Hot Glass Crafts How-Tos


How To: Turn scrap fusing glass into a ribbon cane
This is a quick demonstration of one of the many ways to turn scrap Bullseye glass in to a ribbon cane. Watch this instructional lampworking video to recycle glass pieces and melt them into a cane. You can then use the glass cane to melt it into finely crafted glass jewelry such as beads, buttons and glass miniatures.

How To: Learn beginning lampworking techniques
Tips for the beginner borosilicate glass artist. This video demonstrates cold and hot seals, pulling curves, and more.

How To: Make a DIY front surface mirror (cheap, small & circular)
If you consider yourself a "laser" man, then you probably know all about front-surface mirrors. But do you know how to make an FS mirror? This video from AP Digital light will show you how to make cheap first surface mirrors.

How To: Cut curves in glass
Watch this video to learn how to cut glass along a curvy score line using a hand tool.

How To: Make a glass dragon
Learn how to make a glass dragon with this lampworking tutorial.

How To: Burnish and fill gaps when soldering stained glass
Watch this video for a quick demonstration of burnishing and filling gaps, a soldering copper foil technique.

How To: Grind glass
Learn about grinding glass using various methods with experts from the Corning Museum of Glass.

How To: Cut glass with a pair of scissors
This video describes the process of cutting glass with a regular pair of scissors. Objects required include a pair of scissors, glass to cut, gloves, a tub, and water. First, fill the tub with water to a proper depth to allow for submersion of the glass. Once the tub is filled, submerge the glass and once the glass is submerged, while holding it, begin to slowly cut the glass with careful and slow cuts from the scissors. It is suggested to not conduct the procedure with haste, take the proces...

How To: Cut glass with a glass cutter
Looking to get some glass cut? Instead of taking it down to your local glass cutter and shelling out some cash, why not learn to do it yourself? In this video, learn how to cut glass using a "glass cutter".

How To: Make the Dali wine glass out of blown glass
Dean Smiley and Eliska Harmer, master glass blowers from New York show how to make one of their designs, the Dali glass. Follow along as the glass is blown and shaped, transforming from a molten blob into a beautiful glass. This video glass-blowing tutorial is an inspirational peek at an unusual form of art.

How To: Make glass pendant loops
This lampworking video shows some techniques used to make pendant loops and hooks.

How To: Make a glass octopus
This lampworking video shows how to make a glass octopus on a spun glass mount. The colors used here are Northstar rust and butterscotch.

How To: Make iridized glass
Learn about ancient iridized glass and a method for creating iridized glass surfaces. This video is part of the exhibition "Reflecting Antiquity" at The Corning Museum of Glass (February 15 - May 27, 2008). Note: the method portrayed uses stannous chloride fumes, which can be highly toxic. Do not attempt this without proper protective equipment.

How To: Cut plate glass
This is a Fine Art video tutorial where you will learn how to cut plate glass. Measure the plate glass and make sure the measurements are correct. Then place the guide along the line of the cut, take your glass cutter and score along the edge of the guide. If the plate is small in size, take the base of the cutter and place it underneath the score mark and apply equal pressure with your hands on both sides of the score. The plate will snap with a nice clean cut. Another way to snap the glass ...

How To: Make leadlight and stained glass panels
This is an instructional video on how to make leadlight windows and stained glass panels.

How To: Cut glass to make blades of grass for a mosaic picture
While making a large-scale glass mosaic project, it might be necessary to follow a pattern, cutting out the individual pieces of the desired finished project. This video glass-work tutorial demonstrates the process of cutting out a piece of stained glass for a mosaic picture. Watch this instructional video and learn how to cut pieces of

How To: Smooth and grind glass using a bit and disk grinder
Check out this video to learn how to use the Diamond Tech Power Max bit and disk grinder to smooth and grind glass for use in mosiacs and tiffany lamps.

How To: Turn a Boring Transparent Window into a Colorful Faux Stained Glass Masterpiece
When most people think of stained glass, the first thing that comes to mind is a church, but it's become more popular in home decor as well. The biggest downside is that high quality stained glass pieces can be insanely expensive—and it's not an easy project to take on yourself.

How To: Dump and add color to blown glass
This recording of a beginner's glass blowing class depicts visual guidelines to adding color to molten glass. The instructor repeats a process of rolling molten glass on the marver, blowing it, and finally, adding color.

How To: Make a glass rose
Learn how to assemble a glass rose with the technique of lampworking.

How To: Score and break glass tiles with the Diamond Tech tool
Check out this video to see how to score and break glass tiles for making mosiacs or other craft uses. This video demonstrates using the Diamond Tech 2in1 scorer breaker tool.

How To: Apply gold leaf to glass
Watch this video to learn about applying gold leaf to glass with Corning Museum of Glass experts.

How To: Make glass molds
Learn about glass molds with Corning Museum of Glass experts. One can form and decorate glass by blowing into a mold.

How To: Cut a piece of glass under water
This video shows how a piece of glass can be cut using a pair of scissors into the shape that you want. First, use a permanent marker to draw the outline of the shape you want on the glass. Next, submerge the part of the glass that you want to cut into a basin of water. Using a pair of scissors, start cutting the general outline of the shape on the glass. After you are done with the general outline, you can then trim the glass with it still submerged in the basin of water. Remember to be care...

How To: Make glass buttons using a multi- mandrel
See how to use a Multi-Mandrel and watch demonstrator Scott make a set of buttons in no time flat in this how-to video. The multi-mandrel hold several pieces of glass as they're shaped into buttons, beads, or the desired craft project. Watch this video glass-work tutorial series and learn how to make glass buttons using a multi-mandrel.

How To: Make a sun catcher out of stained glass
Brighten up your home decorations with handmade sun catchers! Learn how to make stained-glass sun catchers with the expert tips in this free video series.

How To: Make mini glass mobiles
Watch this instructional video to make a mini glass mobile. You will need pliers, pieces of wire, some wire rings, and a fishing loop to attach the different pieces. The earlier processes involved melting wire to pieces of glass, but here we witness the fun part of making a mobile. With a small hand made S hook, the mobile can hang in any doorway or window frame.

How To: Make a stained glass suncatcher
A quick tutorial on making a stained glass suncatcher from scrap glass. This is a nifty summer home project for stained glass enthusiasts and beginners alike.

How To: Make a glass tobacco pipe
Matt Baker blows a simple clear Pyrex spoon using the lampworking technique. Perfect for intermediate beginners. Do not attempt this unless you have a clear knowledge of glass blowing safety!

How To: Learn about silver fuming
This is a quick lampworking video on the technique of silver fuming.

How To: Make a glass dolphin
Learn how to make a large solid dolphin on a heavy spun glass base in this lampworking video.

How To: Make glass cane
Learn more about making glass cane with Lino Tagliapietra and experts from The Corning Museum of Glass. Though simple in origin, Canes are often put together to make very elaborate objects.

How To: Smooth rough glass edges with Power Max 2 grinder
Check out this video to learn how to use the Power Max 2 grinder from Diamond Tech to grind rough glass edges for mosiacs and stained glass projects.

How To: Lampwork a glass marble
This lampworking video will show you how to make a marble out of rods of glass.

How To: Cut small thin strips in glass
Watch this video to learn how to score a thin strip of glass and break it off with a hand tool.

How To: Score a piece of glass & break it with your hands
Watch this video to learn how to score a piece of glass and break it with your hands.

How To: Make ice glass
Learn about making ice glass with experts from the Corning Museum of Glass.

How To: Make a glass goblet
Learn how to make a glass goblet with Corning Museum of Glass experts. Building glass goblets began with Roman glass makers.

How To: Make glass beads with a torch and mold
This video demonstrates the process of glass bead-making with artist Gail Kop. You'll need a torch, a mold and glass pieces.

How To: Blow glass
Jim McKelvey is going to show you how to blow glass. One of the secrets to making really nice glass is making really even gathers. So, if you're a beginning student, there are some tricks that you can use to learn how to gather correctly. That's just part of what will be covered on this series about beginning glass blowing.