How to Make Stained Glass Out of Tissue Paper

With a few supplies and a bit of imagination, you can make stained glass out of tissue paper. This craft is suitable for a variety of ability levels, since the designs can be as simple or complex as you like. Hang the results in a sunny window for the most dramatic effect.

Things You'll Need

• Tissue paper
• Clear tape or glue
• Scissors
• Craft knife and cutting mat (optional)
• Black construction paper
• Scrap paper (optional
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Draw your design on the black paper. The image should be like a stencil in that you can cut out each area that you want to color without destroying the paper.

2. Carefully cut out all the areas that you want to color--these are the areas that light will shine through when you make stained glass out of tissue paper, while the remaining black paper will be the equivalent of the lead cane (black lines) in actual stained glass.

3. Turn the black paper over and work on the back. Choose a color of tissue paper for each area you cut out. Cut a piece of tissue paper just slightly larger than the hole.

4. Tape or glue your tissue paper shape over the appropriate hole in the black paper. If your design is very intricate, you may have to cut small slivers of tape or apply glue very carefully around the edges. Try to pull the tissue fairly tight as you work on this step.

5. Repeat until you've covered all the holes in your black paper design with tissue paper. Turn the paper over to see the result, and hang it where light can shine through.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have trouble seeing your drawing on black paper, draw it on scrap paper first and cut out the appropriate areas. Using this paper as a guide, cut through the black paper with a craft knife.

• Be careful not to get glue on parts of the tissue paper that will be visible, since it will leave a mark.