Treasure trays

Hands-on time: Approximately half a day.
Total time: Needs 48 hours to cure.
Skill: Moderate.
Cost estimate: Approximately $22.00.

Materials & Tools

• Frame, without a glass pane (flea-market find, garage-sale purchase, etc.)
• A pressboard piece the same size to fit at the back of the frame, about 1/16 of an inch thick (Some hardware stores offer a cutting service. You can also use a jigsaw or even a manual saw)
• Acrylic craft paint in your choice of colour, and varnish (primer optional)
• Tiles, broken tea cups, or broken dishes
• Hammer
• Cloths, clean rags or paper towels and an old heavy towel
• Tile cutter or nipper (optional)
• Protective eyewear and gloves
• No More Nails adhesive, Mortar adhesive, silicone or a glue gun (available at hardware stores)
• Mapei (fast-curing polymer tile grout), available in assorted colors at hardware stores
• Old bowl or disposable container
• Spatula or spoon
• Measuring cup and water
• Painter's tape, 1 1/2-inch wide
• Flat rectangle sponge and a sponge sanding block
• Grout sealer (optional)
• 2 decorative handles
• Ruler, pencil, and screwdriver

Use your favourite (but broken) china tea cup, hand painted dishes or tiles to create a mosaic collage tray.

Place a piece of pressboard at the back of the frame. Glue it in place with the adhesive and let set. If preferred, put the pressboard into place with small framing nails.

Lightly sand and wipe the frame to prepare the surface for painting. Depending on the condition of the frame you may want to apply a primer and let dry. Then, paint the frame in a colour that co-ordinates well with your planned mosaic design and let dry.

Meanwhile, plan and create your mosaic design. It can be a play on colours, shapes or a particular theme - anything goes.

Put on the protective eyewear and gloves and cut the tiles with a tile cutter or nipper, or just smash them in a heavy towel with a hammer on a hard surface. Open the towel to see whether you have enough small pieces and repeat if needed.

Arrange the mosaic pieces on the pressboard inside the frame until you are pleased with the layout. With the adhesive, glue each piece into place. Leave at least 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) between pieces for the grout. Let stand overnight.

With a spoon or spatula, mix the grout according to manufacturer's directions in a disposable container or an old bowl. Place some painter's tape around the base of the frame, to prevent grout from getting on it.

With a spatula, spread some of the grout mixture over the mosaic design until all the gaps are filled in. To wipe off excess grout, use a wet, flat sponge using a back-and-forth motion to even it out. Keep rinsing the sponge throughout this step. Let the project stand for 20 to 30 minutes and wipe again, cleaning all the mosaic pieces.

Let the mosaic tray dry and cure for 48 hours until it has completely hardened. Use a sanding block and then a damp cloth for the final polishing. Apply grout sealer if you plan to use it as a serving tray, as opposed to a decorative tray.

You are now ready to attach the decorative handles on each side of the frame, using a ruler and pencil (to mark off holes) and a screwdriver.

Variations

• If the frame came with a glass pane, you can incorporate it in the tray's transformation by putting it over old family photos, a piece of watercolour artwork, old postcards, stamps, pressed leaves or flowers, or just about anything else you want to preserve. Follow the frame-painting instructions, and then lightly spread some adhesive along the edge of the inside of the frame to secure the glass pane. Remove the excess adhesive around the border of the frame with a cloth and a little mineral spirits. This will protect spills from damaging whatever you have insert between the glass and the backing of the frame.