| We've all seen them in high end homes, in magazine | | | | painting or stenciling the design. |
| articles and on television; those gorgeous, painted tile | | | | If you have that artistic ability, you can now simply |
| back splashes, counters and table tops. They add | | | | begin painting your mural right over the top of your |
| such character and beauty to kitchens and baths. | | | | background color. |
| I love the look of tile murals. I've created a number | | | | But what if you don't have an artistic bone in your |
| of them myself and it's easier and more inexpensive | | | | body? Stencils to the rescue! Overlay stencil designs |
| than you think! Whether it's a full miniature mural or a | | | | allow you to create designs that appear completely |
| simplistic ornamental design, creating a tile mural can | | | | hand painted. Many websites on the internet feature |
| add interest and beauty to your home with these | | | | gorgeous designs that would suit the purpose |
| easy techniques. | | | | perfectly. |
| Though beautiful, tile murals can also hide the ugliest | | | | The design you choose doesn't have to mimic a |
| tile surfaces and can be the perfect solution to | | | | scenery mural. Try a large rose design in the center |
| updating your home without the expense and work | | | | with a simple vine border and roses in the corners. Or |
| of replacing tile counter tops, walls or back splashes. | | | | consider an architectural style design such as an |
| For a new tile mural (to be installed), start by | | | | Italian urn. Are you a "country" lover? How about |
| purchasing simple and inexpensive tiles from your local | | | | doing a stencil design of a large rooster? Designs are |
| home or hardware store. Simple white ceramic tiles | | | | simply a matter of taste but choose something that |
| are as little as twenty cents per tile. Purchase enough | | | | you truly love. |
| tiles to fit your intended space. | | | | With the tiles still placed close together in your |
| Lay the tiles out on newspaper on a flat surface so | | | | lay-out, stencil your design as desired with acrylic |
| that they fit together in the shape and size you | | | | craft paints. Allow the design to dry completely. |
| need. | | | | A sealer is vital to your new design staying put and |
| Priming the tiles is your next order of business. | | | | being durable. Choose a non-yellowing, clear |
| Priming allows the paint to stick to the slick ceramic | | | | polyurethane. Your local home or hardware store |
| surface without peeling up in the future. I prefer | | | | carries many brands. |
| Zinser's "BIN" primer. This particular primer sticks to | | | | Mount your tiles according to standard tile installation |
| slick surfaces and allows complete adhesion of paint | | | | instructions. |
| products. | | | | Consider adding a design to your current back splash, |
| Coat the surface of each tile with 2-3 coats of | | | | counter top or tub surround with the same technique! |
| primer and allow them to dry completely. | | | | Please note that different sealers may be needed for |
| If you would like your tiles to have a back ground | | | | bath or shower surrounds. Ask you local home store |
| color, this would be your next step. Acrylic craft | | | | employee for assistance in choosing the correct |
| paints work well for both background colors and | | | | sealer for this application. |