The Delphi Blog

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.

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