SSSummer project

Two years ago, I picked up a giant, 3-D S made of some sort of hollow paper maché or cardboard. It was only a couple of bucks. I figured my daughter would paint it, and we could hang it in her room. But I had a better idea.

This is an easy project for any kid, as long as you provide adequate assistance, supervision, and protective gear. For instance, never cut glass, no matter who you are, without goggles! You do not want to know about my two trips to the eye doctor to have mirror silver removed from my eyeball. (I also got a load of sawdust in there, too. Don't ask. Just goggle.)

mosaic letter

equipment:

• goggles
  
• cutter (tile nippers, glass cutter, hammer)
  
• heavy rubber gloves
  
• paper towels
  
• paint stick
  
• plastic quart container
  
• contractor bag

materials:

• adhesive (carpenter's wood glue, Mac glue, PVA)
  
• glass, ceramic, marbles, findings
  
• sanded grout

instructions:

1.) Before you begin, find a comfortable place to work where you can leave your project until it's complete. Prepare the surface by covering it with a heavy piece of plastic; it will make the surface easier to clean.

2.) Wearing goggles and gloves, cut ceramics or glass into random shapes and sizes, if necessary.

3.) Get your kid into the act by having him or her glue the cut pieces as close to each other as possible. Keep going until the entire surface of the letter is full.

4.) For a neat finished edge, use edges of dishes on the outer edges of the letter, or use whole square tiles to glue to the sides of the letter. This step will probably have to be done by an adult.

5.) When the whole thing is covered, let the glue dry for a day or so, and then you're ready to grout.

6.) Mix a batch of grout. It should be thick and smooth, not too wet or dry but mostly like cake frosting. Let it sit or slake for a few minutes, then restir.

7.) With fingers, and paying attention to sharp edges, spread grout all over mosaic surface in small batches.

8.) After a few minutes, begin wiping excess grout from the face of the glass with a paper towel, changing paper towels as each gets full of grout.

9.) When it's all dry, clean with Windex, and leave undisturbed for a day.

10.) Hang the mosaic initial in your child's room. Cool!