Mosaics 101: How To Break China for Mosaics

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• published: 21 Oct 2014
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Mosaics 101: How To Break China for Mosaics Broken china mosaics are so charming. In this lesson, you will learn how to use tile nippers and wheel cutters to break china plates into tiles for mosaics. To get started making mosaics with broken china, go to the thrift store and collect plates with beautiful flowers and patterns around the edge. Get a few very inexpensive china pieces to practice with too. You can use wheel cutters or tile nippers to cut the plates into mosaic tesserae. Tile nippers are good for large cuts. Wheel cutters make more precise “bites” but they are limited in the width of plate they can nip or cut. To use either wheel cutters or tile nippers to break patterned china plates into mosaic tiles, you will need safety glasses to protect your eyes and leather gloves to protect your hands. China breaks off with tiny glass shards that can easy poke through skin. Please be careful! We like to break the china with the tile nippers over a cardboard box to capture the broken pieces and shards. Start by grasping the plate in one hand then squeeze the nippers onto the edge of the plate. It will start a crack that will break the china for you. If you choke back on the handles of the nippers it is easier to squeeze them onto the china plate. Take a smaller piece that you have broken off and again squeeze the nippers on the edge to break it into smaller pieces. Continue on until you have broken china tiles the right size for your mosaic. You can also use the wheel nippers to cut the china plate. This is a good tool for cutting out pictures and roses from the center of a plate to reuse in a mosaic. The wheel cutters can bite away the china edges you don’t want leaving the image in the center. You can buy wheel cutters and tile nippers at hardware stores and craft stores or at Amazon. Here is an affiliate link to wheel cutters and tile nippers. These are affiliate links. It will cost you nothing to click them but if you buy we will get a small reward. Glass Tile Nippers with Wheel Cutters http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0061Z1C1E/?tag=thonesi-20 Carbide Tipped Tile Nippers http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BC2HGGG/?tag=thonesi-20 If you enjoy this lesson, you might also like these videos: Mosaics 101: How To Break Off China Roses for Mosaics https://youtu.be/L1LYOXFrBb0 Mosaics 101: How To Cut Tiles For Mosaics https://youtu.be/eKxS83D5mMA Mosaics 101: How To Cut Glass for Mosaics https://youtu.be/e7Ds4NISZbA We have more videos on other crafts too: Melt and Pour Soap Craft: How To Make Sugar Scrub Soaps From Melt and Pour Soap https://youtu.be/Dm_MsttWaSM Easy Ribbon Crafts: How To Make An Easy Ribbon Rose https://youtu.be/obP6gXfPXFM We also have lots of DIY jewelry making videos: How To Make Jewelry: How To Make An Easy Resin Ring https://youtu.be/TK41mx90c7U How To Make Jewelry: How To Make A Ribbon Bracelet https://youtu.be/fqvNdOZLHo4 How To Make Jewelry: How To Make A Beaded Lariat Necklace https://youtu.be/z7Ywk2DHUH4 How To Make Jewelry: How To Make A Picture Pendant On A Scrabble Tile https://youtu.be/JKIbwkz3fHI How To Make Jewelry: How To Make Crystal Wrapped Earrings https://youtu.be/uNUVJJ0S7WU How To Make Jewelry: How To Make Beaded Drop Earrings https://youtu.be/w_P4nqyWBj8 To see more of our mosaic making videos and get our printable how-tos for each one, go over to Curious.com and try a subscription. Here's a 20% off coupon in this link. http://tinyurl.com/CURIOUSTEACHER20 Our blog is www.RunningWithSisters.com. It is loaded with DIY crafts, jewelry tutorials, and all kinds of gift crafts to make. Let’s connect! Twitter: https://twitter.com/ONeilSisters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-ONeil-Sisters-221197161273064 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneilsisters/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/oneilsisters/