How MR. JO Artsparkle turns ordinary epoxy tile grout and resin into eye-catching finishes
How MR. JO Artsparkle turns ordinary epoxy tile grout and resin into eye-catching finishes
A little sparkle can change a tile joint from “nice” to “memorable,” or turn a resin river table into something gallery-worthy. But glitter isn’t just decoration — used the wrong way it can clog joints, sink to the bottom, or disturb cure. MR. JO Artsparkle is a family of premium glitters made to integrate cleanly with tile grouts and resin systems so you get the look you want — without the headache.
Real problems craftspeople face (and how Artsparkle solves them)
Problem: Tile grout looks flat and lifeless.
Many tile installations — feature walls, bathroom niches, decorative mosaics — need a small visual lift. Ordinary glitter flakes can clump in grout, wash away, or produce uneven sparkle.
Artsparkle fix: Fine, coated glitter grades that disperse evenly in grout and stay put after cleaning, giving a controlled sparkle that survives foot traffic and cleaning.
Problem: Resin art loses dimension — sparkles sink or clump.
Resin pours with loose glitter often show settling, or glitter hides inside cloudy cores.
Artsparkle fix: Engineered particle shapes and sizes that suspend better in epoxy, giving consistent shimmer through the pour or concentrated sparkle where you want it.
Problem: Colour and sparkle must match the design.
Artists need a palette, not a single silver.
Artsparkle fix: Available in many colors and finishes — metallic, holo, fine dust, coarse flakes — so you can dial the effect from subtle sheen to disco-bright.
Three artisan stories (how makers actually use Artsparkle)
- The tiler: Neha is finishing a boutique café floor and wants grout between the hex tiles to pick up the copper lights overhead. She mixes Artsparkle into the final grout batch and gets a subtle metallic sheen that reads beautifully under soft light — no uneven specks, just refined sparkle.
- The resin artist: Arun is making pendants and wants a burst of starlight in each piece. He mixes a small percentage of Artsparkle into his CC33i batches, pours shallow molds and gets suspended glitter that glints at every angle — no sinking or clumping.
- The craft teacher: A school class is making holiday coasters. The teacher uses Artsparkle in a water-clear resin on small molds so students get dramatic results quickly and safely (with PPE and supervision).
How to use Artsparkle — practical, job-ready guidance
For tile grout (TG-H, TG-3 or similar)
- Mix your grout per product instructions first.
- Add Artsparkle just before application and fold in gently so the glitter disperses evenly.
- Suggested starting dose: 0.5%–2% by weight of the mixed grout (do a small test panel — increase for stronger sparkle).
- Apply, compact and clean as usual. Because the glitter is coated, cleanup is cleaner and colour migration into tile crevices is minimised.
- Seal if project requires — sealing locks the sparkle in and protects against chemical cleaners.
For resin casting & coating (Artcast / Artglue / CC33 family)
- Mix resin + hardener exactly (3:1 for Artcast systems) and degas if you use that workflow.
- Add Artsparkle to the mixed resin or to the resin you will pour over inclusions — start at 1% by weight and increase up to 5% for very dense sparkle. For chunky flakes, visual testing is best.
- Stir gently to avoid entraining air; for deep pours use staged additions or suspension techniques to avoid settling.
- For suspension in deep pours, consider: smaller particle sizes, staged pours, or slightly increased resin viscosity (a thin barrier coat followed by a glittered layer).
- Use a torch/light heat pass to pop surface bubbles — avoid prolonged heat near glitter.
For surface embellishments (varnish, brush coats, small fills)
Mix a small quantity and brush or dab into place. Follow the same % guidance but remember that on thin brush coats even small glitter loads show strongly.
Dos & Don’ts — field wisdom
Do:
- Always test on a small sample before committing to full runs.
- Start with low percentages and increase to achieve the desired effect.
- Use the size and finish of Artsparkle that suits the look (fine dust for subtle shimmer, flakes for bold sparkle).
- Combine with coated fillers or sealers where durability is required.
Don’t:
- Don’t dump large amounts into a single big batch without testing (could affect cure feel or visual distribution).
- Don’t forget PPE — fine glitters are airborne if mishandled.
- Don’t expect identical behaviour across all resins or grouts — test with your exact system.
Troubleshooting — quick fixes - Glitter sinks to the bottom of a pour: Reduce particle size, add glitter in stages, or use a higher-viscosity resin layer to suspend.
- Clumping or uneven patches: Mix more gently and sieve the glitter if needed; pre-blend glitter into a small portion of resin then fold into the main batch.
- Colour looks muted after cure: Some sparkles are more reflective in uncured vs cured state — test cure samples and adjust pigment or particle type.
- Dust during cure (grit on surface): Cure in a tented/dust-free area; cover with a light box.
Safety & storage - Keep Artsparkle in dry, cool storage in sealed containers.
- Use gloves, eye protection and dust mask when handling powdery glitter grades.
- Keep out of drains — sweep up spills dry to avoid wash-off.
- Check local disposal rules for glitter/laminated waste.
Glitter isn’t a shortcut to beauty — it’s a design decision. MR. JO Artsparkle is engineered so that decision is a confident one: consistent sparkle, better suspension, cleaner application and a palette of colours to match any creative brief. Try a small sample, tune the percentage, and you’ll see how a little sparkle changes everything.
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