First, always be certain that the Disney porcelain dolls you purchase are true Disney products. The incredible popularity of Disney characters and the insatiable demand for any product related to them has spurred an epidemic of fakes and knock-offs. When you buy an unauthorized Disney product, you’re hurting yourself in multiple ways. Initially, you’re diluting the value of the actual Disney brand–and that’s not good for your collection! Additionally, you’re actively supporting someone who is willfully breaking trademark and other intellectual property laws. Finally, you’re adding items to your collection that are unlikely to have any real lasting values to true collectors in the field.

Second, look for limited run Disney porcelain dolls. There’s nothing wrong with the mass-produced products if you’re a casual collector or simply love the featured character. However, those who collect with an interest in the long-term value of the dolls will tell you that limited edition dolls and figurines are far more likely to appreciate in value than the more common models. Make your buying decisions with that fact in mind and, when you have a choice, defer to the less commonplace dolls.

Third, remember that no matter how careful you are in your buying decisions, collectibles are not guaranteed to increase in value. Don’t think of Disney dolls strictly as an investment. Instead, seek out the dolls that appeal to you on a personal level and that will bring you some satisfaction regardless of their eventual monetary value. That way, you’ll be happy with your doll collection no matter what happens in the marketplace. For many people, there’s nothing more uplifting or fun than an item featuring Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck or any of the hundreds of other famous Disney characters. For others, nothing can compare to the elegance and attractiveness of a well-made porcelain figurine. Disney porcelain dolls really are an outstanding collectible.

Mosaic is a form of tiling that is usually used in showers and on floors to add a lot of color and style to the room. Mosaics can be found in a large number of textures, colors, layouts and shapes so that if required, you could customize every room in the house. Not only are they are a form of tiling, they are sometimes even considered works of art, called mosaic art. Most mosaic tiles come with ridges on the backside so that glue can bond more securely to the tile. Nearly all types of glass, stone and ceramic material can be considered as a mosaic tile. The vitreous-glass mosaic tile is a glassy stone-like material that is opaque, not clear, and is not as sharp as regular glass when cut. It is better to use mosaic supplies like mosaic glass cutters for cutting glass mosaic tiles; regular tile nippers may cut the tile but not as predictably as with a mosaic glass cutter.

Ceramic mosaic tiles are popularly used for architectural applications, as they are quite cheap and can be easily cut using regular tile nippers. Sometimes, broken pieces of china and other types of dinnerware are used as mosaics, but as this ceramic dinnerware is engineered to be unbreakable, the plates produce razor edges when broken. Some of the mosaic tiles come attached to fiberglass mesh that keeps the tiles arranged in a grid. This mesh is then glued directly to the floor to be tiled. If you need to remove the mesh to get loose tile, the tile has to be soaked in warm water and the tiles fall off the mesh. Mosaic tiles are not only used for flooring; they are also used to produce pieces of mosaic art that can be used for display. Mosaic tables make a great piece of furniture, with a tabletop made of mosaic tiles. Pools are the greatest source of use of mosaic art, with mosaic used in different mosaic patterns on the bottom and edges of the pool.