drive — testing our new website with links … thanks.

love, Photography

reached our final destination

May 9, 2015 tile gypsy Leave a comment

“The world is quiet here.” — Lemony Snicket

la la land — a wink and a smile © mara lee

life, Photography

5.1.15

May 1, 2015 tile gypsy Leave a comment

When ideas float in our mind without any reflection or regard of the understanding, it is that which the French call revery, our language has scarce a name for it. ~John Locke

art, mosaic tile, Switchplates

Inspired by Amy

March 21, 2015 tile gypsy 3 Comments

Amy asked me to re-create a switchplate cover that had sold. I had most of the materials, with the exception of the light purple bead border. Oh darn, bonus trip to the craft store. There goes any profit that may have been associated with this project. 😉

Learned that light gray light switch covers are way better than white ones. 🙂 They blend.

Used pink iridescent stained glass tile,purple glass hearts,iridescent purple glass gems,silver tapestry tile and a string of silver ball chain. Finished with charcoal grout and sealed.

Copies of artwork certainly look more organized than flying by the seat of your pants.

Already had the glue out so I created a couple more light switch covers, with my cherished and now retired silver tapestry.

Went with my first thought which ended up being nickels. Why nickels? Couldn’t tell you and who am I to argue? It worked. “Now You Have Two Nickels to Rub Together.”

Got bored with the pink iridescent tile so I grabbed the first thing I walked up to and ended up with red glass hearts,silver and blue iridescent tiles and gems. Both of these fabulous little works of wall art have been listed at the shop for sale.

In honor of the difficulties of shipping and receiving from Italy … which I sadly will never try again.

ciao bella

crafts, Garden Art, gardens, mosaic tile, Mosaic Tile Projects, recycled crafts

mosaic tile gazing balls

February 17, 2015 tile gypsy Leave a comment

Val, a cherished tile gypsy, was sharing her recent gluing frenzy with bowling balls. It immediately brought back fond memories of battling a 15 pound bowling ball while trying to glue things to it.

Truth be told … the hardest part of mosaic tiling a bowling ball is … finding the bowling ball.

Now that she’s got me going … anyone have an old bowling ball that they want to get rid of ? 🙂

Mosaic tiled bowling balls or … mosaic tiled gazing balls … are pretty easy to create by preparing the surface properly and using the right adhesive.

mosaic tile balls — balls in half moon bay © mara lee

MOSAIC TILE BOWLING BALL SUPPLIES

Bowling Ball
Flat Mosaic Tile Materials … Ceramic Tile, stained glass, vintage china, mirror and glass gems
Weatherproof/Waterproof Adhesive … Best choices – GE II Silicone • E6000 • Clear Liquid Nails
Sandpaper medium grade is fine
Sanded grout – FYI … darker shades won’t show the wear that lighter shades of grout will
Grout Additive (Used to mix grout instead of using water. Makes the grout more flexible and can help prevent cracking)
Grout or Masonry clear sealant

MOSAIC TILE GAZING BALL PROJECT

Clean the bowling ball. Let it dry.
Seal the finger holes, if you don’t want to use them. Again, a MacGyver thing.
Rough up the ball using the sandpaper … or you can cover the ball with tile mesh before gluing … ask me.
Always wear safety glasses when cutting tile or glass.
Organize mosaic tile materials by choosing pieces that are close to the same thickness, for uniformity.
Using a wheeled tile nipper, mosaic tile cutter or glass cutter … cut the tile, glass or china pieces before you start gluing.
Prop the bowling bowl on a large weighted coffee can … or something comparable.
Grab your adhesive and start gluing. (FYI…Adhesives for this project are TOXIC. Best to do this in a very well ventilated area or outside.)
A little patience is needed. It’s round!
If pieces don’t lie flat … cut them smaller.
This project takes multiple days. Glue one side of the bowling ball. Let it dry for at least 24 hours. Longer is always better!
Glue the other side of the bowling ball and let that dry for at least 24 hours. Again, longer is better.
Grout. Read the directions.
Remove grout and clean.
Cover with a dry cleaning bag (or something comparable) to allow the grout to dry slower and hopefully prevent cracking.
Wait at least 24 hours.
Uncover and polish.
Let it cure for a few more days, polishing everyday.
Seal finished piece with grout or masonry clear sealant. Read the directions.
Gaze.

FYI … Mosaic Tiled Gazing Balls and handmade mosaic tile garden art should be brought in during colder months and resealed each season.

garden-mosaic — go outside. let it dry. © mara lee

art, crafts, Photography

dizzy sick

February 13, 2015 tile gypsy Leave a comment

organizing all my web stuff and i haven’t been around these parts since last October. could it be that the last thing I sat down to create was the mosaic tile mirror I made for Alice’s birthday? How can that be?

time waits for no woman and I have to minimize my distractions to focus on the feeds my soul part. Plenty of tile and glass and …

Photography, Photos

magic hour

October 15, 2014 tile gypsy Leave a comment

… pretty dreamy with a pinch of Harry Potter.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Dreamy

Photography

Weekly Photo Challenge: Signs

October 6, 2014 tile gypsy Leave a comment

Thought we were taking the wrong mountain road … guess not.

Weekly Photo Challenge:Signs

art, Artist, glass on glass art

At Home With Andrew and Renee

September 26, 2014 tile gypsy 2 Comments

The shop was closed, again, so Renee knocked on the side door and said, “we’ve been here before … you were closed and we see that you’re closed again but … I just have to have one of the pieces in the front window … can we please come in?

They were both like little kids in a candy store and then Renee said, “I must have a piece of your art because I can feel all of the love and the light shining through.” Me too.

Touched beyond belief and all I can say is that this big beautiful universe, wearing a straw hat, is hard at work on my behalf.

Thank you, Andrew & Renee! You made my day;)

shot, gathered and glued

DIY Mosaic Tile Light Switch Covers

DIY Light Switch Covers:

black and white

Happy Thanksgiving!

mission accomplished

knowing when to stop

art shifts

Pressing the play button.

embellished

last week with jake and charlie

Through the Looking Glass

what i do know

reached our final destination

“The world is quiet here.” — Lemony Snicket

5.1.15

Inspired by Amy

mosaic tile gazing balls

dizzy sick

magic hour

Weekly Photo Challenge: Signs

Thought we were taking the wrong mountain road … guess not.

At Home With Andrew and Renee

a catalyst and gluer of things, when my fingers aren't stuck to my camera or keyboard.

DIY Light Switch Covers:

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Pressing the play button.

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“The world is quiet here.” — Lemony Snicket

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Like this:

Thought we were taking the wrong mountain road … guess not.

thanks for sharing

Like this:

thanks for sharing

Like this:

a catalyst and gluer of things, when my fingers aren't stuck to my camera or keyboard.