"I am the Vine, you are the branches." John 15:5
What You Need: Vine pattern * (see below) or your own
design; clear plexi-glass cut to
6" x 10"; cathedral and stained glass pieces (available at craft stores or online at
monstermosaics.com);
Clear Glass and Ceramic cement-glue; Tile nipper; Pre-mixed white sanded
grout; large sponge; Q-tips; tape; cotton balls; rubbing alcohol.
Protective eyewear is recommended when cutting and nipping the glass
pieces.
What You Do: Read the directions before beginning. Tape
the vine pattern or your own design underneath the Plexi-glass with
design facing up (Tape just the edges. See picture on the
right).
This part of the process requires little to no glass cutting: Use
a Q-Tip to apply the glass cement to a small area of any of the
positive shapes (the crown, vine, branches, arch, water). Using
the pattern as your guide, begin placing the glass pieces into the
glue. The glass pieces should be placed about 1/8 to 1/16 apart. Apply
enough glue to bond the glass effectively, but not so much that the
glue oozes out onto the Plexi-glass.
This part of the process requires cutting the tiles: Please
use caution and protective eyewear. When nipping and cutting the glass
with the tile nippers, cup it in your hand to keep the glass pieces
from flying. Begin placing your glass pieces around the edges of the
design and work towards the vine and branches. As you get closer to
them you will need to cut your glass to fit. Working the background is
very similar to putting a puzzle together.
Allow to dry for 24 hours. Remove pattern from Plexi-glass.
Use a damp sponge to apply sanded grout to glass. Push the grout
between the glass pieces. You will completely cover the design and
fill the spaces between the glass. Keep the sponge completely flat and
begin wiping the grout off the surface. It will be a process of
rinsing the sponge, wringing it out to get as much water as possible out
of the sponge, and then wiping the grout some more. Continue doing this
until the glass is clean. It is VERY important that you keep
the sponge flat so as not to pull the grout from between the spaces.
Allow to dry for 24 hours.
Use a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol to buff the glass to a
beautiful shine. Hang in a window or place it on a window sill to let the
light shine through.
Copyright 2005 S.A. Keith - All Rights Reserved
SundaySchoolNetwork.com
To make this craft with younger children substitute clear
overhead projector sheets for the Plexi-glass, colored tissue paper
for the glass pieces, and Modge-Podge for the glass cement. Copy the
design onto the overhead sheet. Apply the Modge-Podge and the tissue
paper over the design.
* The VINE PATTERN will need to be enlarged to fit a 6"
x 10" piece of Plexi-glass.
The pattern with instructions
to make it are free to our yearly Support Partners only.
Click here to
become our support partner.
Sorry, but if you
are not a Support Partner, you will not receive an answer.
Return to the Crafts
section.