If you’re getting new stained glass windows for your home’s entryway, front door, or other windows, your children might be excited by this new addition to your home, too. So excited, in fact, that they might want to create their own stained glass masterpiece! Luckily for you, your kiddos can design their own stained glass piece pretty easily after a quick trip to the arts and crafts store. In today’s blog, Entry Brite of Phoenix will show you how to make your own faux stained glass.
GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES
The first step, and probably the least fun one for your child, but ask them for a little patience, and they can get to creating their next masterpiece in no time. You’ll want the following supplies for this stain glass project:
- A picture frame with a glass face
- A bottle of white glue (think Elmers)
- A bottle of clear glue
- Acrylic paints (at least one bottle of black, and then let your kids choose the others)
- A black Sharpie
- Super Glue
- Clear acrylic spray sealant
- Lay Out Your Design
Here’s where your child’s creative juices can start flowing. Take apart your picture frame. Typically, these frames come with a white sheet of backing paper. Have your child lay out their design by drawing their pattern or image on this sheet. Even the great stained glass makers of the Gothic era started by drawing an elaborate cartoon. Encourage them to make an elaborate pattern that repeats across the entire page, or have them create an image, like a landscape or a favorite pet. While they’re working on their design, you can get started on the next step.
Prepare The Painting Surface
You’ll want to make sure that the acrylic paint sticks securely to the glass, so take the acrylic spray sealant to prepare the surface of the glass. Let this dry, and then you’re ready to start painting.
Outlining Your Design
With your glass prepped, and your child’s design finished, you can place the glass on top of the piece of paper with the design. At this stage, they can start outlining their design. To create the “leading” for their stained glass, mix the white glue and the black acrylic paint together. You can stir this with a dowel or the bottom of a paintbrush. It doesn’t take much paint to change the color of the glue, and once it’s thoroughly mixed together, you can put the glue nozzle back on top of the glue bottle.
Your child can then squeeze the bottle and gently trace their pattern on the glass. Encourage them to work carefully and to take their time in following their pattern. Once the patterns have been totally traced with glue, set aside the glass and let it dry overnight.
Start Painting
With the leading now dry, your child can start painting. Like the leading itself, mix a little white glue with just a drop or two of acrylic paint. You can make a paint palette from an old muffin tin, or use the top of an old Tupperware dish. Your child can then use a paintbrush to paint color with the lines of the leading and add color wherever they want it. Make sure they put on a fairly thick layer of paint and to paint to the edge of the black leading. This will ensure that there aren’t any slivers of light between the brightly colored paint and the black leading. If, while your child is painting, they complain of air bubbles forming in the paint, these can be easily popped with a toothpick.
Once they’re done painting, set the painted glass aside to dry overnight. The next morning, you and your child can look over your work and look for spots where the paint may have been brushed over the black leading. Don’t panic—take your black Sharpie and simple color over these spots.
Finishing Up
Once you and your child have inspected their artwork, you can put another layer of acrylic spray sealant on their artwork. This will help keep the paint together and from flaking off the glass. Once that’s dried, you can put the glass back in the picture frame, and hang it on a wall or rest it near a window so light can filter through it. You’ll find that their painted faux stain glass looks just like the real thing!
Giving your children a stained glass art project of their own to work on while Entry Brite installs your new stained glass windows is a great way to make them feel like they’re a part of this exciting process! If your child is looking for inspiration, together you can visit our gallery page. And once they’re busy with their project, you can contact us for an on-site visit and consultation with one of our designers. Call Entry Brite now!