Turn Dollar Tree's Glass Stones Into Crushed Glass For Your Home Projects With A Simple DIY

Because of its versatility, aesthetic appeal, and capability to enhance the appearance of a variety of surfaces with distinctive textures and colors, crushed glass is a widely used material for landscaping, building, and even crafts. For its craft use, crushed glass is ideal for home decor, resin art, and adorning furnishings. Crushed glass can come from scrap glass, or cullet, which is added when making new glass, or you can use broken glass to DIY beautiful decor. However, the best way to create your own crushed glass is through an easy DIY that uses decorative glass marbles from Dollar Tree. 

In addition to the marbles, you will need a bowl, frying pan, an old towel, and a hammer. To begin the process, fill the bowl with ice cold water at least 2 inches in depth. Next, remove the glass marbles from the packaging and place them flat in a single layer on the frying pan. Put the pan on the stove and set the burner to high heat, covering the marbles with a lid. After about five minutes, pour the marbles directly from the heat into the bowl with cold water and let them stay there for a few minutes until cracks form on the marbles.

Once the marbles have cooled enough to handle, place them on one side of a laid-out towel, and cover them with the other side of the towel. Finally, pound the cracked marbles with the hammer to the desired sizes. After the marbles are shattered, use a container with a lid to safely store the crushed glass to avoid injury.

This DIY utilizes the phenomenon of thermal shock, which causes a breakdown of glass due to abrupt temperature fluctuations, resulting in it cracking or shattering. By weakening the marbles before using the hammer, less force is needed to break them into smaller pieces. It is less costly than buying ready-made crushed glass, as the Dollar Tree marbles only cost $1.25 for 10 ounces, while some of the off-the-shelf crushed glass at big box stores can cost around $15. Its also easy to add new shades simply by buying other marble colors, and you can control the size of the crushed glass based on how thoroughly it is hammered.

Alternatively, other broken glass at home could be used to create crushed glass and is a great way to reuse common glass items that shouldn't go in your recycling bin. This is because some types of glass have a specific composition, impurities, or require specialized recycling methods. Others may not be suitable for recycling together with common container glass due to differences in melting points. 

There are many crafty and creative ways to repurpose broken glass in your home and garden, and making crafts out of crushed glass minimizes the impact on the environment and gives discarded glass a new lease on life while also providing a creative outlet. However, unless you're prone to breaking glass items frequently around your home, making your own crushed glass from Dollar Tree marbles is the way to go to ensure you have the color, size, and amount you need for your next project.