We love to mosaic with broken china. Each little piece of broken china is like a little decorated gem. And collecting the china at thrift stores and flea markets is half the fun!
Breaking china into pieces to use in your mosaics might seem daunting, but once you see how it’s done, you’ll be eager to try. The cutting tool really does most of the work and the rest of the work is worth it!
Every time we go to the flea market , we keep an eye out for pieces of china. We looked for pretty plates and dishes with flowers and designs around the outside edge. We also look for inexpensive knick-knacks with little porcelain roses. (They remind us of birthday cake flowers made out of china.) We love to embed them in our mosaics.
Let us know if you make a mosaic with broken china. We’d love to hear about it!
Happy crafting,
Jennifer & Kitty
Disclosure: This post has some affiliate links for products we think you’ll like. Even if you don’t want to buy the items online, we think it’s helpful to see what they look like, so you can buy them at your local craft store. If you make a purchase from one of these links, we’ll make a small commission. There is no additional cost to you at all, but it helps us a little so we can pay for our web hosting and the tools and materials we use in these videos and blog posts. All opinions are our own from our own personal experience.
How To Mosaic With Broken China
Materials
3 terra cotta pots, 4″ diameter
Spray paint, white
5-7 china plates
China knick-knacks with 3 roses
1 lb. sanded grout, white
8 oz. mosaic grout sealer
Permanent craft adhesive glue (choose a viscous and fast-drying glue)
Tools & Supplies
Chisel
Hammer
Tile nippers or wheel cutters (these are made and sold for mosaic crafting)*
Large resealable zipper storage bags
Protective leather gloves
Safety glasses
Bubble wrap
Rag
*We have both tools and use the nippers to get big cuts and the wheel cutters for more precise cutting.
Other Tools
Latex or nitrile gloves
Dropcloth
Disposable mixing container
Wooden stir stick
Sponge
Putty knife
Paper towels
Face mask (optional)
Cup for water
Pail for rinsing sponge
Paintbrush
Steps
Step 1. Use The Tile Nippers To Break The China Into Tiles
Don your leather gloves and glasses and place a plate inside a zipper bag. (This is to catch and contain any sharp little chards.) Use the tile nippers or wheel cutters inside the bag. Grip the edge of the plate with the tile nipper blades perpendicular to the edge of the plate. The nippers only need to cut ¼” to ½” into the plate.
Squeeze the nippers onto the china. They will create a crack and break the china into two pieces.
Repeat the process to cut the larger pieces of china into smaller tiles. We tried to create tiles around ½” square (although none ended up square). We created about 90-100 cut tiles per pot. So we cut a lot!
Here’s a video we made to show how to cut a china plate with both tile nippers and wheel cutters. (We were making a different project, but the technique is the same.)
Step 2. Use The Chisel To Break Off The Roses
To chisel the roses off your little knick-knacks, fold a piece of bubble wrap and cover it with a rag. Don your safety gloves and glasses. Set the knick-knack onto the towel. Place the chisel edge under the edge of a rose. Strike the end of the chisel with the hammer. It may take more than one blow. (We broke the petals of one of our roses, but we glued them back on when we put it on the mosaic. No one is the wiser!)
Step 3. Glue The China Tiles To The Pots
Paint the pots, including the inside lip, and let them dry.
This next part is like doing a puzzle, so we like to start by laying out all our tiles on the table face up.
We start by gluing a rose to the front of a pot. Next select tiles to tuck under the rose and attach them with a dab of glue on the back of each tile. Leave about 1/8? between each tile for the grout. Choose tiles with straight edges for the bottom and top of the mosaic. Fill in the spaces by scanning your table full of tiles for the right shape. If you can’t find one, use your cutters to create the perfect tile (be sure to put your safety gloves and glasses back on!). Repeat to mosaic the other two pots.
Step 4. Mix Up The Grout
Wear a mask (if desired) and put on your latex-type gloves. Mix half the grout package according to the directions on the label. (Ours took one part water to seven parts grout, so we used a little more than one ounce of water for half the 16-ounce bag.) Add less water than you need at first. Stir and add more water if the mixture is too dry. Mix until the grout is the consistency of natural peanut butter. The grout stays workable for about 15 minutes, so be ready to grout the mosaic before you mix the grout.
Step 5. Spread The Grout Onto the Tiles
Spread the grout onto the surface of the mosaic pot right over the china pieces.
Use a damp sponge or putty knife to spread the grout around all the china pieces and roses. Make sure the top edge and bottom edge of the mosaic are grouted.
As you are finishing, go over the pot with a damp sponge lightly cleaning the grout off the tiles without removing the grout from between the tiles. Clean the lip of the pot with a damp sponge to remove any grout before it sets up. Repeat to grout each pot, mixing up more grout as needed. Let dry for 30 minutes.
Step 6. Buff The Tiles Clean
After 30 minutes, use a paper towel or damp sponge to wipe the grout haze off the china pieces. Be careful not to remove the grout from between the tiles. Wait another 30 minutes and buff the haze again. Repeat if necessary.
Step 7. Seal The Mosaic
Let the grout dry for 24 hours, then seal the surface of the tiles and grout with grout sealer and a paintbrush. Let dry. (Sealant makes the mosaic water resistant, but not waterproof.) Now plant a trio of succulents and sit back and enjoy your little garden!
We love getting Pinned!
Hello, I love this piece. For the pot, which is the best material to use?
We used terra cotta pots and they worked just fine!
Hope that helps!
J&K
Were these pots white when purchased or did you paint them first? If painted, did you brush or spray? Beautiful pots!
Thanks Robin! We spray painted them white. Hope that helps. J&K
Love the mosaic pots! This will make flea marketing a bit more interesting! What brand glue do you use? Something like E6000?
Thanks Carol! We like E6000 and use it for a lot of projects. For mosaics, clear silicone adhesive is a good choice too. It doesn’t run so your pieces stay put while it cures. This is important for a rounded surface like these pots. J&K
Love this idea! I am very big on reusing and recycling. Great job!
Thanks so much! Us too!
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge, experience, and talent!
Thank you MaryEllen!
Great idea!
Thanks Stephanie!
Thank you both for sharing your projects, I needed the inspiration! I love Diy crafts and have wanted to try mosaics for years!
Cindy T.
Mosaics are so much fun. Go for it! J&K
Love this … can’t wait to try it!
Hello, enjoyed your article . Maybe I can add a little tip for you. I have been doing broken china several years. Use the outer edge of plates , or what you are using, to finish the edge of what you are making. I find this gives a nice finished touch. I love doing this craft. My bird houses and other things, have won first place in computations.
I’m looking for something else to put the tiles on cause I’ve got tons of these kind of plates and have a bunch of the pots thanks to you for sharing how to do it. But my mind is drawing a break what else I can put the tiles on please help.
How about mirrors or picture frames?
Yes Kathy! Wonderful to mosaic! J&K
I am starting mosaics with broken china picture frames. I have bought the heavy duty roller nippers . Please give the process you would use
Hi Angie!
Check out the video we put in the middle of the post showing how to use the wheel nippers. It is called “How To Break China For Mosaics”. Is this the type you bought?
J&K
I’m going to try pots to get some experience, but I want to make some table top mosaics. I’m not sure what kind of tile would be best . Would grout stick to cast aluminum table?
Hi Rosemary, We’re not sure about doing mosaic on cast aluminum. Maybe the folks at Mosaic Mercantile can tell you. https://www.diamondtechcrafts.com/page/creative_corner They have lots of tiles on their site. We love their mini tiles! J&K
What kind of paint did you use for the terra cotta pots?
Hi Elizabeth, We used Krylon Color Master Paint + Primer Satin White Indoor Outdoor. Hope that helps! J&K
What type of spray paint is used on the terra cotta pots? Flat? Gloss? Does it matter? How many coats does it take?
We used Krylon Color Master Paint + Primer Satin White Indoor Outdoor. (Don’t think Gloss or Matte makes a difference to the mosaic.) Hope that helps! J&K
I love this idea so as to use old leftover previous dish sets too.
I painted Terra cotta pots last year but they are hard to find without hairline cracks. After delight artwork and a plant potted in it, I broke easily. I even dated the bottom.
My questions for you is do you first seal the Terra cotta pot and what kind of paint was your white?
Also what kind of glue do you use for the mosaic pieces on that paint.
Thank you for much for such a great idea.
Can you do the same technique with old mirrors too?
Hi Kathy, We used Krylon Color Master Paint + Primer Satin White Indoor Outdoor. We like clear 100% silicone adhesive for mosaics. Hope that helps! J&K
TOTALLY LOVED IT..
AND DID A WONDERFUL JOB EXPLAINING THE PROCESS STEP,BY STEP
WITH CLARITY.
THANK YOU
M.C.
Thanks so much! J&K
I felt sad to see the beautiful trinkets broken; but you have made lovely pots. Maybe those old treasures were the same as discarded if put in a flea market
Hi Zelda. They were chipped and cracked when we got them at Goodwill. So we feel great that we gave them new life! J&K
I watched the demo for the mosaic pots. Do you think this could be done with pieces of shells? I have a whole box of shells I’m trying to find crafts for.
Mosaic with shells is lovely! We have a Heart Shaped Door Hanger done with shells. Here’s a link: http://runningwithsisters.com/how-to-make-a-seashell-heart-for-your-door/ Cheers! J&K
Can you save these projects. So you can Refer back to it.
Have you tried Pinterest? You can make a Pinterest board and save projects from anywhere on a page there. J&K (Here’s an article about how to use Pinterest https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/technology/how-to-use-pinterest)
I’m anxious to try this with Valentine colours!
Great idea Kathy!
Absolutely ingenious! What a great way to use less than perfect beautiful china.
Thanks Iris! We love giving new life to old china.
J&K
This is just gorgeous. I love mosaics, but you don’t say what kind of glue you used. Thank you.
We like 100% Silicone Adhesive. It is nice and viscous so it stays put while it cures.
J&K
Love this idea. Could i just drop the plates instead of cutting?
Yes you can but you have less control over the sizes and shapes. You can also put the plate in a Ziploc baggie and use a hammer and a nail to break them into smaller pieces. Hope that helps.
J&K
Wonderful work
Thanks Anila!
Love these! I am an amateur stained glass mosaic person. Always looking for fun projects.
I just found y’all and I’m glad I did
Yay! We’re glad you found us too!
J&K
Where can i buy the supplies like clear silicone adhesive and mosaic grout? Also is there a necessity to file any sharp pieces or does the grout cover sharp corners?
How well will the china mosaic hold up outdoors? Will it need special winter treatment? Can theses be left outside in the winter? Or will the china break?
Great question Susan! We don’t have it in direct rain and in our climate we don’t get freezing temperatures. So far it has held up well. In colder climates though, you might want to bring it inside. Too much lovely work to have it ruined by weather!
J&K
Every step was clearly explained. Thanks a lot!
Thanks Ana!
what type of glue did you use?
Hi Tony,
We like to use clear 100% silicone adhesive for our mosaic projects.
J&K
Nice mosaic with broken china…will try it
Thanks Chitra!
I’m currently exploring copper foiled glass projects, but your pots could lead me astray!
Aren’t they fun?!
J&K
Thank you Wonderful Sisters! I absolutely appreciated your website and your detailed instructions as I am a “newbie” to this art form and have a need to experiment with many different styles of craft. I am certain you have done a service to all those like I and we will surely benefit from your knowledge and personal experience.
Sending best wishes.
Thanks Barbara!! Best to you!
J&K
Hi Sisters — I have been researching on line how to repurpose some beautiful china of my great grandmother’s that was broken when it was sent to me 🙁 I’ve wanted to do a table or a garden object or some frames and mirrors, etc. I have a lot! The movers broke 1/3rd of the collection. The issue is, it’s ivory with a rich gold rim and I want to paint some of it first. Is this possible? And if so, what kind of paint should I use. Or do you recommend me searching out colored china and just mixing it up?
Thank you!
Hi Brenda,
So sorry about your china! But what a great idea to turn it into something wonderful like a broken china mosaic. We haven’t painted china before but you can buy paint suitable for glass at the craft store. If you want to try it, we recommend do a test first with pieces that aren’t special. Maybe get some china from a thrift store and try painting on that. The other option, adding in other colorful pieces of china, seems like a great idea. Just mix it up!
Good luck!
J&K
Hi , you can get coloured grout. If you choose a coloured grout (probably available from a mosaic store)that would be another way to add colour to your mosaicing with ivory and gold. There could be some interesting patterns created with the gold rim meandering through the ivory with the coloured grout…blue green, terracotta, black, grey…. adding a different type of line.
Great info Fiona. Thanks for sharing!
J&K
Is mosaic grout different than a tile grout you use on the floor? Also does any of this winter well? also what glue are you using to adhere the tiles.. They are so pretty I want to try it..
Great questions Debbie! We like sanded grout for mosaics. And according to Mosaic Art Supply floor tile grout and mosaic grout are pretty much the same. But we ourselves have only used mosaic grout, so we are not positive. Here is the FAQ we found from them: https://mosaicartsupply.com/frequently-asked-questions/#Q4 Lots of great questions answered!
Our favorite glue is 100% clear silicone adhesive. That is a bathroom product for sure, lol. Here’s an example: https://amzn.to/36dhkco
The FAQ above suggests some other adhesives as well.
Hope that helps!
J&K
Is there a brand of sealant that you recommend? I have purchased a few different but they leave a haze over the glass. Is there a trick to avoiding the haze?
Hi Jill, We have had good luck Mosaic Mercantile Grout Sealer and have had good luck with it. Have you tried that one?
J&K
Firstly, you ladies are amazing and so forthcoming with the how to. I have been collecting old China and broken China bit for a while with the idea of making jewelry but have hesitated because I really did know how to proceed. Watching your videos I feel confident to start. However I have one question, being on a very tight budget: I can only purchase one tool which of the two nippers or wheel cutters would you recommend and is there a specific size to either of the tools – oops I guess that was two questions. I will be delighted to hear back from you. Sincerely, Margrit Churchill, Toronto, Canada
Thank you so much Margrit! So glad you like our how-tos and find them helpful. We think the wheel cutters are more versatile and let you make more precise cuts. It is our favorite of the two. The size seems to be standard, just one size. If you have any more questions, just leave us a comment and we’ll reply.
Hope that helps,
Jennifer & Kitty
Do you worry about sharp edges? I’d prefer to not grind every piece, plus I like the more raw look.
Great question Jennifer. Some edges can be sharp, so work with them carefully. Once the pieces are grouted in a mosaic, the edges should be embedded and safe.
Jennifer & Kitty
Do you have to paint the terracotta pot first. I’ve been doing mosaics for quite a while but have been reluctant to try the terracotta as I was led to believe the moisture makes the mosaics fall off. Also I’ve never tried using pottery before and have been given several pieces but not known how to break them up, so thanks for your videos and tips. Can’t wait to get going!