🖼️
The project:
I transformed a plain timber tray into a one-of-a-kind mosaic serving tray using timber stain, broken tiles, grout and a clear resin finish. After staining the timber, I carefully arranged and glued each tile before applying grout and finishing it with resin to create a smooth, durable, glass-like surface. Rather than keeping it, I gifted the tray to a close friend, making the project even more special. This project showed me that with a little creativity and patience, simple materials can be transformed into something beautiful, practical and meaningful.
- Materials:
- Interior Wood Stain: https://www.bunnings.com.au/cabot-s-250ml-walnut-interior-stain_p1521841
- Johnson Tiles 97 x 97mm Gloss Spectrum Wall Tiles (Various colours): e.g. https://www.bunnings.com.au/johnson-97-x-97mm-canary-gloss-spectrum-wall-tile_p0637278
- Mosaic Glue:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/mandala-art-clear-acrylic-craft-mosaic-glue_p1662036?store=5212&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21119565770&gbraid=0AAAAADtbEB-S3On6aDMw4l2f92ni92KrU&gclid=CjwKCAjwmozTBhAeEiwAkEGZzkjjRwmTv1hWm17wrFwTNLTrUIodFMnWpdvubTZ8SFVGFLEzW9mGxhoCsRIQAvD_BwE - Mosaic Grout:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/mandala-art-500g-white-super-fine-mosaic-grout_p1670228 - Mosaic Sponge kit:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/mandala-art-mosaic-squeegee-and-sponge-kit_p1670229 - Wooden Tray (Craft)
- Sanding sheets: https://www.bunnings.com.au/paint-partner-assorted-sanding-sheets-15-pack_p0472187
- Cloth to clean
- Thick Cloth (to wrap the tiles and break into pieces)
- Resin:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/boyle-500ml-crafty-resin-250-250ml-kit_p0322568
- Tools:
- Masking tape: https://www.bunnings.com.au/bear-24mm-x-50m-interior-decorator-masking-tape-24mm_p0144251
- Hammer
- Measuring tape
- Mixing bucket
- Paint brush
- Safety glasses
- Disposable gloves
- Step 1:
Prepare the Tray:
Lightly sanded the unfinished timber tray using the sanding paper to create a smooth surface before applying the timber stain. Once stained, I allowed it to dry completely before beginning the mosaic.
- Step 2:
Create the mosaic pieces:
Wrapped the ceramic tiles in a thick cloth and carefully broke them into smaller pieces using a hammer. This helped contain the shards safely while creating a variety of shapes and sizes. I then arranged the pieces inside the tray like a puzzle, experimenting with the layout until I achieved a balanced, colourful mosaic design before gluing each piece into place.
- Step 3:
Design the pattern:
Before gluing anything down, I arranged all the tile pieces until I was happy with the balance of colours and spacing. Taking the time to plan the layout made a huge difference to the finished result.
- Step 4:
Fix the tiles:
Each tile was glued individually to the tray, ensuring spacing for the grout lines. I left the glue to dry completely before moving to the next stage.
- Step 5:
Apply grout:
Once the glue had dried, I covered the edges with masking tape for a neat finish (to ensure no grout is on the wooden handles or sides) and then spread the white grout across the entire mosaic, making sure every gap was filled. After allowing it to partially set, I wiped away the excess with a damp sponge to reveal the colourful tile design. Once fully dried, I polished the tiles to remove any grout haze, and removed the masking tape.
- Step 6:
Apply the resin finish:
Once the grout had fully dried and the surface was cleaned, I poured a clear layer of resin over the mosaic. The resin created a smooth, glossy, glass-like finish while protecting the tiles and grout. I then left the tray on a level surface to cure completely.
After the resin had fully cured, the serving tray was ready to use. The finished piece is both practical and decorative, perfect for serving food and drinks or displaying as a unique handmade home décor item. I gifted it to a close friend, making the project even more meaningful.
