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I am doing a craft fair the first weekend in December. Aside from the usual paper crafts, I also sell the glass blocks with lights in them. Usually I wrap a ribbon around them and have a big bow on top so they look like presents and call it a day. Big seller! This year I have seven 8 x 8 blocks put aside to decorate a little differently. These will be on their sides with the bow on the top. Unfortunately, the glass is not frosted. I was going to do the SU rub-ons on the front, but the lights show through too much and really take away from the decoration. Does anyone have any ideas about how to slightly cover up the glass front that will still allow me to apply the rub on?
I have thought of swishing around water with food coloring in it to maybe "dye" the inside of the glass. I only have a 3/4 inch hole to work though to get inside the block.
Can you post a picture so we can get a better idea of what you're talking about. I'm having a hard time visualizing it, plus I'm curious about the glass blocks!
I 'm not sure about the food coloring .... wouldn't it wash off eventually? not that you would wash this item alot. But I think there is a glass craft where you put the color inside of the glass ornament and swirl it around inside and it dries. You'll have to experiement with the amounts of color for sheerness or darkness.
I haven't tried it myself but some of these gals must have. :
I've seen the clear blocks at craft shows with ribbon wrapped completely around the front so that it's harder to see the lights. Maybe just get wider ribbon?
How about using some glass etching compound on the outside of the block? The etching should still allow the rub-on to adhere. Or, cut a pattern into some clear contact paper and make the etching itself the design.
How about trying some type of vellum or acetate on the front of the block. Put your decorative rub on on the vellum and then adhere that to the block. You could use a slightly frosted vellum that would mute the light coming through.
This is the glass block with the bow on it. There is a little hole in the back where I would feed the lights into the block. I would like to make the front so you can't see the lights very well but still be light enough to see the brightness. KWIM? I would also like to put a rub-on over whatever it is I use to make the front opaque (Is that the word I am looking for?). I wonder if I could just cover the front with mod podge?
This is the glass block with the bow on it. There is a little hole in the back where I would feed the lights into the block. I would like to make the front so you can't see the lights very well but still be light enough to see the brightness. KWIM? I would also like to put a rub-on over whatever it is I use to make the front opaque (Is that the word I am looking for?). I wonder if I could just cover the front with mod podge?
Thanks for all your suggestions so far!
cute!
I wouldn't think Mod podge would hold up - if you are going to cover the outside I would think about glass etch.
Um, could you use reinkers inside like they do with the round glass ornaments?? Not sure how much ink it would use, though.... But maybe if you used a lighter ink with a little glitter; with the lights on inside and a pretty design on the outside, it might just do the trick.
(Shoot - now I'm thinking I might have to try my own idea! lol!)
Edit: Hmm...but I wonder if the lights would scratch off the ink/glitter inside....
I saw some at a recent show that were standing the way you have yours. They were painted orange on the outside and then black eyes, nose, and mouth added to look like a jack o lattern. I don't know what type of paint it was but I would imagine it was bought at a craft store. Possibly you could paint yours to look like wrapping paper.
Lowes carries Valspar Frosting. It's like spray paint (in that section) and it is used to spray on glass to get the frosted look. You could probably spray the entire exterior of the block with that before you decorate.
__________________ ----------------------------------- Chris E.
Glass blocks were big Big BIG on the HGTV web forums awhile back. There were MANY threads on them. Have you tried over there? I haven't been there in ages, but I would imagine they have a viable search option. JAT
I came across these the other day. I also saw some that had the SU! spooky spider on the front with the lights in the block. Can't remember where though.
Hi there, i am thinking that the faux glass etching medium by Plaid may work. Also, how about sponging the surface with white stazon? You would be able to control the 'opaqueness' of the glass block.
Okay, I bought the glass frosting and tried that. It worked very nicely! I also tried white Stazon and I think that will be the winner. It covers nicely and is a bit heavier than the frosting. I will post one when it is done!
You could also stamp etc. on plain white tissue paper - crumple it up and spread back out and decoupage on with a clear glue. The tissue paper turns sheer and whatever design you stamp on (with Stazon ink) would show. Just a thought.
You could use alcohol ink, inside or out. Maybe mix in a little shimmer paint. I guess you'd get better coverage outside. Swishing might be difficult. Reinkers, with alcohol and shimmer paint and you could make your own spray. Gold, silver or white shimmer paint in alcohol, might work too.
Serious? On shelves now? I will be travelling off The Rock today and may be able to get to a Michael's!
Thank you for the heads' up!
Julie,
I live in Olympia, and yes, I have seen them at Joann's. But also, last year around Christmas time, Lowes was selling them with the holes already drilled in them.
Fortunately, we are able to drill our own holes because my husband has a drill press.
Julie,
I live in Olympia, and yes, I have seen them at Joann's. But also, last year around Christmas time, Lowes was selling them with the holes already drilled in them.
Fortunately, we are able to drill our own holes because my husband has a drill press.
Thank you! Too bad Lowe's doesn't put 'em out in July for all us crafty chicas! If I have to wait until Christmas season, I won't get 'em done until the next year . . . *sigh* . . . :rolleyes:
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
Pretty expensive, especially the shipping, and you have to buy them in quantity. I finally bought a drill press this year. A pain in the butt for sure, but much less expensive!
Here are a couple of photos of one of the blocks I did. I decided to use white Stazon to cover the front then used an SU rub on and snowflakes stamped with Versamark and embossed with gold. I am really happy with how they turned out. I am selling them for $25 and have already sold 5.
Nice blocks! With the StazOn, did you just apply it direct to glass from the pad? Did you speed drying time with a heat tool, or just let it dry naturally?
Glass Blocks Anyone?
