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    Home » DIY & Hints » Christmas & Winter

    Illuminated glass block - brighten dark corners!

    Published: Nov 15, 2015 · Modified: Aug 15, 2019 by momcrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

    Why I have illiminated glass blocks in my house

     

    It feels like we changed one hour for daylight savings time and it gets dark three hours earlier.  One of my friends mentioned that to me and it's so true!  I hate it when the days are so short.

    I have lights all around my house. Not bright and not expensive lights. They are all on timers. It does make me feel better.  When I come home after work, I don't walk into a dark house.  And, I don't walk into a dark room when I wake up in the mornings.

    Especially my kitchen dark and early in the mornings.

    Illuminated Glass Blocks

    Remember those illuminated glass blocks that you tied the thick wired ribbon around and made a big bow? I used to love them but now feel they are so dated. Take the ribbon off! Even just having the block with the Christmas lights in them looks good. But, I figured out something that looks even better and personalizes the illuminated glass blocks.

    This is my first Mod Podge project. {GASP} I know right! I feel like I missed the whole Mod Podge era and I'm late to the party this go around.

    Love this Mod Podge project.

    Supply list for illiuminated blocks

     

    Illuminated glass block
    1. Glass block - The craft ones with the predrilled opening. (I used 8 x 8)
    2. Mini Christmas lights. WHITE stringed, white lights
    3. Sheet of aged music (I bought in the scrapbook section of a craft store).
    4. Mod Podge
    5. Paint brush

    Supply list for illiuminated blocks

    I stuffed the white stringed white lights into the block. For this project I used a string of 100. Because I wanted the illumination to be very bright. In many cases, when I have made these illuminated light blocks, I've used light strings that have 35 or 50 lights.  Just a Fyi, when you do use the 100 lights, the block does become warm.

    Illuminated glass block

    Also, keep your eyes open at hardware stores for these glass blocks that have a precut opening. It's really hard to cut a hole into them and I was never able to do it successfully. I found some at Menard's for 2 for $7.00 this year. A craft store was selling them for $11.00 each. Huge difference!

    Carefully tear the sheet of music so you have nice rough edges and it fits onto the block with an edge of the glass block showing.  Or, if you like straight lines, cut the sheet to fit the block.

    Take the Mod Podge and apply a pretty thick coat onto the front of one of the glass blocks.

    Illuminated glass block

    Place the paper on the Mod Podged glass block.

    Illuminated glass block

    Make sure to press the paper down well so that you have no bubbles.  You want to make sure there is good contact everywhere with the paper and the glass.

    Apply a thickish coat (same thickness as what you put on earlier) onto the paper.  Make sure you have applied it well on the edges.  I finished it off with making nice horizontal strokes so that if I could see any once they dried, they would look uniform.

    It took two coats for me to get the coverage I wanted.  Make sure the first coat is dry to the touch before applying the second.  It took mine about 15 minutes but it will totally depend on how much product you used and technical stuff like the humidity and temperature.

    After the second coat is dry, plug in your lights!

    Illuminated glass block

    Then, as it got darker....

    Illuminated glass block

    I just love my illuminated glass block.  There are lots of variations you can do.  If you want this with more of a Christmas theme, use a Christmas carol.  Or, how about an inspirational poem or Psalm?  So many ways to add a little light into the darkness.

    Put it on a timer.  They are not that expensive anymore and there are many choices around Christmas.  I always buy lots when they are on clearance after Christmas.

    Make one of these for yourself and for a friend.  Also great as a neighbor gift, hostess gift or teacher's gift!

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    Comments

    1. momcrieff

      February 11, 2020 at 7:21 pm

      I had the paper notes facing away from the glass. Just like you would normally be looking at the paper - it was the 'back' that was applied to the block.

    2. Marla

      February 01, 2020 at 5:46 pm

      Did you put the paper notes facing the glass or away?

    3. Carmie Fox

      December 14, 2018 at 3:50 pm

      When I put the paper on my block it drys very wrinkled. What do I do, or am I doing this the wrong way?

    4. momcrieff

      March 25, 2018 at 11:29 am

      LED lights are a great idea!

    5. Deb

      March 19, 2018 at 6:43 pm

      I use LED lights so the blocks don’t get hot

    6. Anonymous

      November 22, 2015 at 12:27 pm

      And thank you for info re: Menards, they're not that cheap at Wal-Mart.

    7. Anonymous

      November 22, 2015 at 12:26 pm

      Nice. Would love to see a printed photo on one.

    8. pestep81

      November 16, 2015 at 7:23 am

      Very clever, I love it. I didn't know you could buy glass block with a pre-cut hole. This opens up all kinds of possibilities Thanks for sharing.

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    Hi, I'm Susan! Welcome to Momcrieff.com. I love sharing easy recipes (especially those that take less than 30 minutes and/or have less than 5 ingredients). I also enjoy gardening and creating flower | container gardens. Plus, I share about renovations and updates of my 100-year-old house!.

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