How To Make a Mosaic Mushroom for the Garden

When we moved into our new house, I knew I wanted to create some unique pieces for our garden. I love bright colours and glitter and so I decided to have a go at making a mosaic mushroom. I’d seen a number of ideas on Pinterest and wanted to try one myself.

How I Made My Mosaic Mushroom

I started by buying a couple of mushroom garden ornaments. These gave me the shape to decorate without having to make a base as well. You could decorate other things, such as a pot planter or a small animal ornament. I chose mushrooms in this case.

The Mosaic Materials

I ordered a few variety packs of glittery mosaics, some mosaic glue and mosaic grout. As I wanted this piece to go in the garden, I wanted to get the right kit for it. The glue and grout were no more expensive than the alternatives I’d seen in the hardware shop.

Check your products are suitable for the base you have chosen and for use outdoors. If you’re using pieces of old pots or tiles, be careful of sharp edges. Eye protection is needed when cutting or breaking them; follow the adhesive and grout manufacturers’ protection advice too.

Arranging The Pattern

If you want a specific pattern, I would suggest cutting out a paper shape the same size as the area you want to decorate and laying this out in advance. I didn’t want a specific pattern, so I mixed the colours and shapes as I went.

I separated the mosaics into a chip-and-dip platter with different sections. This allowed me to pick out the exact colour and shape without having to root through the packet every time. You can see the different pieces laid out in the photos.

Gluing The Tiles

Using the mosaic glue, I began sticking the pieces to the mushroom. I started in the middle and worked out. It was easier to glue a small area, around an eighth of the mushroom, and then arrange the mosaics over that section.

I left the glue to dry for 24 hours. Once I was sure the pieces were stuck, I mixed the grout. Use the drying time on your own glue before moving on to this part.

Adding The Grout

I would suggest wearing gloves for this. Mix the grout powder with water as directed on its packet. I used a spatula to smear mine into the cracks and around the mosaics, then removed the excess.

With the grout I used, I could go over the tiles with a damp cloth after an hour to remove the residue and bring back the shine. Follow the cleaning and curing times for your own product, as these may be different.

The Finished Mushroom

I left it to dry again overnight. I haven’t varnished mine, as I love the finish as it is. Allow the full curing time stated on the products before putting your mushroom outside.

Looking for more gardening tips and ideas? Why not take a look at my other blog, All That Grows. My upcycled garden table and chairs are another colourful project for the garden.

There are more things to try in my hobbies for women over 40 guide on Cool Web Window, and you can browse my Home and Garden posts here. What do you think of the mushroom?