Tips for Recycled Mosaic Projects – Combining Old and New
Mosaic art is an excellent way to blend old and new materials to create unique, eco-friendly pieces. Recycle, reuse, and repurpose items. Use leftover tiles from renovations and combine them with other mosaic materials. Be sure to check the frost resistance of any renovation tiles if you plan outdoor use in varying weather conditions so they won’t crack in frost. You can use broken dishes, old beads, keys, coins, stones, buttons, and porcelain figurines—see the ideas and tips below!
1. Mosaic Mirrors
Create beautiful mosaic mirrors and frames by gluing mosaic pieces onto a dull or damaged frame. Small crack? Cover it with a mosaic dragonfly or flower to hide it.
Did your mirror break? Reuse the pieces in mosaic projects—but handle with care as edges can be sharp. We recommend Olba glue, which won’t corrode the reflective backing.
2. Garden Decorations
Use spare concrete slabs, bricks, stones, or garden statues as bases for mosaics. For example, make a house-number sign. The sign shown uses Goldlink glass mosaic 20 mm, glass mosaic 10 mm, and Millefiori.
3. Mosaic Lanterns and Candle Holders
Cover candle holders, lanterns, and bottles with glass mosaic. For open flame, only use heat-safe bases. LED candles and fairy lights are a safe alternative. Beautifully shaped bottles look stunning with translucent glass mosaic. See recommended materials. Watch the lanterns tutorial and the glass-bottles how-to.
4. Covering Pots
Give chipped or worn flower pots a new life with mosaic. Cup handles, spouts, and old lids can be glued on as features. Dish shards are easy to trim with mosaic nippers.
5. Mosaic Window
Create a striking mosaic on an old window and use it as a decorative panel or room divider. Use translucent glass mosaics.
6. Reusing CDs and DVDs
Cut unwanted discs into mosaic pieces, or use whole discs as bases for sun catchers or bird scarers. Glue glass gems in mandala patterns. You can also drill holes and connect discs with fishing line for a garden mobile. If you glue two discs together with image sides inward, the reflective side faces out. Try shapes like Ellipses and Petals.
7. Plates and Trays
Cut damaged dishes into mosaic pieces. Cover a large plate to make a serving dish or fruit bowl, or refresh a worn tray in colours that match your décor. The tray below is covered with Soft Glass mosaic in gold and black, grouted with black grout plus gold glitter. The same materials are used for the matching coasters in section 10.
8. Old Furniture
Cover a scuffed table or chair with mosaic pieces for a fresh, personalised look. Read more about mosaic tables.
9. Old Photo Frames
Make a mixed set of frames match by painting and adding mosaic—an easy craft for kids too. Create a cottage info frame with address and coordinates for emergencies. See 10 mm glass mosaics.
10. Glass Jars and Cans
Repurpose glass jars and metal cans into small home or garden decorations. Jar lids make great coasters: line with Soft Glass mosaic in gold and black and grout with black plus gold glitter. For a statement vase, try Petals, Mini Gems, and Soft Glass, then grout in black.
11. Broken Jewelry
Incorporate broken jewellery into a mosaic portrait—use a pendant for the neck or earrings for the ears. A snapped bead necklace can frame a mosaic beautifully.
12. Lampshade
Refresh a plain lampshade with mosaic pieces, buttons, and shells. Use only heat-resistant materials if you still use incandescent bulbs.
14. Old Cutting Board
A sturdy wooden cutting board makes a great base for indoor mosaics and even a trivet. The fish below uses 20 mm glass mosaic cut with mosaic nippers.
15. Bowling Ball
Make a durable garden sphere from an old bowling ball. Leave one finger hole uncovered and insert a metal or wooden rod so it stands securely in a flower bed.
16. Outdoor Light Cover as Mosaic Base
Repurpose an old outdoor light cover as a mosaic base. Clean it and glue pieces with silicone, Olba, or mosaic glue. Cover with translucent glass mosaic and place an LED light inside.
