Each kit includes:
• Two 8” x 8” wood tiles
• Three sheets of Tilano Transfer Paper
• Foam Brush
• Spreader
• Sandpaper
• Cheese cloth
• Tilano Crackle
• Tilano Medium
• Fresco Mud
• Tilano Antiquing Glaze
• Two wooden dowels
To get started, decide which images and/or text you want to put on the tiles. You can use any image, even handmade artwork, patterns or invitations. After choosing an image, take the images, transfer paper and Laser Copying Guide (included in kit) to a copy center to make a mirror photocopy of the images on the transfer paper.
Next, apply a layer of the Cackle with the foam brush to the tile surface. The cracks will appear in the areas where the Cackle is applied. Let the tile dry for 15-20 minutes.
Spread a layer of the Fresco Mud to evenly cover the tile surface. Excess Mud is scraped onto the tile edges to cover the sides. The tile then needs to be set aside to dry for eight hours or put in the oven set at 150 degrees for 20 minutes and cooled for 15 minutes.
Your tile will look something like this when it is dry. The amount of cracks on your tile will depend on how much Cackle you added in step one. After this step, a second layer of Mud can be added to fill in any cracks or ridges you don’t want.
Now it’s time to give the tile an antiqued look. Rub out any rough spots on the dried Mud with the damp cheese cloth to create a smooth surface. Pour the Antiquing Glaze onto the tile spreading with the foam brush.
Let the tile dry for one hour. For a more authentic effect, paint the outside edges darker and the middle lighter.
Before the image is transferred onto the tile, the image and the tile need to be sealed. To do this, brush a thin layer of the Medium over the image then the tile. Allow both to dry for two hours.
Prepare the image to be transferred by cutting or tearing the image to fit how you desire on the tile. Check how the image will look by placing it on the tile. Make sure it fits and looks how you want it before moving on to the next step.
Apply another coat of Medium onto tile and spread evenly over entire surface with foam brush. Apply the image face down right away using the spreader to flatten the image and push out any air bubbles. The tile then needs to dry for three hours or set in the oven for 20 minutes.
With the foam brush, apply water to fully saturate the paper. You will know it is covered when the image becomes transparent.
When you can see through the paper to the image, peel the paper off the entire image. Allow the tile to dry for 30 minutes.
The final step is to seal the tile by applying a thin layer of the Medium onto the entire tile surface. Let the tile dry for two hours.
Your finished tile is now ready for gift giving or, using the dowels, your decorative tile can be hung on a wall or placed on a table or shelf for display.
The images you use can be in color or black and white. In this example, the black and white military photo gives a different effect from the color image. It has a very antique and classic look. You can see that any image you choose will be striking with this antique background. For a list of even more creative ideas and template downloads, visit www.tilanofresco.com.
