Stained Glass Long-Term Project

Another School Project -
A stained glass window.  Actually pretty easy, cheap, and of course, gorgeous room decor.  I've broken down the instructions into 6 easy parts - prepping, compute work, sizing, liquid leading, painting, and finalizing.

Home-made Stained Glass Window Instructions
Things Needed:

• Plexiglass (can be found at a hardware store and some arts&crafts stores)
• Liquid lead (can be found at Michaels or Online or at other art stores)
• Printer (black and white is ok)
• Lots of Paper
• Pencil
• X-acto Knife (Michaels and home depot/lowes)
• Frog Tape (or other easy removable tapes)
• Regular, clear scotch tape
• Scizzors or paper cutter
• Markers or colored pencils
• Internet access
• Toothpicks
• Lots of patience and time

Prepping:

• Make sure you have a lot of time.  Stained Glass paint takes AT LEAST a month to cure.  Also include how long it will take to do the other parts, like the liquid leading which will have to cure for a full 24 hours AT LEAST.
• Have a work space.  This is a place where you can keep your supplies out and also let the stained glass paint cure.  Make sure this isn't a very well needed place but somewhere somewhat comfortable to sit.  Also try to keep it out of reach of small fingers and paws.
• Read all the instructions BEFORE you start.  It's a pain to have to continually check to know that you are doing the right thing.
• Open up your paint bottles and make sure they work.  If it's not the right color, or gloopy (it's supposed to self-level) return it now.

Part 1 (Computer):

1. Go to Google Images to find your design.  Make sure it is something not too complicated, especially if you are a beginner.
2. Change to a word or pages document.  Print this and make sure it is the one you want.
3. If it is, color it with colored pencils or markers.  Once you get the right color combo, keep it on hand in case you need a reference while you are painting.
4. Change to a PDF file and make it as big as you want (it helps if you already know what size you want to make it)
5. Print.
6. Trim off extra paper and tape the pages together to make sure they are securely together.

Part 2 (Sizing):

1. Measure twice.  If you are doing a rose window (circle) measure it like a square.  Give at least an inch of "extra" space.
2. Cut your plexiglass.  Do not use scissors!  You only end up ruining the blades and the plexiglass.  Use the X-acto Knife!
3. Set plexiglass aside.  Also, keep a couple trimmings for future use.

Part 3 (Liquid Leading):

1. Wait!!!  Before you start leading, read the instructions on the company's website or on the back of the bottle.  Some paints don't mix!  Take the time to do your research now or possibly regret it later.
2. Prepare your workspace.  Use your frog tape to first tape down the paper design of your stained glass, then the plexiglass over it.  Use as much as needed...and then some.  Messing up is a big no-no.
3. Do a couple "practice leadings".  This you can do on a piece of paper or on a scrap of plexiglass.  DO NOT drag the bottle along the paper.  This isn't tooth paste on your tooth brush here!  Actually hold the bottle about a quarter of an inch to half of an inch above the paper/plexiglass.  To stop, bring down gently.
4. Start leading your stained glass!  Take your time.  Go left to right, top to bottom.  Make sure NOT to touch it.
5. Use a tooth pick to remove any drips before they start to dry.
6. If the lead becomes really hard to get out, bang it against the counter about ten times.  Try it now!
7. DO NOT touch the lead for AT LEAST twenty four hours after you did them.  It could ruin them. 
8. DO NOT remove frog tape.

Part 4 (Painting):

1. Begin by making a color tester.  Do this on one of those plexiglass scraps.  Make sure the leading is dry.  Practice.
2. Paint!  Don't use a paint brush, just squeeze it directly onto the plexiglass.  Refer to your color paler and marker "stained glass".
3. You can do patterns with the tip of the bottle!  Swirl your paint around and be creative.
4. Allow 72 hours for the paint to dry.

Finalizing:

1. Remove the frog tape once it has dried.
2. The paint calls for a month to fully cure but it can be ouched after 72 hours.  Wait till has fully cured to hang it up.
3. Punch two holes in the top of your stained glass and slip a chain through.
4. Hang up your beautiful stained glass and enjoy!