thank you, thank you. I have to give the credit to nanatricia, she posted one quite awhile ago that I just fell in love with, I tried to find it, but it looks like the link to the picture is broken. Anyway, its a bowling ball, I took candy wrappers -foil type ones, and oreo and nutter butter lunch pack wrappers :), though on another one I'm working on, I discovered that gum wrappers are a dream - siliconed them down on the ball, took safety glass (courtesy of my Mom breaking her patio table as she got it out this Spring) and siliconed that over the wrappers, then grouted it. One thing I did discover, if you find you have a loose piece of glass, its very worth your time to go back and re-silicone it, don't expect the grout to hold it there - it won't. I still need to seal it, then I'll put it out in the sun and watch it sparkle!! Before I give it to my cousin ;)

Thanks everyone. I thought it turned out well. I used my decoupage glue and some wallies and put on three coats of varnish. I got the stand at a thrift store for six dollars. So this project was well worth it.

Grout needs time to "cure" like cement. Did you have it dry in the sun? Because that could cause the cracking. It is best to let it dry in a cooler, shaded area so it doesn't cure too quickly. Otherwise, your grout may have been too wet when you applied it. When you spread it, it should be about the consistency of brownie batter (that's the best way I know to describe it) - still spreadable like mud but not as thin as pancake batter (can you tell I love eating? lol). You were right to use sanded grout and a grout sealer.

Oh please do so!!! I too have a hankerin' to do a BB! And I totally know what you mean about the days spent mosaicing/playing instead of housework!!! heh heh! Someone here will help you if you get stuck!