Commercial Truck Parts

Block Fits

Glass Block Crafts - How to Make Gifts and Keepsakes They'll Love!

Glass Block Crafts - How to Make Gifts and Keepsakes They'll Love!

One of the newest trends in do-it-yourself gifts is glass block crafts.

Advantages include that glass blocks are readily available at your local home improvement and craft stores, they're inexpensive, and anyone can do it!

What Can You Make With Glass Blocks?

Of course, the only limitation is your imagination!

Some popular glass block crafts ideas include making lighted holiday decorations, centerpieces and nightlights, both fresh and silk flower arrangements, coin banks, lamps, knife holders, decoratively etched display pieces, picture "frames" and more.

Glass block crafts are great because the blocks themselves are heavy and quite stable, so they are hard to knock over. They can be filled with sand or marbles, coins or even water with fresh flowers. They are well-sealed, so they don't leak.

Where Do You Get the Blocks?

Any home improvement store will carry glass blocks, and they are typically cheaper there than at the craft stores. Block prices range from about $3 to as much as $10, depending upon size and style of the glass.

Glass blocks can be clear, or they can come in a wide variety of frosted or decorative glass styles. One style is where the glass has little circles on it, or stripes, or unique varying patterns.

Blocks can be as small as 4 inches by 8 inches, or as large as 12 inches by 12 inches. You can find glass blocks that are 3 or 4 inches thick, depending upon your preference.

One disadvantage to home improvement store blocks is that if you are intending to fill the blocks in any way, you will need to drill a hole in the block yourself with a glass drill bit. This is something that anyone can do, but it does require a little care. Use a 5/8 inch glass bit, and drill slowly so as not to crack the block. Make sure to wear eye protection.

You can also choose to buy your blocks at a craft store like Michael's or Hobby Lobby. They will be more expensive at a craft store, but in most cases the blocks will come pre-drilled with either a one inch hole, or a 4 or 5 inch pre-cut rectangular slot on top.

Blocks from the craft store will range in price from about $8 to as much as $15.

Some Glass Block Crafts Ideas

Table Centerpiece. One idea for a party or shower centerpiece is to fill a glass block with holiday lights, either clear, white or colored. Try to choose a white cord for your lights since they are less likely to be noticeable.

Stuff a 20-light chain into your glass block. Leave the cord outside the block so it can be plugged in. You may choose to apply a vinyl message like "Fun!", "Party," "Enjoy!", "New Baby!", etc., on the outside of the block. Window clings work well also.

Wrap the block with a colorful ribbon and tie the top or side with a large bow. You can use this as a table centerpiece or mantel decoration. It looks very festive when the lights are on, and even more so when there are several blocks of varying sizes!

Snowman. Choose 2 or 3 blocks of increasing size, one for each ball of the snowman.

If you choose to paint your blocks, do so before you start to assemble your snowman. You can ask at your local craft store for the appropriate type of paint for glass. Allow the blocks to dry for 24 hours before assembling.

Fill the blocks with clear holiday lights, about 20 lights per block. You may choose to use a longer (50 lights or more) single string in order to make your project simpler. You may need to drill additional holes in the bottom of the blocks to allow the strings to go from top to bottom of your snowman.

Adhere your blocks together with glue at the top and bottom raised edges of the blocks. You can use silicone adhesive, or any glue that is designed for glass.

Decorate the snowman with buttons for his eyes and mouth. Glue twigs to the blocks at the seams for his arms, and add a carrot decoration or other piece for his nose. Some people will add a small hat or scarf, your preference.

Wedding or Shower Gift. This glass block crafts idea uses no lights.

Take a photograph of your choice that is slightly smaller than the glass block you're using.

Cut a piece of adhesive, colored vinyl (craft store item) that is slightly larger than your block. Center your photo over the top of the vinyl so that it will form a border around your photo. The photo will stick to the vinyl.

Place the bordered photo against the outside back of the glass block. When you look through the block, you'll want to see the photo.

Add a large ribbon around the block, and tie a bow on the top. You can add other things if you like. For example, a teddy bear or baby rattle looks nice for a baby shower.

Photo Frame. This is a simple glass block project that anyone can do.

Choose your favorite photograph. Coat the back with spray adhesive and place it on a piece of cardboard, laminate, or something firm but thin. Cut the backing to fit the photo.

Fill your glass block with sand, no more than 1/3 full. Place your photo inside the block and stick in into the sand. The sand will hold it in place. You can add seashells or other small decorative items as desired.

As you see, with a little imagination and creativity, you too can enjoy glass block crafts!
About the Author

This author really loves home and family, and lives life to the full. Do you also like to experience new things? Then feel free to read more at

Double Sink Vanities

and

Heat Pump Water Heater
.

what size transmission fits a 350 chevy 427 small block race engine turnkey motor?

i love your question, and the cool thing about chevys is when it comes to the inline 6, 90deg V6, all the small blocks and all the big blocks from 1955 to date the bellhousing bolt set up has stayed the same.

with having a 350based 427cid stroker motor there only a few transmissions i would even think about using, and the 200R4 IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

the old school trans as in the TH350 built right is a good one, and when built right can handle 450hp & 500lbs torq

and the TH400 again built right can take just about anything you can put out, but i would put the lower 1st and 2nd gears in it, the lowered gears cost about $275.00 and most trans shops will put them in for ya for $250.00 to $300.00

if you planing on not running this on the street with that stroker motor the power glide is the trans of choice in 1/4 mile racers

then theres the 700R4 this trans is for the most part the same as a TH350 with 4 gears or a over drive gear, and again built right it can take allmost as much as the TH350, and with having an overdrive in it you can use a bigger rearend and not kill the motor or the gas mileage when cruising.

and then there a the new school transmissions.
4l60 is a 700R4
4l60E but i wouldnt use it
and the 4l80 and this one is a great trans and like the TH400 can take just about anything you put to it.
but in the end will cost you way more to hook up as there some things youll need to do to make this one work right with a none computer controled system.

and you can still use a lock up converter on all listed and if a lock up converter is something you want to use i can tell you how to wire it so you wont need a computer to go in to lockup, but this will only give you lockup in the final gear as in 3rd with the TH350, TH400 and in 4th gear with the 700R4, 4l60, 4l60E and the 4l80.

now with all that said, i posted all that just so you had the info to make your own choice, and with out knowing just want your building this to do, but it sounds like a weekend cruiser and stop light to stop light racer, i would use the TH350 as this wont cost you an arm and a leg to build.
or i would think long and hard about the TH400 with the lowered 1st & 2nd gears put in as this trans is just about bullet proff.

and oops theres one more to think about and thats the T56 auto clutch manual shift 6 speed trans, this trans use's a computer controled system but theres an add on computer you can get to make this work with out a computer controled engine, but it will cost you big to use this one, but again this is one bad trans and can take just bout anything you can put to it.

and for the guys that done seem to know, go to summitracing.com and look at motown small blocks, you can get all the way up to a 454cid in a small block, its called a stroker 350 motor!!!!
heres the site

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10002_758094_-1_10763

and hey bud if you need any other info or help just e-mail me...

Guile Theme Fits All - John Terry Diving Block