I LOVE the look of stained glass and leaded glass. Over the years, I have searched for antique stained glass pieces but have yet to find one that is budget-friendly with a design I like. So, in DIY fashion, I searched for a way to make stained glass and/or leaded glass without the expense of going to a class or learning how to cut glass.

*If you buy a frame that needs no repair, the stained glass process begins at Step 5

Frame Repair

Step 1 – Find a frame

Now that I had decided to DIY a stained glass piece of art, the first step was to find an antique wooden window. Before searching for one, I thought I’d try to make one from a wooden frame I already had on hand. The frame had once been a window, but was missing the pane of glass. Without the glass, the frame was unstable. Before replacing the glass, I needed to fix the frame.

Step 2 – Fix frame

The frame was a bit wobbly at the corners, so I squeezed Elmers wood glue into the space where the sides, bottom, and top of the frame met. After removing the excess glue, I clamped the frame to keep the corners tight while the glue dried. When the glue was dry, I sanded the wood to smooth it and also remove some of the paint to create the look I wanted. Since I didn’t want to remove all of the paint, I used sanding blocks as opposed to my palm sander.

Step 3 – Stain & seal wood

I started this project in winter, and because the garage was cold, I brought the frame inside for the staining & sealing process. Since I left some of the chippy paint on the wood, I chose to stain it with a decorative glaze as opposed to my favorite stain, which is Minwax Provincial. Decorative glaze is designed to be used over paint as well as wood.

Using a small paintbrush, I applied the glaze, then wiped off the excess using a piece of t-shirt material. Although one coat of the glaze would have been enough, I applied a 2nd coat to obtain a deeper color. After allowing the glaze to dry overnight, I applied 2 coats of Flat Out Flat polyurethane using a paintbrush. Flat Out Flat poly provides a truly flat finish. I have found that even Matte poly can leave a little sheen, and I didn’t want that look on this frame.

Step 4 – Insert glass pane

YouTube Video

I have a full video on this process on my You Tube channel

https://youtu.be/GSgt0_RIJT0

Stained Glass Process

Step 5 – Find or create a design

Choosing a design took some time. There are many examples online, and they are very fun to look at. Pinterest is a good place to start. Several of the designs I saw were free to download and print. If you’re creative, you can make your own. I ended up making two stained glass pieces. For the first project, I pulled together pieces from a couple of printed designs to create something that fit my vision. For the second one, I decided to use the Paint program and make my own design.

Step 6 – Add leading to glass

When searching for Leading, I first bought some from Gallery Glass. I used it on a sample piece and found that it did not bend well, which made creating curves difficult. I also didn’t like the look of the Leading. I searched for an alternative and found Pebeo’s ‘Vitrail’ Tape (vitrail is French for stained glass). This product looks more like stained glass lead, has an adhesive backing, and can be split in 1/2 which allows for a customized look.

Step 7 – Apply inked Modge Podge

Now we’re getting to the really fun part of this project – adding color and texture to the design. I started with some texture along the outer edges of the design. I poured a small amount of Modge Podge into a bowl, then added a few drops of water. Using a small, stiff artist brush, I dipped it in Mod Podge. Using a tapping motion with the tip of the bristles, I applied it to the glass.

Once that area dried, I moved on to the main design. For this section, I used a softer artist brush to apply the colors. Using a softer brush created a more flowy pattern. Creating colors that you like is easy. Put some Mod Podge in a small container, add a few drops of water, then add color. You can use inks like I did or craft paint. Both of those products can be mixed to achieve the colors that you want.

When all the colors had been applied, I went back to the watered-down Mod Podge to create a textured look around the center pattern and on either side of the flower bud on the side patterns. Using my fingers, I swirled the Modge Podge until I had a look that I liked. For the section under the leaves of the side patterns, I used the same technique as I did on the outer edges of the design.

Step 8 – Changing color/Removing color

After I finished applying color to the design, I decided I wasn’t very fond of the orange. What’s great about using Mod Podge (or Elmer’s Glue) is that you can easily remove it. Using a razor knife, I cut along the inside of the leading, then lifted a corner of the colored Mod Podge with the tip of the razor and simply pulled it off the glass. I mixed a couple of the ink colors into a bowl of Mod Podge to create purple mahogany before applying that color to the area that had been orange.

When I was finished with the color, I hung the piece. It wasn’t long before I decided I didn’t love the teal squares, so I cut them out like the orange pieces.

Step 9 – Add eye screws & hang

Finished Stained Glass Window #1

Finished Stained Glass Window #2

Thoughts on the project

DIY stained glass is a beginner-friendly project! It is very forgiving with the leading easily moved and the Mod Podge being removed if needed for a color or design change. The Vitrail leading is more expensive than the Gallery Glass leading, but the realistic look of the leading makes the price difference a non-issue for me.

I loved creating these stained glass creations! The 2nd window came with glass, so the process was much faster. There is no doubt that I’ll be making more stained glass in the future!

Stained Glass Window: Before, during, after

Instruction Manual

If you prefer to have a hard copy of the process, an instruction manual is available in my Shoppe:

For your convenience

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