We did it in Chemistry class with propane torches. I made the shape of a heart out a glass rod. It's pretty easy to bend and stuff and it was pretty fun. If you could get a block of glass you could get a torch and then just burn it into the shape then let the excess glass pour off into a bucket. It would be harder than getting a kit or whatever, I assume but if you're not looking to make detailed projects out of it then I'd say that just because it would be a lot more cost effecient.