From the page: Glass is a blank canvas
Idea 8
"Colored sand" granules from repurposed glass
Ground-up repurposed glass, called cullet, has become a beloved material in crafts and even in construction — some asphalt roads and pools already use crushed recycled glass in place of sand. The logic is that glass is basically sand that has already been transformed, so returning it to grain is bringing the material back to something close to its original state. With small, well-sanded pieces, you can fill vases and decorative pieces.
What you need
- Leftover glass of the same thickness (bottles, broken jars)
- Safety goggles and thick gloves
- A thick cloth and a hammer
- Coarse sandpaper or a hand sander to round off the edges
How to make it
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1
Wrap the glass pieces in a folded cloth, on a hard surface, always wearing goggles and gloves — the cloth catches the shards.
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2
Tap lightly with the hammer, several times, until you get grains about the size of rice.
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3
Open the cloth over a tray and sort the grains, discarding the very fine dust (which can cut skin).
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4
Roll the grains in coarse sandpaper inside a lidded container, shaking it: this rounds off the sharp edges.
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5
Wash the grains under running water in a strainer and let them dry before using.
Finishing touches
use as decorative filler in succulent pots (great drainage) or at the bottom of candle holders. Green or amber bottle glass already comes colored, no paint needed.
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