In my San Diego studio, I’ve taught lots of people to make these boards, and now I’ve put the entire process into a course you can do at home. I’ll show you exactly how — from preparing your board and planning your design to building the mosaic itself.

Course Cost: $50

BUY BUTTON

What’s Included

The complete video course
My six-minute, demo-packed video walks you through the entire process from board prep to design decisions to finished mosaic.

Complete materials/tools list, with sourcing information
I’ll tell you exactly what I use, how much you’ll need and where to find it.

A personalized blueprint for your board
As part of this course, I’ll create a simplified blueprint for your board, with suggestions for colors, materials and placement, so you have a clear plan before you begin. Choose one of the existing designs below or send me an inspo image of your own.

If you’re starting with your own inspiration, please email me a painting, photo, mosaic or other image you love. Look for imagery with big, simple shapes and relatively little detail.

Email help whenever you need it
Questions? Email me at cristinespan@gmail.com anytime for clarification.

Course Preview

Here’s a little 40-second teaser of what you’ll find in the full course.

Existing Designs

Here are some of the most popular existing designs from my in-person workshop. Choose one of these to make, or let’s talk about a new idea!

Real People. Real Boards. Made in One Afternoon.

These are boards made by people in my San Diego workshops—ALL with no previous mosaic experience. (And many with very little art experience of any kind.)

Choosing Your Surfboard

You’ll need a fiberglass surfboard (no foamies please for this project), around 6 feet long. That length gives you plenty of room for the design without becoming unwieldy or unnecessarily expensive.

Used boards are perfect for this project. Dents, dings and scratches are absolutely fine. Just avoid boards with significant delamination or structural damage—you need a solid, stable surface for your mosaic.

Yes. Finished boards can live indoors for sure, but also outdoors in most climates. How well your board holds up over time will depend in part on proper board preparation and application, so be sure to follow those instructions carefully.

What People Say

5-Star Google Reviews:

Kimberly W: Had the best time with Cristine making a mosaic surfboard! She’s a great teacher and we were thrilled with the results. It was a great way to repurpose a broken board. We will be back!!

Nancy L: A very unique and special experience! Great instructor and cool outcome.

Ella S: Had an awesome experience at the surfboard mosaic art class with Cristine. Definitely recommend!

See lots more finished boards and behind-the-scenes fun on TikTok @bigartventuresCS or Instagram @BigArtVentures.

Materials + Tools

Materials will generally run $100–$200, depending on the size of your board and how elaborate you get with your mosaic elements. These are my go-to materials, but feel free to explore other creative options for covering your board.

Materials

CRITICAL: Sikaflex 1A
This is the adhesive that makes this mosaic surfboard process possible. You’ll need approximately one 10 oz tube per foot of surfboard. Get one extra, just in case. Sikaflex 1A comes in different colors; Colonial White is a soft cream. Sika makes many different products, so be sure you’re buying Sikaflex 1A.
Available from Amazon and construction supply houses.

Fire Pit Glass
I buy mine from Celestial Fire Glass in 10-pound jars. It comes in ¼” and ½” thicknesses, with a variety of piece sizes within each jar. You can also find fire pit glass on Amazon and Temu, although quality and price vary.

https://www.celestialfireglass.com/

Frosted Sea Glass
Available from various sellers on Amazon.

Rocks, Pebbles, Slate, Decomposed Granite
Check rock and landscape suppliers near you. Many provide free samples—which can be perfect for this project.

Wood Slices
Amazon: MUXGOA 1”–2.5” Mini Wood Slices, 15 oz Natural Unfinished Wood Slices variety pack, or something similar.

Capiz Shells
Available from many suppliers on Amazon. I like having a variety of sizes.

Colored Sand
eBay has lots of suppliers selling fine-grain colored sand in beautiful colors—search for “wedding sand.”
Amazon also carries craft-project sand, generally in brighter colors. Colored sand is great for adding depth behind glass and/or filling larger areas of your board.

Penny Tile
Available at tile stores.

Tools + Supplies

Caulk gun
Amazon or your local hardware store.

Nitrile disposable gloves
You’ll go through several pairs.

Plastic spreader, approximately 6” wide
For spreading the Sikaflex. Available from Amazon or a hardware store.
Scrubs In-A-Bucket Hand Cleaner Towels
For cleaning Sikaflex off your hands and tools while it’s still fresh. Not required, but very helpful. Sikaflex is incredibly sticky. Available from Amazon or hardware stores.

You’ll also need:
Popsicle stick, skewer or pencil for drawing your design into the Sikaflex; plenty of paper towels; sawhorses or another suitable work surface; tarp or drop cloth; trash bags; approximately 80-grit sandpaper; Goof Off Pro Strength Remover; a single-edged razor blade; a plastic scraper or old credit card for removing wax; and an Allen wrench for removing fins (3/32” is common).

Want Some Extra Help?

If you’re a little worried about the actual build, I’m happy to provide up to an hour of real-time support via FaceTime while you work.

Additional cost: $50

Contact Info

Cristine Santo
cristinespan@gmail.com
617 733 1170