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Stained Glass & Mosaics

things you shouldn't mosaic but want to mosaic anyway...

16 years ago

i've had this ongoing issue of wanting to either a) put things into mosaics that i shouldn't, or b) use things i shouldn't as substrate.

currently, i feel compelled to use coins in a mosaic. we actually collect coins so i'm not talking about pennies from my change.. i'm talking about old coins. a couple of large pennies from 1859 to be specific. they're not worth a ton of money collector-wise because they're heavily worn but it seems kind of ....wrong... to do this. they're 150 years old...

my better half probably would prefer i didn't but won't likely say anything if i choose to use them because, while she loves coins, she seems to love it when i mosaic more. (i like to think she'd object if they were expensive, though) so, i'm a little torn.

ever want to mosaic something you shouldn't??? or is it just me?? :)

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Comments (10)

mmqchdygg
16 years ago
Knowing that you can pry them off if you REALLY needed to...I say go for it- especially if you've deemed them pretty much useless except for sitting in a little locked box to look at "occasionally."
I think they would find more interest embedded in a coffee table next to other old/invaluable stuff...like resin-covered stamps or what-not.

Hmmmm...you give me idee-ers!
joyy
Original Author
16 years ago
stamps...... my better half has her grandmother's stamp collection. it's a great idea (but i'll pretend it didn't read that!! lol!!)

but i see where you're going with that for sure - a coffee table with old coins, maybe bits and pieces of an old map, some of those keys i mentioned in another post - just old things in general - i love it! thank you!
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doone
16 years ago
For all those "little" things that you want to use but don't want to ruin, here is an idea:

If you have a soldering iron. Place item BETWEEN two piece of clear glass and solder them together. They form a glass box around the piece. Then, use the glass box as a piece of tessare.

I've used all kinds of things this way. It's like a little shadow box...
texaswild
16 years ago
What a wonderful idea, DOONE. Wish I knew how to solder.
Dottie B.
16 years ago
What a great idea Doone. Would you even need to solder them? I could have sworn seeing something one time where they did that and just used the copper foil around the edges and didn't solder them.
Dottie B.
16 years ago
I was so excited about Doone's tip, I forgot what I wanted to add to the subject...LOL

I struggle with this too. And I know that the value of items can change dramatically over the years...what is worth nothing today is worth lots tomorrow. So I ask myself these questions...if it's a common item and readily available, costs less than $5 (more or less), then it's fair game. If I have any doubts at all, I don't usually use it. But then again, I've seen antique mosaics worth tons of money....I figure it has something to do with the objects used in the mosaic as well as it's condition and age.
doone
16 years ago
I personally like the soldered look. I suppose you could just stop at the copper foil process...but eventually that copper foil will, perhaps, desintegrate and then water and stuff would seep into your glass box, thus ruining whatever it was you wanted to protect!

I like to go to the home improvement stores and get wall paper samples...and use inside my boxes...or really nice greeting cards...even napkins!

Soldering is NOT hard!!! You would be surprised at how easy it is....
Calamity_J
16 years ago
What a grat thread, I am going to use my pesos(I found on the street) in "My Mexician Memories Mosaic".
texaswild
16 years ago
Great idea, CALAM, but I'm saving mine for next year's shopping trip. I'll be staying at Haciendo Mosaico, y'all. Start planning now. She has won her case, and w/be moving back "home" soon, and is already scheduling classes. Ooooop - I fear I've hijacked a thread.
stjohnsgypsy
16 years ago
You'll always have money if you mosaic them into something! I'm really bad...I know if some of my projects, I've PROBABLY used real gold, some real stones, etc...from bags of jewelry...I guess I just don't really care if it's what I need at the time....I've used coins also.......and haven't lost any sleep over it! Nothing is safe.

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