Mixed-Media Mosaics: Techniques and Projects Using Polymer Clay Tiles, Beads & Other Embellishments

I’ve been working with Polymer Clay for around a year and admit. I’m addicted. I think I now have enough pendants to adorn everyone in my state! I decided it was time to branch out with this craft, so I decided to try my hand at making wall art. One thing led to another, and someone in my online crafting group suggested I look up Laurie’s work. I ended up buying her ebook and haven’t stopped making tiles using her tips since! This is a great book for any level of clay crafter but especially those who are serious about making something beautiful they can be proud of. I plan to give some mosaic treasures as Christmas presents this year! Written clearly and beautifully illustrated. You won’t be disappointed!

What a wonderful book full of creative ideas and thoughts. While the projects are spectacular, the basic instructions and techniques are really all you need to create your own art. I can't wait to express myself with my tiles. I can think of all kinds of wacky embellishment that would make a piece, my own. I do love books that inspire. The pictures remind me of a box of candy, looking over each element, and taking in the whole thing. I AM GOING TO GO BAKE TILES FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, and then I am going to sit in a nice comfortable spot and make a collage of my favorite things. My dogs will have to cook their own meals for a few day, or ask their Daddy nicely because I am going to be busy. I would recommend this book to any frustrated artist or artist wannabe. The pictures are clear, instructions direct, and it's a wonderful sight.

I have had Laurie's book for years and always refer to it when I start a polymer clay project. I played with clay with a friend recently and decided she needed the book also. I apparently bought the last one on Amazon and surprised my friend with it. She had been searching for the book and was unable to locate one except for a used one at $60. Still a bargain. Laurie is a wonderful artist and great teacher.

I loved this book and am a huge fan of Laurie. I am an artist myself using the same mediums and selling work at fine art shows. I have even been compared to her because we do have uncanny similiarites in the stamps we use and style. I was doing my own tile boxes and wall art before I ever saw hers. The only downside I saw to the book is that there are many easier ways to do some of the techniques she talks about. I personally do use a pasta maker to roll my clay, the thin tiles work just fine,I use a water based acrylic varnish and before stamping images into the clay, I "paint" on a little baking soda to eliminate sticking. Otherwise the book was gorgeous and inspiring, I learned several new tricks, and is a great addition to my wonderful art book collection.

I ordered this book, even though I am not a "mosaic" person. The projects on the cover just looked so intriging and the title lead me to think that this would be a book about incorporating lots of different objects into mosaics- I think it was the 'and other embellishments' part. Since I do collage and mixed media art, I though this might be a new field to explore.The book does NOT teach you about incorporating objects into mosaics (although there are a few things other than tiles in some of the projects), but it does tell you how this artist makes mosaics using clay tiles she makes herself with rubber stamps. And she does such a wonderful job of teaching you how to do this,too, that I am already getting my supplies together to try this, although I am also not a (polymer)"clay" person! She includes lots of tips-usually things you wouldn't think about until you run into a problem, the photos are clear and stepped out for each project, and the projects themselves are beautiful.The projects also are set up so that you can immediately see how you could change them or make something completely different, using the same techniques.If you enjoy collage, mosaics, rubber stamps and/or polymer clay, this book could lead you in a new direction.

Bought for my wife a mosaics artist, but at ~$45 for a USED book it was in her opinion a total rip-off.

I've never really been a crafter... I've tried knitting and crocheting to fill up some of my free time, but it was all too tedious for me. I tried jewelry making, but that too got a bit boring. Until I stumbled upon traditional mosaics, which I absolutely loved because all the different projects that I could do.. it seemed endless. And what a delight to come across this book at my local Michael's!!! It seemed like a lot of work at first, creating and painting and stamping my own tiles... and sometimes one project does take time, but each tile is a work of art, each one different and unique and when it's all put together, it's really just amazing!!! It's an artform that is oddly beautiful. It can be kind of expensive buying all your tools but once you have them, you can make many different projects out of them. For example, different stamps, the acrylic paints, mica powders, polymer clay, most of these things I didn't have, but once you get your tools together, you can create lots of really amazing art pieces!!! I found the process of making my own tiles very easy and quite therapeutic. Love this book and would recommend it to all ages!!!

I have been looking for a new hobby for quite some time. I've always loved mosaics, but was wary of glass cutting and other aspects of the craft. Upon seeing the cover of Laurie Mika's book, I was instantly hooked and love the way she describes the process of mixed media with polymer clay. Anyone can do this! It's like playing with Play-Doh, coloring, setting jewels, and putting together a puzzle, all in one! I love it!

Personally, I think this is a wonderful book. Lauri Mika produces artwork, jewellery and boxes using polymer clay, and they are beautiful. The techniques she uses are well explained and clearly illustrated, and it really makes you want to get up and start creating. So, why not 5 stars? That's a good question, really, because my instinctive reaction was to give this 5 stars. However, it needs to be made clear that the sort of artwork Lauri Mika creates is actually quite unusual. If you want to create mosaics using polymer clay, then this is absolutely the book for you and you will not be disappointed in any way. But it's probably not for everyone. Have a look at the work on the cover. If that really stirs you and you would love to be able to make something like that, then buy this book! There is one minor criticism. The techniques are very 'hands-on', i.e. how to produce the tiles, with examples, but not really principles, of how to put them together. The author's composition and use of colour are excellent, but she doesn't actually explain this at all. Just put together a collection of tiles you have made in any old order and the results probably won't look as good as hers! The colours she uses in a piece are of different hues and values, yet they integrate together really well. That requires an eye for such things, and the book does not explain this. But to some extent this is nit-picking. If you're prompted to buy this book, then I'm absolutely sure you'll enjoy it.

This book is so jam packed with techniques and ideas that it is an inspiration for all avid crafters, not just mosaic artists.There is something here to inspire everyone who likes using mixed media,including reclaimed trinkets and beads,experimenting with colour and texture and loves creating beautiful things.Just looking through the projects makes one wonder at the skill and creativity of the author.My daughter who works with mosaics has hugely expanded her work - and enjoyment- having read the book and discovered the variety of other media to enhance classical mosaic work.

Beautiful book. Very informative and full of ideas and techniques. Highly recommend it.

Great book with lots of inspiring techniques and ideas. Good explanation of products needed and projects to try. Written well and easy to read

I enjoyed every page in this book and it is well written with lots of interesting anecdotes. It is very original and I like the detailed instruction which is easy to follow. It is a great book which will be a source of inspiration over and over again.