“The world is a looking glass. It gives back to every man a true reflection of his own thoughts.”
-Thackery
It is always a good day when we get to share a project from a fellow salvager. Today, we welcome Sarah Stoehr as she teaches how to…
Create Faux Leaded Glass Windows
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Hi! My name is Sarah, and I’d like to share my DIY Faux leaded glass windows with you.
So, it all started when I was walking around a local antique and junk shop and spotted a pair of glass cabinet doors.
Immediately, I remembered a picture I’d seen on one of my Facebook groups of a pair of doors with stained glass hung on the wall with wreaths….. hmm I thought.. bet hobby lobby has a product to make faux stained glass!
So I snapped up those doors quick! ($8 for the pair!😱😍), and went to Hobby Lobby to find just what I was looking for!! (Don’t forget the 40% off coupon!)
SUPPLIES:
- Gallery Glass
- Adhesive Backed Lead Lines
- Window Color – Clear Frost
- Ruler
- Dry Erase Marker
- Exacto Knife
- Paint Brush
- Chalk Paint – White
- Sandpaper
- Staple Gun
- Hanging Hardware
HOW TO:
First, I decided which design I wanted.
I then used a ruler to make the lines and so I would get my lines straight.
I drew on the “inside” (side I intended to have against the wall) with a dry erase marker to make the lines.
Close up of my dry erase lines.
Next, I flipped the door so I had the “outside”, and just applied the adhesive lead lines on top of my dry erase lines….cut with a pen knife easy peasy!!
Once I had all the lead lines applied I erased the dry erase from the other side.
I then applied the window color…..It looks just like white Elmer’s glue when wet.
Using a paint brush, the paint was applied all over in between the lead lines,…..and even on them. I did a smooth brush stroke on the long parts and a dab dab design on the diamond shapes for a subtle difference.
Once it was dry it looked wonderful!! Except… I really thought they’d look best in a white frame… so I attempted to paint it… 😬
The paint just wouldn’t stick.. so I took the windows out of the doors, and scrubbed the shine off with vinegar and soap and water.
Then I realized I could now spray paint since the windows where no longer in the frame!! Yay, so much easier!!
I used Rustoleum’s chalk spray paint in linen white, and they came out beautifully!!
Approximately a half an hour of dry time, and a little sandpaper to shabby up the edges, and they were all ready to go.
The glass was put back in the frames, stapled them in with my handy dandy staple gun, and added hanging hardware. So excited how they turned out!!!!!
Voila!! All done and ready to hang!!
Thanks for reading!! Hope you enjoyed this project as much as I did!!
________
WE ARE IN LOVE WITH THESE WINDOWS!! A big THANK YOU to Sarah for sharing this fun project!
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this looks great! love the results! laura
OooooEeeee they have tape that looks like leaded glass. I neeeeed some of that stuff. Love how these turned out
Michelle, Too bad we can’t make some together for a craft night
Amazing! Thanks for the inspiration.
Denise, Right? I can’t wait to make mine as well.
Ingenious!! I love how these turned out Deborah!! I hope they have this product available in Australia because I’d love to give it a go! Thank you for the inspiration!
Sam – Raggedy Bits recently posted…Waste Not Wednesday-110
Sam, Oh, they would be lovely in your home so I hop eyou can find some.
Is this water proof? I have a project that I want for outside and I don’t want to do it and then it ruined! Lol
Hi Missy, As mentioned in the article, it was a feature so I don’t know for sure. One of the things I would recommend is reading the package instructions (or looking them up online) to see if they are waterproof. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Hope you get to make some.
I love the redo on these windows!
Can you share the measurements you used?
I’ve got windows the same size and would love to replicate this or something similar.
Thanks
Hi Marlene…this was a guest post so we don’t know sizes or measurements, you could go to the post and click the link to the guest posters sight and maybe she can answer
Hello – beautiful, ingenious project. I am in the midst of adding lead and gallery glass to my windows & doors. I just washed the large windows in the doors that open into our small music room/library. The glass has lovely etched lines that are perfect for lead but……. the etching in one door is one the outside and the other is in the inside. Ugh! Who did that? Cannot flip them. Stuck with this “oversight.” So, my question – should I place the lead in the etched lines on one door and on the etched lines on the other door? Thank you for your suggestions.
Hi Audrey, If I am understanding this correctly, you have two different designs on each side of your window. If that is correct, is there a way to blend both designs together so they like more similar?
Please be aware the adhesive strip is real lead and extremely toxic. It will oxidize into dust and drop lead dust below it. If there are children in the house, they should not eat at this table. As beautiful as the windows are, ask yourself if the health hazard is worth it before embarking on this project, particularly if you have kids.
Will check that out. thank you