​It's that season again, full of festivities and spending time with friends and family! With this season's return, there's a desperate need for charcuterie. If you're fresh out of ideas for a creative spread, look no further; we've got you!

Generally, I love to have a good assortment of cheese, meat, veggies, fruits, crackers, jam, hummus, and nuts. Be mindful of any loved ones with allergies or different dietary needs. If I have a particular layout in mind that might contaminate safe foods for someone, I like to make that person a separate mini charcuterie board with foods they can eat, so there's no risk! 

If you need some great ideas for how to style your ingredients, check out this guide to styling your prosciutto, see how to make a festive charcuterie wreath, and see a lovely, fresh way to display your brie!

​This ultimate guide will take you through everything you need to know to make a stunning mosaic, from which supplies to purchase to how to use them step by step, with little bonus tips along the way! If you're ready to get into it, now's the perfect time, especially if you're looking for unique handmade gifts to give your friends and family this season!

You've decided to make a mosaic; that's awesome! Now for the fun but challenging part: where do you begin choosing your tiles? There are so many kinds of tiles to choose from, which can make it all too easy to make the wrong choice if you're unsure what to look for! That's why we created this post; we've worked (sometimes through trial and error) to determine what makes them great for each project! 

First, let's cover what you probably want to avoid getting and why! ​You might want to avoid plastic tiles, which won't be able to stand up to regular use. Durability is important when creating a functional project, like a trivet or tabletop. We don't want your beautiful mosaic trivet melting when you put a pot on it because your tiles are plastic! You may also want to avoid tiles with designs etched into the top. While these tiles can be gorgeous, it can be hard to get grout out of all the indentions when you finish your project.

Now it's time to cover what tiles you should use! Glass and Ceramic tiles are beautiful and functional, making them our top choice and the types we include in our mosaic kits.  They're great in many ways, but one of my favorite things about them is that they can withstand heat, so they're great for making things like trivets or coasters. You can also use them outside without the sun bleaching them like it would with plastic tiles. There are loads of stunning options for glass and ceramic tiles on Etsy! Glass is particularly great to work with because you can purchase sheets of glass and cut out your own tiles in the exact shapes you need! You can watch this great video from Bonnie Fitzgerald & Kim Wozniak on YouTube to learn everything you need to know about the glass cutting process! 

​Now you understand all the tile options at your disposal, but what about the other supplies you'll need for mosaics? Check out Our Guide To An Absolutely Stunning Mosaic to learn everything you need to know about mosaic making from surfaces, grout, tile adhesive, and more!

​If you're ready to get a feel for mosaic making, check out our mosaic kits for a great project that won't have you stressing about supplies!

Is there anything more satisfying than adding the finishing touches to a project? This step can be a little bit nerve-racking for beginners to DIY mosaics, but you'll be amazed at how you'll feel when your grout is wiped clean. Check out our video for this process here.

Put a small amount of your grout powder into your disposable cup. The amount will vary based on the size of your project. For a 6"-12" project, start with about a half cup of grout. Keep in mind that you can always mix more, but you can't reuse grout later that you've already mixed up.

​​Next, add a couple of tablespoons of water at a time. The goal is to have grout the consistency of a thick milkshake. It needs to be thick enough that it won't drip, but thin enough to be smooth and spreadable.

Do you want to learn more mosaic techniques or tips like how to color grout? ​Check out Our Guide to an Absolutely Stunning Mosaic!

We want to give you three simple steps to create a fun, stress-free experience and show how simple creating mosaics can be! ​With minimal effort, you'll find yourself growing in confidence in your mosaic abilities. Let's jump in!

Be sure that you're selecting tiles that are either ceramic or glass. Plastic tiles or poor-quality tiles won't hold up to regular use, and you want your project to last. Check out our glass and ceramic tiles that are cut into shapes prior to finishing, which makes the edges smooth, rather than sharp! These are awesome when you're working on a project with kids, or when you don't want to have to stress about cutting yourself on glass shards!

Unsanded grout is the best choice for a nice and smooth grout finish for your project. This is easy to pick up at your local hardware store!

For a detailed explanation of all of the supplies you'll need, be sure to download our free mosaic guide! It includes a printable supply checklist.

• Be sure to use a lot of glue. Using too little will result in your tiles popping off while you're grouting, which is so difficult to fix! Don't be afraid to really slather it on.
  
• Your tiles should be spaced out pretty evenly, but it's completely fine if they're not perfect! As a general rule, you want the smallest gap between tiles to be about the width of the end of a nail file!
  
• Tiles should reach the edges of your backing, but not go over the edge. If you're using sharp tiles, your mosaic will be dangerous to use if your tiles hang off.  

Would you like a more thorough explanation of the grouting process, more tips, and a video tutorial? Our Guide to an Absolutely Stunning Mosaic includes all of those things!

Gathering all of the many supplies you'll need to get started with a mosaic hobby can be a challenge. That's why we've created mosaic kits that include everything you'll need. You can place one order and have everything you'll need to create your masterpiece arrive on your doorstep! With lots of projects to choose from, you can create one project after another with ease.