I wanted to add a faux stained glass activity to my Youth Theme Kick-off. In researching the different methods I decided to try them out myself before having 40 girls give it a go. What follows are the different techniques I tried, pros and cons and my preferred outcome.
Paint color styles I tried:
Border/Lead styles I tried:
Black Elmer's glue (regular glue mixed with black acrylic paint)
Before you begin...
*TIP for removing the protective film on the ornament - When I tried to get my nail under the film, I couldn't find any lift. A rough scrape with my nail worked best. Just scratch a spot on the edge. This helped pick the plastic up enough to grab it.
SHARPIE {sharpie border}
What you will need:
3.5" Flat Plastic Ornament
Small suction cups, for hanging from a window. These worked great. Really happy with them.
Bright Sharpies
Black Sharpie / Glue / Puffy Paint for border "lead"
Trace the black border and then flip it over to add the color. This will help keep the black lines from smearing into the colors (and ruining the tips of your markers).
PROS
No dry time. This might be the real reason to do this method. It's easy. Doesn't need a paint brush. It makes for a quick project that all ages could manage. If time is a factor, this is a winner.
CONS
It doesn't have that wavy gloss that stained glass has and you're limited to the colors of your markers.
*TIP: Move the markers in a swirling motion to get a more "stained glass" look.
ACRYLIC & GLUE {sharpie border}
What you will need:
3.5" Flat Plastic Ornament
Small suction cups, for hanging from a window. These worked great. Really happy with them.
Acrylic Paints - I used what I had on hand and found the need to replenish. This set has great color options for this project.
Paint Brushes - I used a flat tip brush like this set. It also includes a standard brush that most kids are used to.
Clear Elmer's glue - cheaper on Amazon and at Walmart than your craft stores.
Black Sharpie / Glue / Puffy Paint for border "lead"
Trace the black border and then flip it over to add the color. This will make it easier to paint without worrying about getting paint on the black lines.
Combining the paint and glue took some trial and error and I had to do it twice to figure out the ratio of glue to acrylic paint. My first attempt looks great painted but doesn't have the translucent finish you want in a suncatcher. The second attempt was a ratio of roughly 4 parts glue to 1 parts paint. Basically, add only a small amount of paint. In the picture above, you can see the yellow has not be blended with the glue. It has way too much paint. You want only a small drop and adjust as needed.
The left has too much paint the right is much better - but had more bubbles that dried. I think you can avoid the bubbles by going back over it with your paint brush after it has set for a minute. The ones with fewer bubbles were the ones I touched up.
PROS
Moderate dry time. You could also speed up the dry time with a fan or heater blowing on it. It's also easy to tell when the paint is dry. With the right conditions these could dry in about 15 minutes.
You can mix colors to get just what you want.
CONS
It doesn't have that high gloss that stained glass has and is not as translucent.
*TIPS: clear Elmer's Glue is half the price at Walmart than craft stores. Also, I did not wash my paint brush between colors, I simply started with the lightest color and moved to the darkest color. It is a good idea to have some scrap paper ready to remove some of the paint of the brush when needed.
STAINED GLASS PAINT {sharpie border}
What you will need:
3.5" Flat Plastic Ornament
Small suction cups, for hanging from a window. These worked great. Really happy with them.
Stained Glass Paint, these work on plastic as well as glass.
Paint Brushes - I used a flat tip brush like this set. It also includes a standard brush that most kids are used to.
Black Sharpie / Glue / Puffy Paint for border "lead"
Trace the black border and then flip it over to add the color. This will make it easier to paint without worrying about getting paint on the black lines. When I started with the stained glass paint I was disappointed thinking I was limited to the colors included, but they mix perfectly. I did find that you only want a small drop at a time for this size project. I would bring the paint to the edge of the bottle and tap the paint down, giving me one drop. When I first started, I gave it a squeeze I got way too much paint on my project. (picture below is with black glue border)
PROS
Most realistic Stained Glass look when done. Also most vibrant in the sun. You can mix colors to get just what you want. Worked great with all the different lead/border styles I tried. Paint does not spread where you don't want it.
CONS
Long dry time. The packaging says it takes 24 hours to cure. So even though it felt dry after an hour, it was still a little tacky to the touch. You could likely speed up the dry time with a fan or heater.
*TIP: I started spreading the paint by using the tip of the bottle. It was much easier with a paint brush. I did not wash my paint brush between colors, I simply started with the lightest color and moved to the darkest color. It is a good idea to have some scrap paper ready to remove some of the paint of the brush when needed.
LEAD BORDERS
Options for creating the black "lead" outline.
black sharpie - you then paint the backside
Elmer's glue mixed with black acrylic paint
Sharpie
PROS: is by far the easiest with no dry time!
CONS: Doesn't have any dimension and is slightly translucent. I went over the lines twice to make them darker.
Puff Paint
PROS: gives you the best look and the thickness makes it easier to paint the front without colors running over. Has a shinny finish.
CONS: Takes an hour or more to try. If you are trying to do a project in less than an hour, you will need to do the leading beforehand so it is dry and ready to paint. Not ideal for detailed patterns on a small area. You cannot tell when it is dry (I smudged mine while doing a test-touch). Hard to find - I tried two stores before buying online.
Black Glue
PROS: inexpensive. Gives you a raised border so you can paint the front or the back. (I suggest painting the back. Didn't like the look when I painted the front.). You can tell when it is dry by looking at it. Has a more artistic look as it spreads slightly.
CONS: did spread a little as it dried, which would affect detailed designs or small areas, and has a matte finish.
*I did a side by side dry time of the puff paint and black glue. They took about the same amount of time to dry but the puff paint kept it's shape better. You can see the puff paint on the left and the glue on the right in the picture below.
MY PREFERRED METHOD
For a group with a small amount of time - Sharpie with the Sharpie border
For a group with more than 30 min for dry time - stained glass paint with the sharpie border
To save money - acrylic & glue with the Sharpie border
*BEST overall finished product - stained glass paint with the puff paint border. This does not, however, work great with a detailed pattern on a disc 3,5" It's great for a simple lined design like below or on a larger project.
If you choose to add beads (which I love the look), you will also need ribbon, string or simple fishing line. I used some bracelet cord I had on hand. The knot did NOT hold, so I used a lighter to melt the end. Something to keep in mind, and maybe tryout before you do this with a group.
I made 5 different designs for an activity. You can grab my templet for free below.
FREEBIE
Download the stained glass templates below.
The links above are affiliated links. I could earn a small referral commission if you choose to purchase with these links. I hope we like the same things :)
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