Painting a stained glass window or mirror is a fun project that will add a personal touch to any room of your home.You can add to your home decor with a painted stained glass design for a far less than the price of a real stained glass.

Here are the required supplies and instructions for a painted window.

The supplies can be found at any crafts stores or home improvement stores.

Painted Stained Glass Window

1. Plexiglas sheet

2. Pattern for your design

3. Leading strips

4. Craft knife

5. Liquid leading

6. Glass paint (Ceramcoat also makes glass paint) in colors of your choice

7. Toothpicks

8. Sealer for stained glass paint

9. Clear double sided tape

Measure your window and have a sheet of Plexiglas cut to fit.

You will paint on a sheet of Plexiglas then attach it to your window to get the look of stained glass. The Plexiglas is necessary because you need a flat surface or the paint will run as you are working. It also makes removal easier if you want to change your painted window in the future.

Measure the window you want painted and record the length and width. Any home improvement store can cut a sheet of Plexiglas to fit your measurements. Have the sheet cut 1/36 of an inch less than the measurements of the window. This will allow the painted sheet to be mounted properly on the window when completed.

Choose a design for your window.

Craft stores sell kits that come with patterns for windows and specify what colors to use. You may also draw your own design. Enlarge your pattern  to fit the Plexiglas sheet. Place the pattern underneath the Plexiglas and secure with tape so the paper does not move during the painting process. You will be able to see the pattern through the Plexiglas.

Place the leading strips on the outlines.

The leading strips (contain no real lead) are sticky on the back once the protective paper is removed. Place the strips on the Plexiglas carefully following the lines of the pattern underneath. Press down on the strips to make sure they are secure. Cut them with a craft knife to fit the lines of the pattern. Do not re-position the leading strips, they will lose their adhesive quality.  Seal the joints of the leading strips with liquid leading.

The liquid leading (contains no real lead) comes in a squeeze bottle with a long nozzle. Snip the end of the nozzle with scissors so you have a small hole in the end. Squeeze a small amount of the leading over the joints of the leading strips. The joints are the places where the leading strips intersect. This will give the project the look of soldered joints in real stained glass. Let the liquid leading dry for 24 hours before proceeding with the project.

Paint your design.

The glass paint also comes in plastic bottles with nozzles. Again snip the end with scissors to form a small hole in the nozzle. Do not shake the bottle before painting. The glass paint does not need to be stirred and doing so will create unwanted air bubbles. You will fill in the sections created by the leading with paint. It is best to start painting in the center of the design and work your way out so you do not lay your arm in areas already painted.  Apply sealer to your project.

Apply the sealer to your painted project as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This will protect your painted window from fingerprints and changes in humidity. Let the project dry for 24 hours before hanging in the window.

Hang the Plexiglas sheet in the window.

Place the clear double-sided tape around the edges of your window. Mount the painted Plexiglas sheet onto the tape by pressing gently around the edges. After one week you can clean the painted window with a damp cloth.