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    Home » Misc. » DIY & Hints » DIY

    Glass Block Light Ideas

    Published: Jul 23, 2023 by Susan Moncrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

    The main thing I dislike about winter is the darkness. By the time it hits December, it is dark by 4pm. That's so depressing.

    I now have lights all around my house. Not bright and not expensive lights. They are all on timers.  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 block

    These simple glass craft blocks with Christmas lights in them look good. However, I figured out something that looks even better and personalizes the illuminated glass blocks. I glued on printed music to make the light softer and make the block look better. This is a great Christmas type light also!

    Table of contents

    • Why I love these glass blocks with Christmas lights
    • Supply list
    • Instructions
    • Other Christmas lighting ideas

    This was my first Mod Podge project years ago. {GASP} I know right? I feel like I missed the whole Mod Podge era and I'm late to the party.

    Why I love these glass blocks with Christmas lights

    • They can be personalized. I put the words of Silent Night on mine.
    • During a dreary winter, glowing lights are cheerful
    • These are great hostess, teacher gifts etc.
    • Can be used as Christmas decor or as year-round lighting.
    • Easy to make and not very expensive

    Supply list

    Illuminated glass block
    1. Glass block - The craft ones with the predrilled opening. (I used 8 x 8). The holes are hard to put in so buy the blocks with existing holes (craft stores).
    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

    Instructions

    Step 1
    Stuff the white stringed white lights into the block. For this project I used a string of 100. 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

    Step 2
    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.

    Step 3
    Take the Mod Podge and apply a pretty thick coat onto the front 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.

    Step 4
    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.

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    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

    Step 5
    Put these lights and others 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!

    Other Christmas lighting ideas

    • cropped-IMG_3488-scaled-1.jpg
      White Christmas village houses
    • stairway with Christmas garland at the bottom
      Easy and Inexpensive Christmas Stair Garland
    • DIY Outdoor Christmas Decorations

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    • Christmas planter with trellis and white lights.
      Outdoor Christmas Planter
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    1. Marla

      February 01, 2020 at 5:46 pm

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

      Reply
      • 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.

        Reply
    2. 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?

      Reply
    3. Deb

      March 19, 2018 at 6:43 pm

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

      Reply
      • momcrieff

        March 25, 2018 at 11:29 am

        LED lights are a great idea!

        Reply
    4. Anonymous

      November 22, 2015 at 12:27 pm

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

      Reply
    5. Anonymous

      November 22, 2015 at 12:26 pm

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

      Reply
    6. 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.

      Reply

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    I'm Susan Moncrieff! I love sharing easy recipes, especially those that take less than 30 minutes and have less than 5 ingredients. I'm passionate about gardening and creating flower planters. My home is 100 years old and sometimes you will see it in my posts! It was a true fixer upper and I love it!

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