You need

• old plate with a pretty design
• 6mm Supawood
• grout
• tile glue (or wood glue or silicone glue)
• tile cutter
• fret saw
• sandpaper
• cloth and sponge

Good idea
You can make your own coloured grout by adding PVA paint or powder paint to it when you are mixing it.

1 Choose an attractive typeface on your computer and print out the letter in the desired size. Cut it out and trace it onto 6mm Supawood. Cut it out with a fret saw (you can also ask a hardware store to cut it for you). Sand the edges to smooth them and then wipe away the dust with a wet cloth. NOTE Screw in the hooks on the back now if you want to hang the letter up.

2 Use the tile cutter to break the plate and cut it into smaller pieces, which should all be more or less the same size. We kept the pieces from the rim separate from the rest so we could use them for a border around the letter.

3 Start at the outside edge and place the mosaic pieces on the letter. Smear some glue on the back of each piece – an ice-cream stick works well for this – and stick in position.

4 Continue to mosaic the rest of the letter piece by piece. Always arrange the pieces on the letter first before you glue them. Leave to dry completely. TIP Use small tweezers to position the mosaic pieces.

5 Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and mix water with the grout so it looks like toothpaste. Spread a thick layer over the letter and use your fingers to work it in between the pieces. You can use a rubber squeegee if you are worried you might cut your fingers.

6 Use a damp sponge to wipe away the excess grout, but take care not to remove it from between the pieces. Leave to dry then rub with a damp cloth until all the mosaic pieces are clean. TIP Paint the edges and back of the letter to finish it off.

Text and images: Ideas magazine