Beveled Glass Ornaments from an Old Brass Light
I had so much fun at the Habitat ReStore talk this past weekend. My favorite holiday decorations were these adorable beveled glass ornaments. Would you believe me if I told you that they began life as a dated octagon brass light fixture?
Well, they did! And here is the best part, for $5 you can score one of these fixtures at your local Habitat ReStore and make 16 ornaments from the one light!
Materials:
- Beveled glass octagonal light fixture (the flimsier the brass the better)
- Needle-nosed pliers
- Wire cutters
- Small flat head screwdriver
- Gloves
- Glass cleaner
- Soft cloth
- Scrapbook paper
- Printed photos
- Mod podge
- Paint brush
- Screw eyes
- E-6000
- Wax paper to protect work surface
- Ribbon
- Scissors
Instructions:
Put on your gloves for this first task! To free the beveled glass, you’ll need to poke, prod and cut at the brass surrounding the glass. Inserting a flat screwdriver will help to pry up the edges. As the edges come loose, cut into the metal with wire cutters, and pull it apart using needle-nosed pliers. All the while, use caution so as not to break the glass pieces.
After all the glass is free, clean both sides of the glass with windex and a soft cloth. Scratch off any dirt with your fingernail (or a razor blade).
Cut photos to fit inside the middle of the beveled glass piece.
Trace around the glass and cut a piece of scrapbook paper the same size as the glass.
Coat the back of the photo with mod podge and center it on the scrapbook paper.
Gently coat the front of the scrapbook paper border with mod podge (do not paint mod podge onto the photo or streaking can occur.)
Press the flat side of the beveled glass on top of the scrapbook paper/photo.
Flip the glass over and put a dollop of E-6000 at the top center of the scrapbook paper. Lay one screw eye into the glue, then cover the screw with a small dollop of E-6000 glue to secure the screw eye.
After the mod podge and E-6000 has dried, cut some pieces of ribbon and thread them through the screw eye. Make a loop with the ribbon and hang it on your tree!
Or give them as gifts to the Grandparents!
I made another ornament using scrapbook paper and stuck a monogram letter sticker on top of the glass. I also added a small quote on another ornament. The possibilities for this project are numerous!
I had to share with you a few other transformations that I showcased during the talk at the Habitat ReStore:
I took an old chandelier and flipped her over, coated her with primer, heirloom white spray paint and then added some distressing and finished with some antique gold Rub n’ Buff.
Now she’s a beautiful candelabra for our dining room table!
I used the canopy (round flat disk that attaches to the ceiling) as the base for the candelabra. When you take apart a light fixture, you can get creative by flipping and switching around parts and pieces.
Old lightbulbs became adorable little ornaments with a few stickers and a coat of spray paint. My favorite is this clear bulb that I added a heart sticker to. When I peeled off the sticker a little heart shaped window remained. Peek inside to see the filament.
If you’ve ever wrapped an easter egg with rubber bands before dying it, you’ll recognize this pattern.
A $2 cabinet door and some chunky cabinet handles partnered to form a holiday serving tray. The handles also got a little Rub ‘n Buff for shine.
I’m sorry I don’t have the tutorials for you right now. Most likely at a later date, I’ll post them for y’all.
I have two announcements:
#1 – The winner of the RIT dye giveaway is: Judi! She said,  “Dye WOOD –really !!!! Can’t wait to see what all else you (and I) can dye !! Loving it !!”
#2 – My son let me paint his cast like a candy cane! I used KILZ Clean Start (zero VOC) primer and a flat brush to give his cast the stripes. One of my facebook fans had the genius idea of asking Santa to sign it!
Let’s just hope that he can keep this cast for more than a week!
Linking up to Home Stories A2Z Tutorials & Tips Tuesdays – Centational Girl’s Holiday Home Craft Link Party – Not Just a Housewife’s Show Me What Ya Got – Funky Junk Interiors SNS
wow-I love restore, now I’m lovin it more!! thanks for the great idea!!
Another idea instead of the ornaments with the beveled glass…I was thinking of my Mother who no longer puts up a tree, was to buy a little wooden or wire easel at Michael’s or JoAnn’s and just use your beveled picture idea as a pretty addition on a little easel to her framed family pics on her piano to be enjoyed year-round!
You are so dang creative, I just can’t stand it! I love the ideas! Can you imagine how cool a CFL would look sprayed with its curly design? Oh the ideas! Little glitter…little tassel or bead on the end! Thank you for the inspiration! I do, do stained glass buy why I never thought of taking a lamp apart and re-using the bevels escapes me!
What a talent! I don’t think there’s a darn thing that you can’t do. Sorry to see your little one is still in a cast but you know how to make him feel better by decorating it. Hope the doctor says it can be removed by Christmas.
And I love your new photo and quote!
Will you and your amazing creativity stop it already?! Oh wait.. don’t! 🙂
I love it all. Can you say copy cat? 🙂
Brittany, these ideas are CRAZY-brilliant! You are so creative–I love the way your creativity knows no bounds and how you turn old “junk” into beautiful items. The beveled glass from an old light fixture. . . turned into 16 ornaments?!? Who would have thought of that but a pretty handy girl? And the chandelier-cum-candelabra is fabulous! WOW!
Your christmas stuff if amazing. I love it all.
What an awesome idea! You are one smart
Christmas Cookie! Love your sons candy cane cast too! Merry Christmas 😀
This is so fun, you are really creative. I love it, will be copying for sure.
Loving all of these ideas Brittany, sharing on FB!!! Thanks so much for linking up to the party today!
xo
Kate
Now, this has to be the best idea ever for those nasty old light fixtures- genius, I tell ya! 🙂
Wow! You are a Christmas crafting genius! So glad I found you via Centsational Girl.
Please stop by for a visit to my blog. I am currently in the midst of a Gifts to Make series.
Be Merry and Bright!
H Brittany –
You have been a busy Christmas Elf. Love all your projects – the candy cane cast – priceless! Something your son will remember forever.
My best-Diane
I hate that I missed the Re-Store workshop. I hope you had a great time there. You are soo ingenious. Love the serving tray. 😀 Let us know if you have another workshop.
I’ll be talking at the Southern Ideal Home Show in Raleigh in April! All 3 days, so you can catch one hopefully.
You are simply amazing and unbelievably talented!!! 🙂