https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/holiday-lighted-blockpresent • Posted by Kristi C.
I'll try to make this as detailed as I can without photos. I made this a few years ago as a class project in a Housing and Interiors class. It was introduced as a lighted Christmas present (it does indeed look like one). I'm not a huge fan of the traditional Christmas colors, so I decided to go with a winter/frost theme. Really, any holiday will do. You just need to switch up the color and design of the lights and ribbons. Also, look over my half-arsed photos. I'm usually picky about getting lighting just right, but meh.
I'll try to make this as detailed as I can without photos. I made this a few years ago as a class project in a Housing and Interiors class. It was introduced as a lighted Christmas present (it does indeed look like one). I'm not a huge fan of the traditional Christmas colors, so I decided to go with a winter/frost theme. Really, any holiday will do. You just need to switch up the color and design of the lights and ribbons. Also, look over my half-arsed photos. I'm usually picky about getting lighting just right, but meh.
Right from the get go, this is the most delicate and difficult part of the process. Stabilize the block so it won't be moving around while you are drilling your hole. Attach the drill bit to your drill. Now, this part I didn't do myself. I was told that while the hole was being drilled, water was gently sprayed on the area to keep the glass cool and prevent blackening and cracking. It worked, so I am suggesting it. Whether you do this, or drill very gently without using the water is your choice. Just be careful.
Wash the debris off and from inside of the block. This is why the time frame is so long; the block needs to dry before you start working with it. If you are doing this in the winter as I did, the drying process will take longer.
Here's the fun, finger killing part: inserting the lights. Remember, depending on what holiday you are using this for, chose what lights you want. Also, I would suggest using lights that are strung with white wiring. If you are using green lights, the green wired sets may look less tacky. It's up to you. As you can see, I used blue lights. I was tempted to use white, but I decided to go for the blue. The white was beautiful, but I thought the blue added that much more to the frost theme. It does look harsh in my photos, but off camera it is much more appealing and subtle. As well as color, think about the quantity of lighting you want. I would not reach for the max, though. Too much heat will run the risk of cracking.
Now, light sets have two ends: the end with the prongs, and the end with the socket. You obviously can't fit the extension end into that little hole, so it will need to stay outside. Find the middle of the string and make that your starting point. Insert the bulbs straight into the hole. Because you are having to insert double wires at a time, it will be a tight fit. Don't get testy and put too much pressure on the wiring; just work it in there the best you can. Every so often, shake the block around a bit to get the lights deeper in. You don't want them all to be bunched up on one side.
It also helps if you have a slender tool with a hook on the end to poke in the hole and move the lights around even more. When you are done inserting all of the lights, try to space them out as much as you can.
Take one of your rolls of ribbon and make the bow to go on top. Some packages include instructions on how to do this. A twist tie is good at keeping it together if you are doing a more complex bow such as this. When you are satisfied with it, put it aside. The other roll will be used to go around the bow. Cut the ribbon in half. Wrap each strand around the block on opposite sides and glue on top. Make sure to glue one strand to the block for a better hold. Your bow will cover all of this up.
*Optional* If you are using white lights, you can make a universal block. Do not glue any part of the ribbon to the block so you can remove them. Just tie them instead. When you are done with one holiday, untie the ribbon and put it away until next year.
Glue the bow down. You'll probably want to fluff it up and adjust the loops more.
You're done! Plug her in and ooh and ahh at all the prettiness.