I love making things like this for the holidays, they are fun to make and easy to gift (or sell).
Materials needed:
1.5L cobalt blue bottle bottom
glass drill or dremel
bead wire
crimp beads
clear glass beads
Flat blue bottle glass
glue
glass tools
Step 1:
Kilnwash the mold, add the cobalt bottle bottom and full fuse the bottle bottom on the Man in the Moon Mold. (In depth Bottle Bottom Fusing Tutorial here.)
Man in the Moon bottle bottom mold
Step 2 -Cut glass for small stars.
Start with flat blue bottle glass. Cut into a 2″ strip.
Cut flat blue bottle glass into a 2″ wide strip
Cut the strip into 2″ x 1/4″ strips:
Cut 1/4″ wide glass strips
Break into strips
narrow blue bottle glass strips for stars
Step 3 – Assemble stars
Each star takes 5 strips of glass, so make sure you have 15 strips ready to go. I like to assemble the stars in batches, it makes it easier. I also assemble the stars on my workbench and then move them to the kiln when the glue is dry, much easier on the back!
Side one of the stars, add a glue dot on the top edge.
Side 2 of the stars
Add glue to side 2 center and bottom edge
Add side 3
Adding glue dots to the star
Add side 4 to the star
Glue dots for the final side of the star
Assembled tiny stars – ready to fuse
These stars can be fused in the same firing as the Man in the Moon bottle bottom. Just put them on a prepared kiln shelf or shelf paper.
Step 4 – Drill holes in the Man in the Moon
Drill one hole in the top edge of the Man in the Moon for hanging, and 3 along the bottom where you would like the stars to hang.
Moon and stars fused and ready to assemble
Add the clear glass beads to the beading wire and crimp one end of each wire through each of the bottom holes on the moon.
Bead wires with beads
Crimp the other end of the beaded wire to each star. If the small holes in the stars have fused closed, you may have to drill them out to fit accommodate the wire.
Assembled Moon and Stars chime
Add a loop of wire or monofiliment at the top for hanging and you’re done!
Finished Moon and Stars chime