I am lucky enough to be a HomeRight Ambassador and I get to use their products to make awesome things including today's project :)
When I was growing up my mom had gorgeous antique ornaments. She also had handblown glass icicles that she hung on the tree with them. They were my absolute favorite! I haven't even attempted to look for them since I don't dare put them on my tree. I have 4 boys and that is just asking for it. But while I was working on another plexiglass project for my book, the thought came to be that I could make some out of plastic! So I did :)
I used the HomeRight Heat Gun to make them and I swear it is easier than you might think!
I bought a thin (⅛ inch) 8 x 10 plexiglass sheet. They are around $5 I think. I also bought a plexiglass knife that was hanging just above where the sheets of plexiglass were at Home Depot. It was around $4.
You will need something to act as the straight edge to cut against.
I placed the ruler along the edge creating a long triangle shape. I scored it about 5 times. After that I used needle nosed pliers to snap it off. If it doesn't snap easily you will need to score it a little more.
You will now need to grab some thick leather gloves and a heat gun.
Hold the plexiglass with a gloved hand and the heat gun with the other. Heat only the top little bit. It will only take a little bit to get it soft. I did about 3 seconds on one side and 3 second on the other side. Then set the heat gun down on a concrete surface (or another surface that will not be damaged from the heat from the gun).
Twist the top part of the plexiglass and blow on it for a few seconds to cool it down.
Heat the next little section the same way as before.
And then twist it again and blow to cool it. Repeat this process until you reach the end. You may get a few tiny bubbles if you heat the plexiglass too much but I think it looks neat that way so don't sweat it. If you remember, I added bubbles to my plexiglass bowl on purpose because I like the look.
Once it has been twisted the entire length, it is time to drill a hole. If you don't already have a tiny drill bit, they are about $2 for a 2 pack.
Then I used fishing line to hang them.
They each took about 10 minutes start to finish. I love the way they look on our tree and the fact that they won't shatter if they fall is even better.
Other uses for the Heat Gun:
*Removing old paint
*Removing bumper sticker or stickers on other surfaces
*Making Crème brûlée
*Embossing
*Shrink wrap (gifts, products, windows)
*Thaw frozen pipes
*Upholstering something in Vinyl
*Heating floor adhesive for easier removal
Now I get to giveaway a HomeRight Digital Temperature Heat Gun to one lucky reader!
Enter below using the rafflecopter widget. Give it a sec to load. Sometimes the old gal is slow.
*Must be 18 years or older and a resident of the USA at the time of the contest. Giveaway will run from December 17, 2014 until December 29, 2014. The winner will be chosen via random.org and notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The prize will be shipped by HomeRight.
I am part of the HomeRight ambassador program. I am compensated for my time in reviewing/using the products and writing/promoting the posts. The thoughts, opinions, and project ideas are all mine!
I think I'd use the heat gun to make creme brulee first!
I would use it to remove some stubborn bumper stickers that I want removed!
I would love to make the icicle ornaments!
The icicles tuned out perfect. What a great idea! I would make some personalized candles.
I would like to try your icicle ornaments!
Love this project! My mom has glass icicle ornaments on her tree and I've always wanted some for mine. Making my own would be fun!
I would absolutely make these adorable ornaments! LOVE!
Oh, those icicles are amazing, Stacy! I love the idea of embossing as well! I'm going to keep my fingers crossed!
Love the icicles. Maybe the heat gun should be a last minute addition to my wish list? ;)
I would try the icicles first thing.
I would love to try out these ornaments! My mom had little glass ones, too.
I would make this ornament, thanks for the tutorial! I also read some great tips about all sorts of things you can do with one of these on Pinterest the other night, sounds very handy to have around!
It's alway so hard for me to decide what I will make with something. I pretty much change my mind right up until the last possible second ; ) But I would most definitely burn me some wood!! Maybe just for the scent ; ) haha, but no really, I think it would be fun to burn the wood grain and do some kind of painting affect.
Wow Stacy, these are amazing! I'd want to use the heat gun to make them, and then of course after all that work I'd need to make some creme brulee to celebrate! :)
Those icicle ornaments are awesome. I would love to try that heat gun out.
i would Love to make some of these icicle ornaments. These are sweet!
I would LOVE to win this awesome tool and make gift baskets and use it to shrink wrap the plastic on a basket of homemade gifts. Thank you so much!
Well, first I'd make some of these lovelies! Then I'd love to have it for shrink wrap :)
I would make these icicle ornaments!
andysavi.mom@gmail.com
Those ornaments are so cool! If I had a heat gun, I'm not sure exactly what I would do - but I would try to figure out something crafty!
These are too cool! I'd try the plexiglass bowl and it would definitely come in handy for embossing (I have to use my toaster for that)!
Definitely use it to shrink wrap window seeing as it's super cold here in Michigan. And some yummy creme brulee.
Oh I think the crafting possibilities for his are amazing! Christmas ornaments are a great idea!
I'd love to try and make a lucite bowl.
Stacy!! You are such a genius with whatever tool is in your hand! These icicle ornaments are so darling! I love your ideas and appreciate your generous nature in sharing the how-to's! Hope you have a blessed holiday season!
i really want to try embossing.....been putting it off because i don't have a heat gun and haven't bought one yet
I'd love to see how it works taking off paint. Stripping wood can be such a pain!
I would love to make some acrylic photo frames for our walls
I do alot of baskets so this would be perfect shrink wrap. thanks for the giveaway.
I would try the icicles first and then move on down the list. So many great options!
Wow! You really never cease to amaze me with your talents!
How creative! Well done, my friend!
I would love to make the icicle ornaments. They are so cool.
I would first use this to remove stubborn wallpaper that is driving me nuts!
I've been wanting one of these for my art studio! I would use it to make unique frames, embossing, and I would love to try your ornaments. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
This would be super fun for a lot of cub scout activities!! Thanks for the chance to win!
These are so beautiful! I would love to try and make them!
This looks like a very interesting project...and do-able as well. Love to have the digital heatgun.
I would use the heat gun for many projects. I repurpose furniture and do lots of crafts. Would love to try the icicle ornaments.
I would like to try the icicles.
You are seriously a genius! Oh my word, I love these!
Anna :)
I think the first thing I would use the heat gun for would be to remove the stickiness left over from the stickers my daughter put on my car.
I love these! I have needed a heat gun for many little projects! What a great give-a-way!
how fun I have sooo many projects this would help me in! Happy Holiday season
I'm very unoriginal. I want to try your icicle idea. My husband grew up with icicles on the Christmas tree and loves the way they look. We haven't purchased any for our tree, though, because they're too expensive. This is the perfect solution!
I think the first thing I'd like to make before Christmas is some of those icicles! They look great!
Thank you for the giveaway!
These icicle ornaments are incredible! I love the bowl you made with the heat gun, so I might try something similar!
I think I would try my hand at creme brulee. Love that stuff!
I would make different home decor items for the holidays.
I love your icicles, and since my tree has a snow theme this year, I would probably start with an ornament along those lines. What a fun toy!
I love DIY posts. Gonna have to try your icicle ornaments
I would love to make the icicle ornaments but I'm sure will use it for other household projects!
I want to make an abstract bowl.
I actually have one of these on my wishlist this year specifically to use for restoring the trim on my car ("you’ve seen older cars that used to have black trim but now look more like a dull gray. Using a heat gun you can restore that trim to its original shine!" Who knew!!!)
But more significantly, I'd love to add one of these to my crafting arsenal! Thanks for the opportunity - please, PLEASE pick me!
creme brulee
I'd definitely have to try some creme brules, but I LOVE your icicles and would probably make those too!
I would use the heat gun to remove the all the adhesive that was left when our vinyl fence was fixed!! I would love to try the icicles ornaments also!!
I would love to try to make these ornments!
I think I would have to make some of those icicle ornaments!
I love your icicle ornaments, I'd make those and then try the bowl tutorial! These would be great gift ideas too. Thanks for the chance to win.
Oh my gosh, that's SO COOL! They're beautiful! And now I want a heat gun! I'd google everything I could use it for as far as crafting and art, and then get started!
I would make some storage containers out of old records!
I would like to make some plexi shelves and remove some paint.
Those ornaments are beautiful!! I would definitely start by using the heat gun to make those! I've previously used a heat gun only for shrink wrap. I love seeing your decorative uses.
Any tree would look beautiful with these!
I would use the heat gun to emboss and to help my vinyl projects. Also these awesome icicles!
Crime brûlée, of course! Then on to these icicle ornaments!
I LOVE these! They are so pretty! I think I'd like to try making some because they are so pretty on the tree and can't be broken by the kids or eaten by the animals. Perfections!
Oh I need one of those.
I would use it for embossing. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love this Stacy! So creative. I really want to make these for my tree next year. Crossing my fingers I win the gun so I can!!!
Fabulous ornaments! Pinning!
I think I would make snowflakes. Your icicles turned out awesome!
I would love it to use when we do our arts and crafts
These are amazing! I'd love to have a heat gun to remove stickers, but I'd try these too!
Well, I keep meaning to buy a propane torch for creme brulee, but I'd definitely try it with a heat gun if I had one!
I would make jewlery!
I would make these icicles first!
I've never had creme brule. I'd totally love to make my own
I'd like to try your icicles. I'd also use it on some stubborn tags that are difficult to peel off. I think it would be fun to experiment with some other plastic ornaments, too. I wonder how it would work with Shrinkys.
Would love to use this to make jewelry - I'm thinking you could bend pieces like yours into bangles!
Actually, I would gift this to my sweet husband because he is always borrowing mine!
Love the icicles you made. Gotta try to create sone, too.
What a neat idea! My hubby has a heat gun and I may have to steal it to make some of these. Thanks for sharing this on Merry Monday. Pinned.
My mom made these and cut the strips and then heated them in the oven. Using two pliers picked them up and twisted them.