The long leisurely days of summer have arrived. Kids have been out of school for a few weeks and full of energy. When summer heats up, a lot of us head for the beach. With the sun and swimming and building sand castles the kids are usually kept busy and very happy. Looking for ways to extend the carefree beach feeling even once you get back home… and keep your kids occupied with something fun and creative? Using a few snapshots, items from the beach and craft glass block you and your kids can create a beautiful beach scene as a happy momento of the fun times at the beach. Whether you display them on a shelf, use them as night lights or give them away to family or friends as gifts, these summer glass block craft ideas will bring lasting happiness.
Craft Glass Block: a Receptacle for Imagination
Craft glass block are designed for crafters and provide a wonderfully versatile respectical for holiday mementos, ideas and imagination. Because craft glass block are hollow with an opening at the top, you can fill them with pretty well whatever you like. A cap keeps the contents secure once you’re finished with your design. Some craft glass block are pre-drilled with a light cord plug cap so the blocks can be illuminated without further drilling or cutting.
While most craft glass block is clear, for a seaside scene you might try our 1919/8 Blue Wave Craft Block, which is a wavy glass block made with periwinkle blue glass. Glass block comes in several sizes (in inches) 6 x 6 x 3, 4 x 8 x 3 and 7.5 x 7.5 x 3.125. Alternatively, you might decide to decorate a glass block vase to fill with beach grasses or flowers for a beautiful, breezy-looking centerpiece for outdoor meals on your deck. You can use a square glass block, or a taller one for use as a vase.
Collect Items for Your Glass Block Craft Ideas
Other than the craft glass block as the vessel, your imagination is really the limit. While your kids are romping around on the beach, get them to collect a bit of sand, or a few shells or pebbles or small pieces of driftwood. Take photos to slip into the glass block as a backdrop. Check out your local dollar or craft shop for vinyl decals to stick on the outside or tiny umbrellas or netting or other small items that strike a chord for the interior beach scene. Or how about an underwater scene? Use water tinted with food coloring if it makes sense for your design, and hot glue the cap so it doesn’t leak.
Other items you might need:
- Glass paint (such as acrylic enamel or acrylics marked as suitable for glass) and a clear sealer with brushes or a dabber (if you etch or lightly sand the surface you can use any type of paint). Be careful of the type of paint if kids are crafting.
- Hot glue to seal the top or to glue shells or netting or anything else on the outside of the glass block.
- Mini LED Christmas or fairy lights to stuff inside for an illuminated design.
Make it Fun
Of course, your children don’t need to be involved in your summer glass block craft ideas — why should they have all the fun? But if they are, make sure all the materials and tasks are safe and age appropriate. Other than that, all you need to do is supply a variety of beachy materials and options and let the kids go wild with creativity.
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