You can make this pretty and
practical mosaic idea using ceramic and glass tessera.
You will need:
Felt
pen
Sheet of scrap paper
Scissors
Dinner
plate or compass
6 pale green and 18 dark green
glass tessera
Piece of 25cm square, 1cm thick
fibreboard
Tile nippers
Face
mask and goggles
Waterproof PVA
Draw or copy your chosen number
onto a piece of paper and cut out. Draw around a plate or use a compass
to mark a circle 19cm in diameter centrally on the background board.
Place the template in the middle and draw around it.
Wearing a face mask and
goggles, cut the pale green tesserae with the tile nippers into
quarters
and stick in place on the number using the PVA. Some special cutting
will be necessary to match the design. Leave a space along all the
right-hand edges and below the horizontal line at the top.
Cut
some smaller dark green pieces and fit into the spaces around the
number to work as the shadow. Don't worry if these aren't fit
perfectly, the grout will unify the design.
Cut
the remaining dark green tessera into strips approximately 4mm wide.
You should be able to cut three from each tessera, although it is
inevitable they won't all cut evenly.) Stick in place around the marked
circle.
Set out all the leaf shapes
that you have previously cut evenly around the circle in pairs and
stick into place as shown.
Allow
the glue to dry so that pieces are all secure before sticking the
background of white ceramic tessera in place. Use tile nippers to cut
the pieces into quarters and begin by sticking them around the number
in the middle, then work outwards, cutting and shaping the pieces to
fit as you go. Fill in the remaining areas and allow the glue to dry
thoroughly.
Mix
up the grey grout to a stiff consistency and apply with a palette
knife, working the grout well into the gaps. Leave for a few minutes
before wiping off the excess with a barely damp sponge.
Leave the plaque to dry for an
hour, then vigorously polish off any remaining grout with a lint-free
cloth.
You can make this pretty and
practical mosaic idea using ceramic and glass tessera. 
Draw or copy your chosen number
onto a piece of paper and cut out. Draw around a plate or use a compass
to mark a circle 19cm in diameter centrally on the background board.
Place the template in the middle and draw around it. 
Wearing a face mask and
goggles, cut the pale green tesserae with the tile nippers into
quarters
and stick in place on the number using the PVA. Some special cutting
will be necessary to match the design. Leave a space along all the
right-hand edges and below the horizontal line at the top.
Cut
some smaller dark green pieces and fit into the spaces around the
number to work as the shadow. Don't worry if these aren't fit
perfectly, the grout will unify the design.
Cut
the remaining dark green tessera into strips approximately 4mm wide.
You should be able to cut three from each tessera, although it is
inevitable they won't all cut evenly.) Stick in place around the marked
circle.
Set out all the leaf shapes
that you have previously cut evenly around the circle in pairs and
stick into place as shown.
Allow
the glue to dry so that pieces are all secure before sticking the
background of white ceramic tessera in place. Use tile nippers to cut
the pieces into quarters and begin by sticking them around the number
in the middle, then work outwards, cutting and shaping the pieces to
fit as you go. Fill in the remaining areas and allow the glue to dry
thoroughly.
Mix
up the grey grout to a stiff consistency and apply with a palette
knife, working the grout well into the gaps. Leave for a few minutes
before wiping off the excess with a barely damp sponge.
Leave the plaque to dry for an
hour, then vigorously polish off any remaining grout with a lint-free
cloth.
