Wall Plaques for Kids

When my grand girl wanted to celebrate her 12th birthday with her friends making garden stones, I agreed. I've taught many adult classes but this was the first one for kids. What a riot! The girls had been previously warned within an inch of their lives about the dangers of working with glass. So when they arrived at Trickett Glass Studio, I just had the joy of guiding them through the project.

All the girls agreed that they wanted to include mirror in their projects and they wanted to hang them on their wall. This just meant that they made them thinner (lighter too) and put a hook on the back. Instead of garden stones they became cement plaques.

So here's the process they followed. First they cut clear mac tac to fit into the bottom of the mold. This held the decorative pieces in place when the cement was poured. The second step was for the girls to arrange the pre-cut glass pieces, mirror and coloured globs in a pattern on top of the mac tac. Thirdly they mixed the cement compound and water until it became the consistency of a milkshake. Carefully they poured the concrete over their design until it became the thickness that they preferred. Then finally they placed a hook in the cement securing it with tape until the plaque dried.

Then the group of girls enjoyed supper and cake while their projects were drying. About two hours later they were able to pop the plaques out of the mold, peel the mac tac off and clean up the front. The project does need to cure so it does need to be handled carefully and should be flipped occasionally for a few days until it is completely dry. If you do put it outside, it should cure first inside for 4 weeks.

Trickett Glass is open to receive all groups for specialized classes whether you are young or young at heart. You can contact Carol through the website http://www.trickettglass.ca/.