How to Create a Stained Glass Look

Create the look of stained glass with inexpensive craft supplies.

The translucent beauty of real stained glass is an expensive way to decorate windows and other glass in your home---not to mention the difficulty and precision involved with making stained glass works of art. It is possible to create a stained glass look on any glass surface with a simple painting technique, however. Special products are necessary, but the process is simple and the end result will amaze you.

Things You'll Need

• Stained glass pattern
• Sheet of glass
• Glass cleaner
• Painter's tape
• Liquid leading
• Stained glass paint
• Toothpick

Instructions

1. Select a stained glass pattern outline from free online sources, or make your own from an outline in a coloring book. A stained glass pattern includes a heavy outline within the design to differentiate the different colors of the project. This is the only aspect of a pattern that you need to create a stained glass look. The numerical identifications included in stained glass patterns are not important, as you are not piecing glass together. Assign colors to each section in lieu of the numbers.

2. Clean the surface of a sheet of glass. The glass front of a picture frame works, as does other clear glass that is cut to size.

3. Place the stained glass pattern beneath the clean sheet of glass. Secure the pattern by taping it along the edges with painter's tape.

4. Trace the heavy outlines of the stained glass pattern onto the glass with liquid leading. Squeeze the leading directly from the bottle. Allow the leading to dry.

5. Fill in the areas between the leading with different colors of stained glass paint to create your design. Squeeze the paint directly from the bottle onto the glass.

6. With a toothpick pop the air bubbles that appear in the wet stained glass paint. Allow the paint to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Wrap the edges of a glass panel with copper tape for a more finished look. You can also wrap the edges with lead came and solder it at the corner.

References

• Plaid: Painting with Stained Glass Paint

Resources

• Chantal Stained Glass: Free Stained Glass Patterns