Easter Mosaic Cross

Well as promised here is a great project with all those eggshells. I did this with Grade 3 yesterday, because it is a Catholic school and we focus on the religious symbolism of Easter.

This technique can be easily adapted to any shape.

Materials Required:

- eggshells, cleaned and dried (you need about 6 halves)
- thin cardboard
- scissors
- acrylic paint in Easter colors as well as your grout color
- mod podge
- wax paper
- paintbrush




Collect some eggshells. Rinse them with water and if possible try to remove inner membrane. To do this just break off a little shell from the edge and peel the inner white membrane at the same time. It comes off easily when the eggs have just been cracked.

Let dry.





Paint your eggshells. Use acrylic craft paint. I did some in solid colors and some with patterns. I asked the kids to only do 2 with patterns, I find that if you use to many patterned eggs it takes away from the mosaic.

Let them dry.








For this project I pre cut cardboard crosses for all the kids. They are about 8 inches high.

I used cardboard from the back of paper pads that I had stored away but you can use cereal boxes, or any lightweight cardboard.



Paint your cross with your grout color. We chose white. I had initially thought black but I think the white worked better.




If this is for hanging make sure you punch your hole at this time as well.





Taking the mod podge start on an edge and paint some on. You want to do small areas at a time as the mod podge will dry before you get to the end.




Place a 1 inch or so section of shell on the mod podge...it won't lay flat but that is OK because you then press in down with your finger smooshing it into the mod podge and creating your mosaic.




In these photos I am adding a top coat as I go however for the kids it was easier to finish the cross completely and then add the top coat.

I also had containers of water nearby for them to wash their sticky fingers...you'll find that your sticky fingers will begin to pull off the paint otherwise.






Continue until you cover the entire shape. Don't worry about going over the edge you'll trim it after its dry.



When it has dried take some small scissors and clip the edges. This gives the piece a good finished look. You can also sand any rough edges with an emery board.


Add a coat or 2 of mod podge to the back and you are done.

You may find your shape warps as it is drying...the podge has a lot of moisture to it...just gently bend it back into place before the podge has dried completely.





You can then string it with some nice ribbon and even add a flower trim.

Here are the ones done by the kids. Sorry about the picture quality but I was having issues with the light. They did a great job.

I had to watch as some wanted to mound up several layers of eggshell on top of one another. I also found some kids wanted to break up there shells into little pieces and painstakingly position each piece. (hey! you can't rush great art) CLICK ON PHOTOS TO SEE LARGER

Several teachers at school thought they looked like stained glass.

Due to the lacquer effects of the mod podge these crosses will be quite durable and will make nice keepsakes for the parents.

That's it for today hope to see you soon.

gail

Eggshell Mosaic Shamrock Pin

Eggshell mosaic is incredible to work with. A lot easier than you think and the results are spectacular.
In preparation of doing eggshell mosaic with the grade 3's, I thought I should get a few samples together. I made this 4 leaf clover pin for St. Patrick's Day.
Not that hard to do and the materials are lying around your house right now.

Materials Required:

eggshells, start collecting shells...make sure to rinse them out and if you can remove the inner layer, it usually has an air bubble in the top, just rub it off with your finger
acrylic or craft paint
modge podge, you can also use white glue
cardboard
pin back
small pair of scissors
emery board
pin back



You can use this technique to make any kind of pin or necklace pendant.

Find the shape you want and trace onto thin cardboard..like a cereal box.




Cut your shape out and paint it with acrylics the color you want the grout to be. I painted mine black.

If you are making a pendant for a necklace punch your hole at this time.




Take a few egg shells...they can be broken up a bit.




Using acrylic paint....paint your shells in the colors you want for your project. Here I wanted a few different greens. I also added some salt to my light green shell to add extra texture...just sprinkle regular table salt onto the paint before it dries..after the shell dries it will rub off and leave a granular texture.



Starting from an outside edge begin your mosaic....don't worry I'll walk you thru it in the next few photos.

Brush on some modge podge or white glue in the area you want to fill in. I'm doing a random pattern here but because I'm using different green shades I'm working on a small section at a time.



Break off a piece of shell that is approximately the same size that you want to fill.

Place over your glue...now it won't fit because the shell is curved and the form is flat but here comes the magic.



Taking your finger squish it flat. It will break up and form your mosaic.

The eggshell will only stick where there is glue. If some of it is on a dry section just brush some modge podge over it.

Use an awl or knitting needle to clear the hole if you are making a pendant.

Continue working until the entire form is covered. Don't worry about any overhanging bits we will take care of them after it dries.

There may be the odd piece here and there where you will have to try to fit a small filler piece in but over all the mosaic just comes together. Add a top coat of modge podge as well. If some pieces are overlapping each other a bit that is OK.
Let dry.




After it has dried you can turn it over and with some small scissors cut off the excess. Use little snips at a time. If you try to cut too big a piece it may pull the mosaic off the form.







You can use an emery board to sand any rough edges.






Make sure to modge podge the back of your piece as well.

Let dry.




Glue on a pin back if you are making a pin.

That's it a beautiful pin using the most basic of materials.

I'll be posting some more projects with eggshell mosaic because I love working with it. The kids also love it. Most people can't believe it's from an egg shell...they'll think you did some exhausting tile mosiac technique. Due to it's lightweight it is applicable to lots of different projects.

see you next time

gail

Cardboard Mosaics

I'm starting mosaics with Grade 3. This is our first project. Not really a true mosaic but a good starting point for them.

The idea for this came up while my daughter was doing a book report. She was reading "Chasing Vermeer" and for the project component she made a set of Pentominoes.
Afterwards we had a lot of 1"x1" cardboard pieces.........inspiration strikes.


Materials Required:

corrugated cardboard
cardboard for your base...I used the back from a notepad
acrylic paint
crackle medium (optional)






Cut your corrugated cardboard into 1"x1" squares. They don't have to be perfect.

In fact they look better a bit off...

My daughter had traced out a grid on a big piece first.






Take your base cardboard and paint it black or some other dark color. This will be your grout color.

Let dry.

Glue the squares onto your base cardboard leaving space in between.

Paint white. Draw on your picture. I outlined mine in black so you can see it here.

Paint in your design. Use bright colors as we will be putting on a dark wash to antique it later.

When you have painted it the way you want let dry.

I then painted the surface with crackle medium. This is optional. I wanted a crackle finish to the tiles and we have some of this medium at school but you can leave this out if you want.

Let dry.

Using some very watered down paint that matches your grout color, apply a light wash.

This ages your piece making it look like some ancient mosaic you found on your travels.

Let dry.

That's it. Pretty straight forward and it will get my Grade 3's thinking about tiles and mosaics. A good lead into our second project eggshell mosaics, but that will be next time.

Give it a try and I'll see you next time.

gail