Mosaics:
Mosaics are so easy! Really! I read a small book, and I started doing them that weekend. I started on a small flower pot, and I finished a bench for our Koi pond outside by summer's end. My next project is a table. I went to a salvation army and bought 20¢ plates, came home and broke a bunch of them (which was very fun). Use a hammer and goggles to protect your eyes. I also did purchase bulk tiles online (which are cheaper) for the more detailed parts.

1: All you need to do is buy tile adhesive, and glue your pieces on whatever you are doing. If doing a design, sketch it on your surface

2: If the surface is wood, I would take sand paper and roughen your surface.

2.5: Wait 24 hours after adhering tiles before you grout.

3: Then get tile grout (it even comes in different colors at a tile store), Add water till it looks like smooth cream of wheat, and fill in you cracks. I wear rubber gloves for this part. Now, watered grout is only for indoor items. If the piece is coming in contact with water, you need to mix the grout with acrylic latex additive. This waterproofs the grout. For instance, I take the grout and spread it evenly on the inside of a flower pot to water proof the inside before I work on the outside.

4: Take a sponge and a scraper, and get extra grout off the tiles. Keep the grout workable with a spray bottle. Keep going over it until all that has grout is the cracks, and the tiles show nicely through. You may need to go over it with steel wool or a steel brush if the grout is stubborn after it is dried.

5: Buff and rub the tiles until they shine. Open a bottle of wine and admire this piece of art you have just finished.

Dried Flower Arranging:
As said before, I dry my flowers upside down in a cool dry place. Then I incorporate them in vases with florist foam at the bottom to hold them in place. I also use them in wire or vine wreathes I get from the craft store. Using florist wire to hold them in place, you can do pretty arranging in the wreath. Some of roses are "overripe" for drying, so I dry them in a tray, flake off the petals, and store them in a plastic bag to use in potpourri and sachets.

Etched Wooden Picture frames

I gave these as Christmas gifts last year, and they were very easy.

1: Purchase some plain wooden, unstained frames with glass. I purchased a bunch at IKEA®. With a metal utensil such as a "nut picker" or some sculpting utensils found at a craft store, etch design into the wood of the frames. I made swirls, hearts and stars. Be sure to take the glass out before starting to work on the frames.

2: Find a wood stain color you like and over a period of two nights, stain the wood. When brushing the stain on the wood, take a soft cloth and rub the excess off. The stain should be stronger in the etched areas, and softer elsewhere.

3: After waiting a night for the stain to settle in, find a matte varnish and varnish the frames. Let dry. Replace glass, and put ribbons on the frames and give as gifts. If you want, you can put a card saying Merry Christmas or a nice poem in the inside where a picture would go.