• An abstract mosaicmosaic image by Stanisa Martinovic from Fotolia.com
  
  Mosaic is the art of creating a picture or a pattern by arranging small pieces of different colored materials, such as stones, pebbles, tiles or glass. Artists have been making mosaics featuring mythical creatures such as mermaids since ancient times, when the Greeks used small square stones to create decorative murals. You do not have to make a mosaic mermaid using traditional materials; depending on whether it will be outdoors or indoors, you can use a variety of alternative materials.
  
  

Beads or Sequins

• Use beads or sequins to make your mosaic mermaid. Beads and sequins are easily available at craft stores, in multiple colors, shapes and sizes, and would make a glitzy mermaid mosaic. Sequins give the effect of scales on the mermaid's tail. Depending on how large your mermaid mosaic is going to be, however, using beads and sequins may be expensive.
  
  

Marbles

• Use marbles for your mermaid mosaic. Glass is a traditional material for mosaic work, and these colorful spheres of glass will create an unusual transparent mosaic with watery reflective qualities perfect for a mermaid. Marbles are also suitable for outdoor use.
  
  

Candy

• If you want to make a fun, comical mermaid character mosaic, use jelly beans, licorice allsorts or gum-based candies. Candy may be an expensive material for larger projects, but it will work for smaller scale mermaid mosaics that children may make.
  
  

Old ceramics

• Gather some old crockery and break it to make a ceramic mermaid mosaic. This material is appropriate for outdoor use.
  
  

Seashells

• Use seashells, a natural resource from the sea, to make a mermaid mosaic that will also smell salty like the ocean.
  
  

Colored Paper

• Use colored paper or cardstock, available in a wide range of colors, patterns, grains and textures, to create a two-dimensional mermaid mosaic.
  
  

Buttons

• If you have a button tin filled with old buttons, use them to create a mermaid mosaic with a barnacle texture.