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I used Pittsburgh Corning Glass Blocks (6"x8"x3") from Lowes. Drilled a 1 3/8" hole with the drill press (510rpm) using a Diamond Rimmed Core Bit. I wanted the 1 1/4" bit but they were out. The drilling took about 1 minute per block. Used one hand to spray the water and the other to pull down the press. (Anyone living near Vancouver, WA is welcome to come over to get holes drilled in their blocks!!)
After cleaning and drying the blocks...
1. Cut the paper you want to use to 6 1/2" x 4 1/2".
2. Cut a piece of O'So Sticky Tape to 7" x 5".
3. Use a small amount of hermafix, or mono, or double sided tape to center the paper on the glass block.
4. Peel a little of the back down of O'So Sticky Tape and put it 1/4" over the top of the paper. Press down firmly. Pull the rest of the back of O'So sticky tape down a little at a time, pressing down as you go, until the paper is completely covered.
5. Roll brayer over the top to make sure the O'So Sticky Tape is secured around all edges.
6. Peel off the top of the O'So Sticky Tape.
7. Pour clear microbeads all over the O'So Sticky Tape.
8. Roll brayer over the top to really seat the beads. Gently brush off extra beads.
9. Put lights into the block, leaving the plug end hanging out. Put a small piece of O'So Sticky Tape on the cord to attach it to the block. Don't peel off red liner. (I used a 50 light string set.)
10. Wrap ribbon around block and secure on top with hot glue or more O'So Sticky Tape.
11. Cut a 52" length of ribbon to make the bow. Hot glue finished bow on top of block.
*You can use any size of clear microbeads. You will use about 1 ounce of beads per side. I used all three sizes from Pennywise Arts. (Not on the same block, I gave people a choice of bead size when ordering.) www.pennywisearts.com
*I use the 6"x6' mega roll of O'So Sticky Tape from Pennywise Arts. www.pennywisearts.com
*You can use any type of paper. I used tissue paper and wrapping paper. I've seen printer paper that has been stamped used. The Fairy Paper I used is from England and you can order it here under Gift Wrap: http://www.flametreepublishing.com/StationeryHome.asp
I have all the Fairyland, Forest Fairies, and Neptune's Treasures papers. (If you want to see close-up individual pictures just let me know.)
WOW!!!!!! You are amazing! Those blocks are beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing the directions. . .now if only I can find someone with a drill press.
__________________ mel mom to carson, cooper, cole, and cammie
These blocks are beautiful. I bought one similar at a craft sale last weekend but she used stickers on the outside and mine has a gingerbread family on the top. It's real cute but I like yours better.
OMG!!!! I'm going to start looking NOW for someone with a drill press....these would make wonderfully unique gifts!!! Please let us know what you sell them for...maybe I'll get you to do my gifts instead of trying to find someone with a drill press!! LOL Thanks so much for sharing the photos and the directions!!
I have a drill press at work! Whoo!!! But I have a couple of ?'s, how much are the glass blocks? And, how would you go about doing this with stamped images?
Tia
Heather
__________________ To error is human, to stamp is divine!
I charged $25 for a one sided block, and $30 for a two sided block. (Of the 30 I did this month only two were one sided!!)
The blocks are about $4 at my Lowes and they come in a case of 12.
To use stamped images... just stamp on printer paper!! Cardstock doesn't work very well because it's too thick for the lights to shine through. Mulberry paper looks fabulous, especially when you cover it with microbeads!!
No, I haven't stamped directly on the block. But, you certainly could. I've seen them painted with different scenes so stamping would work just as well. :-)
WOW! Those are absolutley fabulous - thanks so much for sharing all of your info with us.. that is extremly generous of you!!!! I hope you sell them all quickly and then you will have more money to buy stamps!!!!!!(lol)
The lights have a green cord... I couldn't find any white corded strings.
There's just one hole drilled - but it's 1 3/8" around. That's just a tiny bit bigger than the bottom of the crystal effects bottle. It's easy to push all the lights in!! I sometimes use a chopstick to move the lights around if I don't like where they've landed in the block.
Someone asked about where to buy pre-drilled blocks... I haven't seen any so I don't know where to find them. Sorry!!
I'm thinking about getting a smaller drill bit and using a snap-in night light instead of the christmas lights. I've seen some blocks made that way and I like how the light looks in those too.
These are just incredible! I've made "light jars" with canning jars, 50 string lights and pot pourri (I know that is not spelled right!) with ribbon trim but I never thought of using a paper and beads. Again, WOW!!!! Thanks for sharing.
These are gorgeous! I love microbeads so I'm sure it's an awesome effect in person! My DH has a drill press and said he would drill holes for me but had never heard of the type of drill bit you mentioned. Where did you but it and do you remember how much it was? These would make fabulous gifts for next year if I started early. Thank you so much for sharing your step by step instructions!
The bit we bought from Lowes was $65 - we needed it right away and didn't have time to search the internet for better pricing. Rick did some investigating since then and gave me these links to help anyone wanting to buy a bit and wanting other drilling info:
The bit we bought from Lowes was $65 - we needed it right away and didn't have time to search the internet for better pricing. Rick did some investigating since then and gave me these links to help anyone wanting to buy a bit and wanting other drilling info:
Thank you so much for the info. After reading this thread I saw this one Gallery at Splitcoaststampers (thanks to a post earlier in this thread). On page 3 of the comments she lists some drill bits from Harbor Freight which are quite inexpensive so we may try those first. I'm very anxious to make some of these.
I just returned from Lowe's to get my glass blocks for next year's gifts! The nice guy I talked to (to find the drill bits) was saying they couldn't figure out why the blocks were selling so fast! And why everyone was asking about a drill bit (so they moved the drill bits so they are right next to the blocks!)
Anyway, got my case of blocks and drill bit (for a standard drill - about $12). Now if I can find someone to actually drill the hole.......
These are absolutely stunning! I'm confused though on where you drill the hole exactly. If you could help me understand, that would be wonderful!! Thanks
__________________ Lori
~mom to Sariah(10), Caylie (, Joseph and Jaren (4) and baby Spencer born 2/18/07
Beaded Glass Block lights
, Joseph and Jaren (4) and baby Spencer born 2/18/07
