Lighting Things Up

For a while now, I've wanted to take some of my mosaics to the next level but wasn't entirely sure how. In come targeted ads from x-tool, and I saw some really cool light-up pieces. I decided this month's fantasy book piece was the perfect opportunity to try it out.

Here's what I did:

1. Cut my mosaic portion as normal - outline + inside pieces.

2. Cut an offset border to go around the mosaic so that the layers are hidden and it gives space for the lights to go inside

3. Assembled all of this on top of a frosted clear backer

4. Cut 2 spacer pieces - one from 1/8 inch and a second from 1/4 inch with a space for the cord to come out. These are the same file as the border for the top layer, that way, everything lines up nicely and it is thick enough to hide the glue up if you don't use 3M.

5. Cut a backer the contour cut shape of entire top layer.

6. Glue down the spacer with the break in it onto the backer. Place your light strips all over the backer.

7. Place the second spacer piece on top of the last piece.

8. Close it up by adhering the full top layer to the spacer layer

9. Plug it in - tada!

What I would change if doing this again:

1. My color choices. I think I picked nice colors, but not as vibrant as I would have liked.

2. My kerf adjustment. I did not adjust, and I should have.

3. Possibly done a 1/4 inch piece for the frosted layer to make more of a diffused look for the lights.

4. Find shorter lights so there is less waste. I used these cuttable LEDs because they were $10 when I ordered and they came with a power supply.

   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0878ZW9KL?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2

Overall, pretty pleased with it regardless. Will you be giving it a try?