Project Sheet
Autumn Leaves Stained-Glass Frame
Get the effect of real stained glass with a fraction of the effort.
- Difficulty Level: Beginner/Intermediate
- Completion Time: 1-2 hours active time
Whether hung in a window or on a wall, this frame has the look of timeless stained glass and features your custom design. While ours has an autumn leaves theme, yours is only limited by your imagination - make yours as simple or as intricate as you desire. These frames also make beautiful personalized gifts for the special people on your list.
What you'll need
Before you begin, make sure you have all the supplies you'll need. The list below contains all the products we used to create the example shown in this tutorial.
- Super Glue (Thick)
- Self-Adhesive Lead Strip
- Glass Paint (we used Amber, Paprika, Saffron Yellow, and Sandalwood Green)
- Paintbrushes
- Wooden Frame
- Screw Eyes
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Medium Curb Chain
- Saw Tooth Adjustable Picture Hangers
- Utility Knife or Scissors
1. Put It on Paper
Sketch out the lines of your design, and note which color you would like in each space.
2. Get the Lead Out
Remove the back and the glass from the frame. On a protected work surface, put the glass on top of your design. If you'd like thinner lead lines, cut your pieces of leading in half lengthwise with a utility knife or scissors. Measure and cut each lead line. Remove the paper backing and stick the leading to the glass, tracing your design carefully. Apply pressure with the enclosed tool after your leading outlines are finalized to make sure they stick well to the glass.
3. Add a Coat (or Two) of Many Colors
Fill in the spaces with the colors you mapped out for your project. Varying your brushes, your brush technique, and the amount of paint you use adds visual interest and different color effects. Have fun and experiment!
4. Rest Easy
Allow to dry for several hours, or overnight depending upon the amount of paint used. Thicker sections of paint will take longer to fully dry.
5. Hang It Up
In the meantime, attach your hanging hardware. If you're making a window piece, measure chain to desired length and remove the section using pliers. Attach screw eyes to the top of your frame. Then, use the pliers again to loop the chain through the screw eyes and attach the loose ends.
(If your frame will hang on the wall, gently nail a picture hanger to the back of the frame instead, following the directions on the package.)
6. Sticking Together
When your project is fully dry, apply glue to the inside lip of the frame and carefully put the glass back in the frame with the painted side down. Gently push down on the glass for approximately 60 seconds to bond the two parts, and allow to dry for two hours before hanging.
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