Quick Guide to Making DIY Stained Glass Window

Creating a nice stained glass window or mirror can be one great and unique project to decorate or beautify your room and mirror making them look more personal. Adding a touch of creativity using your own style can make a difference in your room. Making you own stained glass window is far more practical and affordable than buying one that is done by a professional. The following are the materials and guide for a personalized painted window. You can buy these materials from home improvement and crafts shops.

For the painted stained glass window, you will need these supplies:
Plexiglas Sheet
Pattern of your choice
Leading strips
Crafts knife or cutter
Leading
Your choice of colours for glass paint (Ceramcoat also makes a nice glass paint)
Toothpicks
Glass paint sealer
Double-sided adhesive tape

Guide to making your stained glass window:

The first thing to do is to take the measurements of your window. Cut a Plexiglas that is half an inch smaller than the size of your window for a nice fitting.

Paint on your Plexiglas sheet. Be as creative as possible to make a nice design and shade. Then, attach the sheet to your window to make the impression of a stained glass without having the need to paint directly on your window/glass. By doing this, you can change the Plexiglas sheet whenever you feel like having a new design for your glass.

The Plexiglas is important for you to have a flat surface to work on and the paint will not run down.

It also makes changing easier because sooner or later, you might want a new look for you window. Your personal taste in the future will most probably be different from what you like now.

Make sure to measure your window accurately. Home improvement stores usually cut Plexiglas sheet depending on where you intend to use it. Have it cut about ¼ inch short of the actual measurements of your window for a good fit. This way, you will avoid bending of the Plexiglas sheet.

Choose a good design that compliments the room where you intend to place your personalized stained glass.

Arts and craft stores usually sell kits with ready made designs and patterns including colouring instructions. However, you can also choose your own drawing or design. Enhance it in your computer and enlarge it prior to printing to readily use it as a design for your stained glass.

Simply position the pattern underneath the Plexiglas and secure it in place with adhesive tape so it will not move while you draw and paint. You will see the fruits of your creativity through the Plexiglas.

Carefully put the leading strips along the outlines of your pattern.

The leading strips do not contain any real lead and they are adhesive once you remove its paper at the back. Place the strips in the Plexiglas carefully following the outlines of your pattern placed underneath. Press down on the strips to make sure that they are secured in place. You can cut them at any thickness you want. Once you pulled out a strip, do not attempt to stick it again. Pulling it out affects it ability to adhere on the Plexiglas instead, cut another one and replace what you have pulled out with it. Seal the ends where one strip meets another using a liquid leading. This does not contain real lead as well. Liquid lead is usually available in ready-to-squeeze bottles with a nozzle-like tip which you can cut across using sharp scissors at its end. This can make you become more precise in your application along the ends of the strips.

Apply the liquid leading where one strip meets another to create an impression of soldered joints just like what you can see in a real stained glass. Allow the liquid leading to dry up for 24 hours before you proceed on working with your project.

Once the liquid lead had completely dried up, you can now proceed with painting your design. The lead outlines will serve as your guide to separate each section.

Glass paints are also available in ready-to-squeeze plastic bottles with nozzle tips.

Simply snip the ends of the nozzles and the paint is ready to be applied. There is no need to shake or mix the paint as this can only cause bubbles to develop. Avoid shaking the paint bottle as you paint to avoid froth from developing as this can affect the quality of your project.

Start painting from the center of your design and then work your way out to avoid laying your arm and hand on the painted sections and staining the rest of the design.

Apply the sealer.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions in applying the sealer to protect your window from changes in temperature and fingerprints. Allow your project to dry for 24 hours before installing it.

Carefully hang the Plexiglas sheet in your window/mirror.

Apply your double-sided adhesive tape along the edges of your window. Gently mount your painted Plexiglas sheet following the adhesive tapes. Press the edges. Clean the painted glass window using a damp clothe a week after.