Directions for How to Make a Lamp
This is a decorative lamp crafted from any size of glass blocks. It is most often used as a lighted holiday embellishment, but by changing the ribbon and accessories, it is perfect for baby showers or birthdays. It is bright enough to use as a stand-alone lamp and gives a soft glow, but the lamps are even more attractive when clustered.
Things You'll Need
- Hollow glass blocks
- Drill
- Diamond drill bit
- Drill bit lubricant
- String of 30 twinkle lights
- Ribbon
- Embellishments such as flowers, feathers, floral picks
- White glue
Instructions
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1
Choose a hollow glass block. Wash it and dry it thoroughly before you begin your project. Glass blocks come as small as 4 inches square, but the single block used in this project is 8 inches by 8 inches by 3 inches. The triple stacked blocks are 12 inches on the base, 8 inches in the middle, and 4 inches on the top.
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2
Use a drill with a diamond drill bit to start a 1/2-inch hole in the side through which you will place the light string. Be sure to use plenty of lubricant on the drill bit to keep it cool while it bites through the glass. Stop occasionally to allow it to cool. Do not force the drill bit through the glass. Let it work itself slowly through the glass, and the bit will last longer.
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3
Push the string of lights in through the hole and allow them to seek a natural position rather than trying to make them space evenly. Use a bit of glue around the hole to secure the plug. Smooth the glue around the opening and allow to dry; continue to fill and dry until there is a glue plug holding the cord. This keeps the lights inside from slipping out the hole.
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4
Wrap decorative ribbon around the block as if it were a present. Secure the ribbon with a small amount of glue. Adorn the top of the glass with a decorative ribbon and flowers or other choices of embellishments.
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For an even more showy display, stack a 4-inch, 8-inch and 12-inch set of blocks. Instead of drilling a hole in the side of the top and center blocks, drill through the bottom of both blocks. Drill a second hole in the middle of the center block. Drill a hole in the top of the largest block and also in the side. This allows the lights to be fed through from one block to the next without any plugs showing.
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6
Insert a shorter light string in the top. Plug the end of that cord into the string that will be inserted in the middle glass block, and push it through with the second string. All Christmas tree lights piggyback plug into each other.
The plugs go through the bottom hole and are plugged into the third string of lights. Arrange the second string of lights inside the block. The plug assembly is pushed through the third block and the ends come out the side hole. Secure the blocks one on top of each other with glue after they are wrapped in ribbon.
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Save the ribbon bow and embellishments for the top glass block. This stack of lighted blocks adds a bright display to any holiday décor.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do not own a drill or have a diamond bit, you can purchase pre-drilled glass blocks.
Never use a carbide drill on glass blocks because it will shatter the glass.
Always use eye protection when drilling, especially when drilling glass.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit glass brick image by Lucid_Exposure from Fotolia.com
