How to Make Stained-Glass Picture Frames

Place the clear glass on your work space. Use clear glass cut slightly smaller than the actual photo, by about 1/4 inch. For a 5-inch by 7-inch photo, use a piece of clear glass 4-3/4 inches by 6-3/4 inches so you don't see the edges of the photo. Lay out pieces of stained glass in a variety of colors on the work space.

Fill the pistol-grip cutters with glass oil. Pull the cutters across the surface of the stained glass to score the surface without cutting through the glass. Score along the glass' natural grain, not across it. Score squares and rectangles of the same height, such as two inches.

Clamp the running pliers along each score mark and gently press until the scored line breaks through. Continue until you have cut out each square or rectangle of stained glass. Arrange the pieces of colored glass around the clear glass center. Align them so you have an even border and squared corners.

Brush flux along each edge of each piece of glass where it meets another one, including the center piece. Use the soldering iron to run solder where each piece of glass joins another in your design. Solder every seam of glass in your frame. Allow it to cool. Brush flux along the perimeter of the completed front piece. Solder the perimeter for a finished silver edge around the frame.

Flip the frame over so the back faces up. Cut two six-inch pieces and one 4-1/2-inch length of zinc "U" channel with diagonal pliers. Place the short piece of "U" channel at the bottom of the glass window, with the "U" facing the glass. Place the longer pieces of "U" channel on either side of the glass window, with the "U" facing the clear glass, and solder in place.

Slide the photograph into the frame through the open side of the clear glass and into the zinc "U" channel brace. Solder rings to the top of the frame for hanging.