Use a Tissue Box to Mosaic a Birdhouse

October 17, 2011
I admire people who use discarded or recycled materials to make art. I'm continually stunned by the creativity of people and the beauty they bring alive using free materials. A couple of years ago I took a Mosaic class but quickly realized that I would not be able to afford it. Glass costs are rising and ceramic tiles are costing as little as $5 each. Since I don't have time to hunt around in tile shop waste bins, I abandoned the hobby.

Then one day about a year ago I had a "Eureka" moment. I've saved pretty papers over the years like cards, calendars and advertizements. Much of the art on those cardboard tissue boxes is too pretty to throw out. Then I thought, "Too bad these aren't tiles, then I could use them to make mosaics. Wait a minute! Why can't I?"

The ideas flowed as I thought about how I could recreate the look of mosaic without the hassle of using messy grout and stinky adhesives. The paint would become the grout, so I could have any color grout I wanted. I could choose a paint color in harmony with the design and color palette of the tissue box. And I didn't have to limit myself to just tissue boxes cut up as tiles. I could incorporate recycled and found items into each design, as well.

That's how Fausaicopage' was born. Or Fausaic, for short. It's a craft style that I invented. I don't know of anyone else that's doing it. It's a great way to practice the art of mosaic without the expense and mess. I find it extremely relaxing, enjoyable and fulfilling because the results are always good. It's a casual style with no mistakes. You just can't go wrong.

Here's a list of things you'll need. All can be found at your local craft store. Protect your flat work surface with newspaper before beginning.

Wood substrate such as box-shaped items like Birdhouses and Cigar Boxes Craft Paint compatible with color palette of cardboard tiles Glue Stick Mod Podge (Glossy makes the cardboard look like glass in the light, but you can experiment)

Paint brushes (foam brush uses up too much paint/varnish. I use a set of small wide flat brushes) Sand Paper (safety goggles and face mask should be used) Scissors (your sharpest pair) Brayer to "set" the tiles Varnish (I use Delta Ceramcoat Exterior/Interior Varnish)

The beauty of this project is that it costs about 6 dollars to make, not counting your labor. It takes me about 10 hours to make a birdhouse, sometimes longer, but it's worth it. It can be mathematical and like creating a puzzle. If you have a good eye for balance and have worked on mosaics in the past, this should be easy for you.

Next, I'll give you step-by-step instructions so that you can Fausaicon your own.