Crystal Clusters / Geodes From Hot Glue Sticks

Who doesn't love crystals? They are one of nature's most magical creations. So in honor of crystals, let's create fake ones! Because I am broke.

In another instructable, I showed how to make single, long crystals out of hot glue sticks: https://www.instructables.com/id/Hot-Glue-Stick-C...

And it took me onlyone and a half years to realize that you can make all kinds of crystals using the same method!

I made soo many. Far too many. It's fun!

So here's what you will need:

• hot glue sticks (or scraps)
• craft knife
• scissors (sharp ones)
• school glue (white or clear)
• nail polishes
• acrylic paints
• paint brush
• eyepin

* The video combines both of my crystal instructables *

To make tiny crystal pieces, take a hot glue stick and cut it into thin strips.

(Just a note: This does require a little more strength than you might think. Be careful!)

Then take a pair of scissors and cut the strips into crystals.

Use sharp and strong scissors, otherwise they won't look very nice.

If you want coloured crystals, it looks best when the pieces are painted before they are glued together.

I made transparent paint by mixing acrylic paints and school glue together with a brush. But you can also use the paint on its own for an opaque look.

I spread the crystals and moved them around so they didn't stick to anything until they were dry (they dry quite quickly).

For a pendant, I took a thin and clear piece of plastic (like from a lid or bottle) and glued on an eyepin.

One note: if you use plated copper wire, the humidity of the glue can make the wire a bit green, that's why I used as little metal as possible.

Then glue on the crystal pieces, let them dry and add more until you are happy.

You can also glue the crystals to rocks and add the long crystals from my other Instructible (see video) to make crystal clusters.

Aluminium foil can be shaped as well to make your base. Use whatever you have!

I used aluminium foil to make a geode.

I shaped a ball of foil into a kind of bowl shape and covered it with another piece of foil to make everything look more even.

Then I dabbed on black acrylic paint with a sponge (you can use a brush too), to make it look like a stone (or an avocado :P).

Then I made crystals with different levels of transparency and colour and glued the most opaque ones in the middle of the geode, getting more transparent the further I got away from the middle.

I love how the geode turned out!

You can leave your crystals like that or give them some more transparency and shine with a glaze - just brush on some glue or use clear nailpolish.

Glitter nail polishes look cool too, just as shimmery ones.

And that's it! Now you can either decorate your home with your crystals, wear them or come up with your own ideas!

Hope you liked this idea, and if you do it would be awesome if you would vote for me in the "Stick it!" Contest!

Cheers guys!