So for graduation I made my cousin's daughter a Bellarmine glass block... well you should have seen the look on the face of my eldest. Absolute devastation at not having got one. So I had to get to thinking, because to be honest he is picky. He doesn't admit it but he is. I found a few of his school's logos* and asked his preference (which wasn't mine LOL) and set to work. I'm going to go ahead and describe my process again as I changed a few things from the last time.
I measured my block (again) to make certain I had the right measurements for it. I then printed the image on plain paper and again sized this up to my block. Then I cut off some tissue paper and adhered it to the printed plain paper with masking tape about 1/2 inch down from the top to feed it through my printer. And left it to dry. I didn't adjust my printer settings because I wanted the black and the orange to be as intense as possible.
This time with the block I painted on the Modge podge and then stippled it. I was a bit wary of attempting that again because it didn't work when I did the Bellarmine block but I didn't want the line effect with this block.
Cutting the tissue paper down to size and rounding the corners then I patiently and carefully adhered it to the block. If it tears it is possible to push it backtogether, however it depends on how bad. If it is too bad just wipe the block clean and go back and print another tissue paper, cut it down, stipple the glue on the block to start again.
After completing the RIT Tiger side, I finished off the opposite side with some clipart gears and my student's name the same way as I did the Tiger side.
After both sides were dry it, they were sprayed with Krylon, Matte sealant to seal the printed colors and it also gives this frosted appearance to the block.
Next step, to glue on the black, stiched ribbon with hot glue. Wow, what a mess that was. Because the glass was cold and I only had two hands it would get lumpy. I think if I do another one I will just use a wet glue. Then I had to work out how to use the measuring tape ribbon. Ideally it would have worked in the middle of the block but there is a ridge. I decided it had to go on one side of the ridge, but didn't have enough for it to go on both sides. That is when I decided to use similar plain twill ribbon and stamp my own. I like how it turned out. The last touch was the satin ribbon on the seam of the block.
Lastly, I cut the plastic bung for the bottom of the block from the edge to the small hole in the middle and fed the cord of the light through the hole. I secured the light in an upright position with a 3D Zot glue dot. The bung for this block was tight so I didn't adhere it closed.
Ingredients
Surface - Krafty Blok Large
Paper/Cardstock -Printed Tissue Paper
Adhesive - Modge Podge, 3D Zots, Glue gun
Stamps - See D's
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Miscellaneous - Ribbon, Krylon Matte Sealer Spray, Night light.
*used under Fair Use http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use
So I bought these glass blocks over a year ago, and I decided now was the time to do something with them. I have a special place in my heart for this young lady because I know how much it means to her mom that she is going to University.
I found a font I liked on my computer and printed her name on tissue paper and adhered it to the block with modge podge. That is the "graining" you see through the paper from the brush strokes. I cut/tore the edges of the tissue paper. I let that dry for a bit and printed out her University's shield from a pdf I found online. In an attempt to get get a different texture behind the tissue paper I stippled the modge podge onto the block and ended up with a hot mess. I washed off the block and modge podge, dried the block and started again. This time I went with what I knew and decided that the graining added an artistic flair.
After that cured overnight, I sealed the block with matte sealer on both sides. The sealer basically frosted the glass that wasn't already covered by tissue paper. I then put a ribbon around the block (that black & white polka dot one) and made a bow topper.
It was my first time making a bow let alone a bow with multiple ribbons. There are a few layers I would have done slightly differently but in the end I like how it turned out. I went with black and white because they are neutral and go with anything.
I placed the bow on top of the block and decided I wanted "more" or to be honest a more personal touch. So I dug out my knight in shining armor stamp and colored it in School colors, then I had find a place to adhere it... nothing looked right so I made a topper to attach to the bow. Of course, then I had to decorate the back of the topper.
That is when I went through my graduation stamp sets and found this wonderful phrase. A bit of Versamark and white embossing powder later with some white gel pen highlights and I had my topper complete.
I found the flower and rhinestone when I bought the ribbon and thought it would add a girly flair to the block. Can't be too girly now can we?
My biggest regret with this...I didn't use a hot glue gun to attach the bow. TBH I wasn't supposed to see, but I saw my gift in two pieces. HEARTBREAK! I guess it could have been worse and been a shattered block on the floor. Anyway I had used large 3D glue dots for the bow. Learnt my lesson on that one. *Sigh* These things happen.
The night light was placed by using a hot knife to cut an access in the plastic bung. I then used a 3D glue dot to keep it upright and a couple of foam dimensionals to keep the bung in the block (seemed loose on this one for whatever reason). I didn't want to make it too permanent for when the bulb needs replacing eventually.
The upside to this experience is that I have had a sly request for another from my eldest. I will have to get my thinking cap on!
Ingredients
Surface - Krafty Blok Large
Paper/Cardstock -Printed Tissue Paper, Neenah Classic Crest, The Paper Company
Adhesive - Modge Podge, 3D Zots, Foam Dimensionals
Stamps - High Hopes Stamps, Hero Arts Graduation
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, VersamarkColor - Copics
Miscellaneous - Ribbon, Flower, White Gel Pen, Matte Sealer, Night light.
Cutting the tissue paper down to size and rounding the corners then I patiently and carefully adhered it to the block. If it tears it is possible to push it backtogether, however it depends on how bad. If it is too bad just wipe the block clean and go back and print another tissue paper, cut it down, stipple the glue on the block to start again.
Next step, to glue on the black, stiched ribbon with hot glue. Wow, what a mess that was. Because the glass was cold and I only had two hands it would get lumpy. I think if I do another one I will just use a wet glue. Then I had to work out how to use the measuring tape ribbon. Ideally it would have worked in the middle of the block but there is a ridge. I decided it had to go on one side of the ridge, but didn't have enough for it to go on both sides. That is when I decided to use similar plain twill ribbon and stamp my own. I like how it turned out. The last touch was the satin ribbon on the seam of the block. 
