This model was made from a kit made by a french company specialized in the making of 'Mosaclic' tesserae.

The rectangles supplied are broken off quite easily by hand producing ready-made geometric forms. Ideal, in other words, for kids, older people or anybody else who enjoys crafts but is a little lacking in musclepower !

For this particular model, a rather irregularly-shaped lizard, non-geometrical shapes are also needed. For this, a metal hacksaw blade or scissors are enough to mark out the desired shape, then just gently snap if off
To smooth the sides, either coarse-grained sandpaper or a metal file will do.
A simple material to help kids discover the art of mosaics.
Useful to know! If using traditional tesserae, a good set of cutting pliers is crucial. Even with geared pliers, you have to use some force and a little experience to obtain the desired shape. Watch out - the work surface can get dirtied according to the material you're working with.

The backing for the lizard in this kit is in wood, therefore you can use a paintbrush and directly paste on the liquid glue.

Time needed (for a beginner) : 5 hours.
Step 1 : transfer the design
In this case, you need to transfer the lizard outline onto a sheet of paper.

Step 2 : cut out the tesserae
Break off the pieces of Mosaclic and place them on the sheet of paper, alternating the colors
To obtain a well-shaped form, use pliers then a metal file to smooth the sides.
Step 3 : Pasting the mosaic
"I chose to place (at regular intervals) three identical shapes along the lizard's back. These shapes come straight from the mosaic sheet, which explains their regular shaping."

Using the paintbrush, paste a small part of the backing material. Remember that the glue used here is quick-drying, which means you will need to paste bit by bit.
One by one to move the mosaics ones since the sheet on the pasted support
Step 4 : drying
Once the backing material is covered, let dry.
Step 5 : the grout
Prepare the grout by mixing powder and water so as to obtain a thin, smooth paste.
Beware, the grout contains strong adhesive, so protect your hands and eyes.
Apply the mixture by simply smearing it over the tesserae, applying some pressure, till all visible spaces are filled up (use plastic gloves to protect hands).
Work by small areas at a time, starting where you first applied the grout (because the grout supplied dries quickly), wiping the surface of the tesserae to remove any excess.
Step 6 : cleaning
Continue with this, the traditional last stage of tiling - the cleaning. Use a sponge (very lightly dampened) to remove grout from the tesserae surfaces and to smooth out the joins between tesserae.
Shine with absorbent paper.

There's one thing this lizard can't do without - eyes! Using jewelry paste, stick on two Swarovski R SS34 Jonquil strass beads for a sparkling look.
Step 7 : finishing touches
For a smart finish and to create a more homogeneous look between the sides of the backing material, the grout and the tesserae, paint the sides with acrylic paint (here in white).