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Tips for Grout Issues from CMA

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This was in an email sent to members of CMA (Contemporary Mosaic Art) website…

A message to all members of CMA

CMA Member News Reporter

Submitted by Tricia Huffman

May 14, 2011

Grouting Continued..

Since this is the finishing touch to your hard work, I am expanding on the issue of grout issues from last report to address some questions that came to me as a result.
I went to the experts whom manufacture these products, with my questions about it; here is what they said. “Over mixing or adding too much water to the mix would indeed weaken the strength of the grout joint and cause pin-holes and possibly efflorescence. If mixed according to manufacture instructions, adding more dry grout would not be needed. ( Though some artists use this technique when water supplies are limited, and have claimed great success with it.)
As far as using pigment to over-colour cured, unsealed ,non-epoxy grout joints, he indicated that using dry (French) pigments mixed with a tiny amount of water would indeed be permanent, and would have the same effect as grout stains currently on the market .
The last issue to address this month would be efflorescence, which is a white, chalky haze that sometimes appears on grout after it has cured. Here is a list of some of the causes.
1. Too Much Water was used when grout was mixed.

2. Concrete substrate had not fully cured or had a moisture vapor issue prior to adhering mosaic.

3. Water used in mixing or cleaning the grout was high in chlorine or had a high mineral content.( Pond water or home water softeners and city water that is heavily chlorinated or has a high mineral content can contribute to efflorescence.)

4   Temperatures were too cold while grout was curing.

5. Grout joints were wiped excessively during initial cleanup.

6. Standing water was left in empty grout joints prior to
grouting.

7 Tile was especially dense and nonporous.

8 Grout was prematurely exposed to heavy amounts of water before it had a chance to cure.

Always consult manufacture instructions for your particular needs.

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The moon is always a fun topic for kids because it’s around all the time but always changing and there are lots of educational and crafting activities available to learn about the moon. 

I’ve shared a few in the past, including this phases of the moon flip book and a project about coding the phases of the moon. 

Check out some cool pictures of our moon, other moons, and what it might be like to live and work on the moon with these images from NASA. And you can learn about the moon landing from National Geographic Kids.

Learn about the phases of the moon and do these dot-to-dot worksheets for the different phases from Kids Activities Blog. I also love this homemade moon phases puzzle form What We Do All Day.

I Can Teach My Child has a fun experiment illustrating why there are craters on the moon, made with “moon dough” (flour and baby oil). Or you can make a clay moon and give it craters with this activity from Gift of Curiosity. 

There are lots of fun ways to make moon rocks, including this dough and glitter version from Kids Activities Blog and fizzing moon rocks from Little Bins for Little Hands. 

Speaking of fizzy science, Montessori from the Heart has a fun moon craft project that’s made with baking soda, vinegar and glitter. So you can talk about the acid/base reaction and learn about the moon at the same time you make a cool piece of art. 

Or make this fun aluminum foil moon from Mom Brite.

Cinta and Co. has a cute phases of the moon art project and information you can download about the phases of the moon. 

And of course you’ll probably want to make the classic Oreo moon phases craft/snack, which you can find at Teach Mama if you don’t know it already.

Add in some books about the moon (The Moon Book is a great one), a sensory bin with moon sand and astronaut characters, maybe a little walking with big steps like you’d take on the moon (and a discussion of why they walk like that) and your moon day will be complete!

 

Coding the Phases of the Moon

DIY Moon Craft [Lesson Plans]

DIY Space Camp for Kids