FAUX STAINED GLASS
CRAFT A QUICK AND EASY
WINDOW COVER. By Mark Montano
MATERIALS
Transparent plastic folders in different colors. Most office supply or dollar stores carry them.
Hot glue gun with silver glue sticks
Tape, scissors, and thick black marker
Large sheet of paper on which to draw your design
Time: 1 Hour Complexity: Easy
I certainly appreciate the craftsmanship of stained glass, but I’ve come
up with something that gives a similar effect without the prerequisite labor.
Though it may not look exactly like stained glass, it’s a quick and easy
rendition that easily jazzes up my windows.
1. Draw your design on a large piece of paper with a thick marker. This will
allow you to see it under the plastic pieces.
2. Decide which colors go where, then lay your plastic folders over your
drawing and start tracing the shapes. Use 2 colors together to create different
colors, such as blue and red to make purple, just as with paint.
3. Cut out your shapes and place them on your drawing.
4. Once all the pieces are cut out and placed on the design, tape them
together with very small pieces of tape. Fold over the end of the tape so it’s
easy to remove while you work.
5. Using your hot glue gun, glue your pieces together along the seams where
they meet. Wipe off the tip of the glue gun regularly with an old rag to keep
your beads of glue neat.
6. Glue all around the edges of your stained glass piece to give it a finished edge.
7. Using small pieces of tape, place the faux stained glass on your window to
position it where you want it.
8. Using tiny beads of clear hot glue, adhere the stained glass piece to your
window every 5" or so. You can easily remove it when it’s time for a change.
Mark Montano is the author of five books, including The Big-Ass Book of Crafts. He can be seen regularly as the
host of TLC’s
10 Years Younger and as a designer on While You Were Out.
