DIY

I am using Etsy's partnership with HGTV as an incentive to begin to share some of my secrets so that you can DIY!!

"Etsy is pleased to announce our partnership with HGTV, the destination for home and garden do-it-yourselfers and design inspiration. Check out Etsy sellers featured by HGTV for holiday gift-giving and DIY ideas by going to their Handmade Holidays hub: http://www.hgtv.com/handmade-holidays/package/index.html

If you'd like to participate by suggesting great gifts for HGTV, we welcome you to curate a Treasury list and tag it with "HGTV Gifts".

Make a Treasury right here: http://www.etsy.com/treasury

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How to Make Glass Sculptures

1. Gather a wide variety of glass

-cups

-bowls

-candle holders

-vases

-lids

-plates

-knobs

-tumblers

-wine glasses

-shot glasses

-ash trays

I have found that the more things I have to choose from, the easier it seems to find a pleasing arrangement... which brings me to number....

2. Stack in a pleasing arrangement

It is helpful if the items can be stacked and stay balanced before any gluing begins.

You can decide if you want a bowl for the top or a small glass for holding a tea light. You can even put a plate on the top (but be sure the base is wide enough to be secure even if something is placed on the edge of the plate).

3. I use E6000 to hold my pieces together, although probably any kind of epoxy will work.

I put a good amount of E6000 between the layers. This is not a fast drying glue and demands a good 24-36 hours to set up. With this in mind, I turn the piece right side up or upside down depending on which way the glue will stay the best. For instance, if I am gluing a glass rim to a plate, I would put the plate on the table, run a large bead around the glass rim and turn it over onto the plate. This prevents the glue from running down the sides or insides of glass.

Another important note is that you need to make sure your table is level and your pieces are on straight and not sliding. You may feel like it is in place only to come back the next day and see that it has completely shifted! This is especially true when adding flat marbles... they will feel like they are set and then slowly slide.

The thinner the glass, the more easily it will crack. The glue contracts and expands with heat and cold, therefore if the glass is thin when it contracts, it will cause a small hairline crack.

That is basically it!! Please feel free to ask any questions you would like!!

The ones I have made are on our sister store called Fineartology.

ENJOY this DIY project!!