How to Make a Suncatcher Ornament with Scrap Glass

How-To

As a "crafty" person, the holiday time can be rough. Not only are we lugging around 7.4 million pounds of "product" to various craft shows, we also have the expectation upon us that we will hand make everyone's holiday gift...because, we're crafty like that (plus, you and I both know that it would KILL us to buy gifts that we could otherwise make - it's in our DNA). So, at the end of the day - our backs and feet are killing us, we'd rather die than smile or make small talk with one more person, we have a car full of stuff to unload (which we also both know will stay there for another 3 weeks until we can't stand it much longer)...and I have to MAKE a present for your sister's husband's aunt's niece who is in college? Oy.

Enter the scrap glass suncatcher slash holiday ornament. This has been my go-to holiday gift, birthday present, housewarming trinket....the "oh-my-I-can't-believe-that-day-has-come-so-fast-and-I-have-nothing-made" gift. Not only is it eye catching and totally customizable (big/small/ornate/simple) it is a snap to make, a snap to fire and it digs into and uses some of that HUGE pile of scrap glass that stares at you every time you even THINK about buying more glass. It's "buying local" and "upcycling" all in one fair swoop!

The photos I have taken were for a batch of Chanukah ornaments I made for a show, but the concept (as you will see from the other photos) is the same.

1. Cut the skeleton of the star/triangle out of spare sheet glass in matching lengths (I personally like cathedral or clears).

2. Glue them together at the corners with super glue for easy transport to your kiln shelf. I swear by Gorilla Super Glue - it is the only glue I have found that burns away clean, leaving no residue between your layers

3. Arrange on a kiln shelf lined with kiln paper or kiln wash.

4. Fill the middle with crushed scrap glass in corresponding colorways. I also like to add pieces of scrap dicro as it adds an extra bit of sparkle. Since these are meant to let the light through, I suggest a mixture of cathedral scrap and clear. I also use a spoon to fill the middles with glass - I then clean up any glass that has fallen outside the "skeleton" with a small paintbrush.

5. Ramp up for a full fuse and check to make sure they reach your desired effect. Shut off the kiln and let it cool to room temp on it's own.

6. While the kiln is fusing or cooling (or both) - pour a nice glass of red wine and relax while staring at all the crap piled up in your car from the last weekend's craft show.

7. String the pieces up thru any holes that have been made by the fused glass (or drill a hole) with fishing wire(or whatever you'd like).

8. Fini! (commence oohing and ahhing from your gift recipient.)

Hope this last minute gift idea has eased your mind a bit - have a great time at that bridal shower/holiday party/birthday night out and eat your weight in cake. You deserve it.

Maggi Blue is a glass artisan, designer and writer. You can read more about her and her art on her
website.

The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the author and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of Delphi Glass. Delphi Glass makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information in this article and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. Delphi Glass reserves the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner it sees fit blog entries or comments that it, in its sole discretion, deems to be unacceptable.

4 comments
Jennifer B.  •  August 25, 2015
@squange169 There is absolutely a chance of seeing some new videos soon. We have been working actively in house and with our vendors to provide some updated video content. Check back at ArtGlassTV soon!
Angela H.  •  August 20, 2015
Is there any chance of uploading some "how to" videos. They would be so helpful. Thanks
Patti G.  •  December 15, 2011
The first paragraph is the absolute truth! Fantastic article, I truly enjoy your writing style. Thank you for the great laugh ... and ideas!
Stacey G.  •  December 15, 2011
hey maggie - these are really fun and very cool! question about the jewish stars. did you fire those at a full fuse? how did the points of the star hold their shape? do you fill in all open areas? i would love to try these and am curious how you did it. do you have a finished one you could post? thanks! stacey
ABOUT ME
Maggi Blue

Maggi Blue

Maggi Blue would be the last person to call herself an artist. She is a lover of color, a collector of skills and always curious at heart. She has been a graphic designer for over a decade and has been absorbing other mediums like glass, metals, printmaking, fiber (to name a few) like a sponge. She is currently a glass artisan, metalsmith and designer on the coast of Maine. She works out of her studio when she can and can always be found online. www.magpiecreative.com is her passion, www.creativitychronicles.com is her dumping ground, www.facebook.com/magpiecreative and @magpiecreative (twitter) are her online voice.