Try Your Hand at This DIY Marble Centrepiece

This Nordic-inspired centrepiece will add just the right amount of geometric style to  any table decor. The best part? You can use this keepsake afterwards as a hot plate or add hairpin legs to create your own custom table.

Instructions:

1. Print and cut out the hexagon template.
2. With the tiles facing down, roughly line up the template with the edge of tile and trace the hexagon shape onto the mesh side of the tile sheet. (Depending on the size of your tiles, your hexagon might be slightly larger or smaller than the template. The important part is that you follow the natural edge of the tile shapes to avoid excessive cutting later.)
3. Cut the mesh around your shape to remove excess tiles. Remove any tiles that need to be cut in half and set aside.
4. To cut the tiles: On the mesh side of your tile, score along the diagonal sharpie line with the tile scorer and a ruler until you’ve created a deep groove. Flip the tile over and do the same thing on the marble side being careful to maintain the same groove line. (Note: The deeper your groove marks, the cleaner your break will be later)
5. Put on your protective eyewear and then place the tile on a piece of scrap wood to protect your work surface. With the mesh side of the tile down, line up the chisel with the groove and hit the handle of the chisel VERY HARD with a hammer. It’ll take force to break the tile in half! The deeper your grooves are, the easier it’ll be to break the tile. Repeat until you’ve broken 8 tiles in half.
6. To complete the hexagon you’ll need to create a small diamond using 3 of your least perfect halves. To do this draw a diamond shape onto the mesh side. Score on both sides and use the tile clippers to cut roughly along the score line. Use coarse sandpaper to smooth the edges.
7. Place your tiles onto the plywood and trace the hexagon shape onto the plywood, making sure the lines are straight and as close to the tile edges as possible. Slowly cut out the hexagon with your jig saw. Smooth out the edge with sandpaper.
8. Crazy glue the all the tiles to the plywood.
9. To create the wood frame: On the parallel end of the paint stir stick, with the logo toward you, use your utility knife to carve the edge of the stick at a 60 degree angle.
10. Place the stick with the logo side next to the hexagon and line up the short edge of the angled cut with the edge of the tile. Measure the length of the hexagon edge, plus a couple millimeters extra, and cut the stick. Carve the same 60 degree angle on this side as well. Repeat until you have 6 stir stick edges.
11. To attach the frame to the hexagon. With the tile side face down, apply wood glue to the logo side of 2 wooden sticks and place them across from one another. Make sure the wood is flush with the tile and clamp the wood in place. Allow to dry (about 20 minutes). Repeat until all the edges are connected to the hexagon, making sure glue is applied whenever 2 surfaces meet. Sand off any roughness where the corners meet.
12. Time to grout! With the tile side up and using the grout float, apply a small amount of grout in a circular motion. Smooth the grout into all the gaps between the tiles. When you’re happy with it and all the gaps are filled, carefully wipe away the grout residue with a damp sponge so it doesn’t harden on your tiles.