From the page: The forgotten bottle deserves a new chapter
Idea 7
Colored glass mosaic
Mosaic was born thousands of years ago with the Romans, who covered walls and floors with pieces fitted one by one. The principle remains the same: small pieces of glass, held by a base of glue and grout, form durable, colorful surfaces — and medicine bottles have thick, beautifully colored glass (amber, blue, green) for exactly this.
What you need
- Medicine bottles in various colors
- A thick cloth and a hammer (or glass-cutting pliers)
- Safety goggles and gloves
- A base: a wooden coaster, a smooth glass vase, or a wooden lid
- Glass glue (silicone or resistant multipurpose glue)
- Grout (tile grout from a hardware store works)
- A spatula and a damp cloth
How to make it
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1
Wash and dry the bottles well and wrap each one in the thick cloth; break them with firm hammer strikes — the cloth holds the shards and prevents accidents.
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2
Select the best pieces: prefer relatively flat pieces without exposed sharp edges, about the size of a coin.
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3
Arrange the pieces on the base without gluing yet, playing with the colors until you find a design you like; this "dry run" prevents regret after gluing.
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4
Glue each piece leaving small gaps between them, which will be filled by the grout; wait for the glue to dry according to the package instructions.
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5
Spread the grout with the spatula, forcing it into the gaps, and clean the surface of the glass with a damp cloth before it dries.
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6
Let it dry for at least 24 hours before using the piece.
Finishing touches
The amber and blue bottle colors gain extra shine against dark grout (gray or black). Start with a small coaster — it's the perfect project for learning the technique before moving on to vases and large surfaces.
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