Glass Block Crafts You Can Make Yourself
Glass blocks, normally used as built-in room dividers in homes, can be found at a home improvement store. Smaller versions can be found at a craft store in different colors and sizes. The glass blocks can be made into all sorts of crafts that are unique and beautiful. The crafts make perfect gifts or additions to your own home.
Glass blocks, about the size of an ice cube or slightly larger, make great stands for any number of items. Purchase a glass dolphin and use contact cement to hold it to the glass block. Glass shapes of animals, angels, trains and other collectibles are available at a craft store and will look perfect perched upon the glass block.
Place a weighted wick in a wine glass then place three or four of the glass blocks, the size of ice cubes, into the glass. Pour clear gel wax in to make a beautiful and unique candle. Or use regular glue to stick a candle on to a glass block as a candle holder. Use different sizes of glass blocks with various shaped candles for several different looks.
Use rub-on appliques to decorate smaller sizes of glass blocks as paperweights or just something unique to set on a shelf. The glass blocks which are smooth on the surface will hold stickers, fabric pieces, wallpaper or contact paper shapes. For glass blocks that have irregular surfaces gold tone paints are fabulous. Use a stencil to paint on a golden flower, your name, or another image.
Butt several of the smooth glass blocks together in a row and affix them with contact cement or leave them standing independently. Place them in your kitchen to use as a spice holder or as a place to set candles or extra dishes. Do something similar with the large blocks, in the bathroom, as a place to set extra towels, wash cloths, or even toiletries.
Use contact cement to adhere a small pane of glass to a glass block. The pane should be quite a bit larger than the glass block itself. The block should be at the bottom center of the pane. Place a small novelty or a group of silk flowers in the area where you can see the contact cement through the glass pane to hide the cement. Use stencils, rub-on appliques or even rubber stamps to decorate the front of the glass pane. On the block behind the pane set a votive candle which will shine through the pane making a beautiful decorative glass design.
Dremel tools, if you’ve had any practice with them, are great for filing the glass blocks. Use a stencil and Dremel to file an area of the block into the shape of pyramid or whatever you desire. If you file one corner down with the Dremel the glass block will “stand on one corner” giving it a very different look.
Lights inside of the glass blocks are gorgeous. You must first drill a hole, using a half-inch diamond drill bit. A carbide drill bit will work but will also take longer. Wear safety glasses while doing any drill or filing work on the glass blocks. Drill a hole large enough to hold a small strand of Christmas lights. Use the Dremel tool to lay a groove from the hole to the outer edge of the glass block.
Turn the glass block over and arrange the cord to where it fits inside the groove. Now decorate the glass block with rub-on appliques, gold leaf paint or whatever you wish. Don’t paint the entire glass block or the light will not shine brightly. You can even drill the hole all the way through, put in a piece of metal tubing, and hang a lampshade on it.
If you have the drill but not a Dremel you can drill the hole and leave the cord hanging out of the top of the hole. Arrange a large bow, silk plant or small novelties to cover the cord. Decorate the glass in any manner you wish. Use stencils to paint a flower garden along the bottom edge or tiny butterflies all over the glass.
