To achieve originality in the interior, you can use such an idea as the use of stained-glass windows. To do this, it is not at all necessary to hire a master or purchase expensive finished goods. It is quite possible to create a stained-glass window with your own hands at home, with some effort and having studied the proposed material.
Methods for making stained glass windows
First of all, you need to decide which images will receive your . To do this, you need to come up with a sketch or find a finished one. This will require:
- Paper or cardboard, the same size as the stained glass window.
- A drawing with clear contours, elements.
- Mark the fragments of the picture with numbers for coloring in the corresponding color.
- If typesetting is enabled, you can specify the grain direction.
Outwardly, the blank resembles a numbered children's coloring book.
The ability to draw is not necessary: it is enough to print a suitable basic stencil. A disappearing marker is required to transfer the image onto the glass.
Using thumbnails
Requires a sketch that includes small elements. Small drawings are easy to print, large images will require manual drawing, transfer to glass. You can make a photocopy of the drawing for templates. The main stencil is made using the original, transferring it to the glass. You will need to purchase template scissors: they differ from ordinary scissors in the presence of a third blade. This will allow you to cut a strip 1.76 mm wide.
A copy of the sketch must be glued to thick cardboard not less than 0.5 mm; fit box. This is necessary for tracing contours. They must be tough. You need to stick the paper evenly over the plane, preventing it from getting wet. It is worth numbering parts of the sketch in advance.
Step by step work
Thinking how to do it yourself at home , work plan needs to be developed. You need to start with simple actions, gradually moving to more complex ones.
Doing it yourself at home is the easiest way to do it, and you should start with it. For this purpose, it is necessary to transfer the image to a glass base. Borders are simulated. You can use self-adhesive tape. The bonding surface must be well degreased. If bubbles appear on the film, they can be pierced with a sewing needle.
This method is simple and cheap, but upon closer examination it will be noticeable that the stained glass is not real. It has no view from the street side. Do-it-yourself film stained-glass windows are most often made for ceilings, since they do not have reverse side and are far enough away from the eyes. For the ceiling, this type of stained-glass window is also good because it is light in weight and completely safe in case of collapse. For the ceiling, you can use an acrylic base, glass should be avoided.
Contour stained-glass windows and painting on glass
Imitation lead binding
The original stained-glass windows have a metal cover. The imitation should also repeat it so that its appearance is more realistic. There are several ways to simulate this element:
- Gluing borders with special adhesive tape. You can buy this in the salon for artists. Scotch tape will help shape the contours. The tape is 1/8 inch wide, designed like regular tape, only it has a matching color. It is very easy to work with this material.
- This method illustrates how to make stained-glass windows with imitation binding using wire. Requires aluminum or copper wire and porcelain glue, you need to find dish glue. Superglue is not suitable, as it leaves a lot of marks. You can use any wire with a thickness of 0.02 to 2.5 mm, depending on the size of your work: it is carefully glued to the seams, then covered with a patina.
- The plate can be made independently. This will require:
- PVA glue for porcelain 50 ml.
- Mascara 30 ml.
- Aluminum powder 40 gr.
All these components must be mixed until a homogeneous mass. If you want to achieve the color of brass, you need to use bronze powder instead of aluminum. Before painting the product, check what color is obtained. Please note that the pasta is not suitable for storage, it must be cooked as needed and constantly stirred. Apply the mass with a brush or a small syringe. This requires skill.
Imitation lead binding
Varieties of stained glass
Making stained glass windows at home X allows you to show imagination and use different technologies, not limited to one recipe.
Fusing is a rather complicated stained-glass window manufacturing technology. . It requires the use of solid glass, on which elements of different shades are applied. The fragments have pronounced borders; there is no separating metal strip between them. For the finished canvas, calcination in an oven is required. The outlines of the drawing can be varied depending on the idea of the author. Such a technique is available for production, and it is unlikely that it will be possible to repeat it at home.
- These are also stained glass windows, but consisting of separate parts, which are fastened together with metal strips by soldering. This style is distinguished by intricate forms. It has a complex design and bright, varied colors. Most often, using this technology, various items are made, for example, lamps, lamps, toy houses.
This do-it-yourself stained glass manufacturing technology can have a number of problems:
Film stained glass windows
It is quite difficult to make on glass with your own hands, therefore a very affordable technology is gluing a special film on glass. For this you will need:
- Self-adhesive film in various colors.
- Lead-based tape.
- Rubber roller.
- Glass.
- Paper knife.
This technique is safe, a teenager can master it, so you can offer him to make such stained glass with his own hands.
To create a picture, you will need to transfer the outline of the picture to the prepared glass using a film. First, a template is created. It can be drawn or printed, then it is applied to the glass with a marker, the contours are glued with lead tape, a colored film is cut out and glued to the glass. After that, the lead film is applied again. To secure the elements, they are passed over with a rubber roller.
Film stained glass manufacturing
stained glass paints
Paints will help solve the problem of how to make a stained-glass window on glass with your own hands, without using complex technology, while achieving realism. The contour of the drawing is applied to ordinary glass using special paints; You can do this work with children.
It should be borne in mind that the paint dries for a rather long time. It will take about a day for it to dry completely.
Stained glass paints and contours
Sketch development
Making a stained glass window with your own hands should not start immediately with windows or doors. It is worth trying on an old piece of glass, a decorative vase, a glass. The paints offered for this work are different: there are fired and non-fired types. The former require heating the product in an oven, which is not very convenient if you, for example, paint a plastic window.
After firing, the paint will become dull and lose its brightness.
Non-fired paints do not lose their brightness, do not require heat treatment, but are demanding for washing. They are afraid of aggressive detergents. A window decorated with them will need to be washed very carefully. If you are only trying to create stained glass windows with your own hands , don't skimp on paint. Purchase quality imported products. Such materials have optimal density, often equipped with dispensers. They don't run, they don't smudge.
Stained glass outlines can also be purchased separately. They are sold in tubes, making them easy to apply. You should not immediately acquire a black outline: it is difficult to work with. For a beginner, silver or white is well suited. To achieve the desired width without experience will not work - you will need to practice. Excess material must be wiped with a damp sponge immediately, otherwise they will dry out.
For training, you can use any glass or mirror. First you need to clean its surface from dirt, degrease it: you can do this with alcohol or a special solvent. Before you make a stained glass window , think about the sketch. If you have created a drawing, it is better to make several photocopies, ready-made version can be printed on a printer. If you started your workout with a lamp, roll up the sheet, insert it inside the glass and attach with tape. After that, the drawing can be circled with a marker already on the glass. The marker is better to take erasable. After that, you can use the stained glass outline. Gently apply it to the surface and let the paint dry.
Shake the paint tube gently before use. It doesn't need to be shaken. otherwise bubbles will appear in the paint. The paint is applied in a thick layer, it is required to paint over each element of the picture. After that, let the paint dry completely. To protect the color layer, you can use acrylic lacquer or anneal the glass in the oven. The second option is used exclusively for heat-resistant glasses.
Thinking of installing stained glass windows? Read in our material and how much it will cost.
Find out what are the advantages and disadvantages of classic stained glass windows, read consumer reviews and find out prices in our article.
Do not use glass. It is quite possible to get by with a safe film. Take the file, put a sheet with the desired image in it. Show your child how to make stained glass. To do this, you need to circle the drawing with a marker, paint it with previously made paints. After the paint has dried, the film must be cut and pasted onto the glass. Let the child come up with a drawing on their own. Many children are happy to show creative activity, draw and make stained-glass windows.
Conclusion: you can create an original interior decoration yourself, and you will get a lot of positive emotions, you can engage in the creative process with your family.
There are several easy tricks for making stained glass at home.
Real stained glass is not cheap, and they are made experienced craftsmen. There are several simple methods for making stained glass windows at home. A window opening or door with stained glass will add an authentic flavor to the room. Stained glass windows look expensive and, finally, it's just beautiful.
There are several easy tricks for making stained glass at home. They do not require you to have an unusual skill or a lot of money. A pencil sketch of the stained-glass window you like is applied to whatman paper or tracing paper. These may be: silhouettes of animals, a geometric pattern, exotic birds or floral ornament. Fragments of the sketch are marked with the desired color tone.
Types of technologies for the manufacture of stained glass windows
Stained glass can be used in the decor of a variety of interior items. Glasses can be inserted into window frames, doors, equip ceilings, use as a partition screen or an apron in the kitchen. Sometimes they are decorated with a stained-glass frame of a mirror.
To create a flooded stained-glass window, you will need a palette of translucent and voluminous paints, markers for marking and sketches of a drawing on tracing paper. After completion of the work, the bulk stained-glass window can be fixed with a transparent varnish. After heat treatment, the stained-glass window becomes moisture resistant.
Tiffany stained glass is a little more difficult to make. From the materials you will need a set of colored glass and stained glass foil. If you have a skill in cutting glass and working with a soldering iron, then making a Tiffany stained glass window is not difficult.
Film stained glass is the easiest to make. A multi-colored translucent self-adhesive film is cut according to the sketches and glued onto the glass. Work can be done even on a vertical plane without dismantling the glass. Choice of color self-adhesive films in construction stores very big.
Work on the manufacture of any type of stained glass does not tolerate haste, it requires attention and scrupulousness.
Production of stained-glass windows
A sketch of a stained glass drawing on a scale of 1:1 is placed on a horizontally installed table. Cleaned from dirt and degreased glass is laid on top of the sketch. Relief paint is applied along the contour lines of the drawing. Tubes of such paint are equipped with nozzles of different diameters, and in the color scheme there are tones similar to the colors of metals. relief paint it is superimposed along the contour with uniform rollers, and after drying it forms a rim 3-4 mm high.
The contour edging can be made from a special stained glass tape. This is a lead strip on a self-adhesive basis in metallized colors. The tape can be natural lead color or imitate copper, bronze, gilding, etc. The width of the tape has different sizes.
Sometimes the edging is made from aluminum wire from 2 mm thick. The wire is flattened with a hammer, bent according to the contour drawing of the sketch, smeared with thick PVA glue and pressed tightly against the glass.
Paints for stained glass drawings are acrylic, diluted with water, or colored varnish is being prepared. For colored varnish, a little transparent nitro-lacquer is collected in clean plastic jars and diluted with a solvent to a liquid consistency. A little oil art paint is added and stirred. Colored varnish is poured into the free openings of the stained glass pattern according to the marked markings and left to dry in a horizontal position. The tone and thickness of the layer of colored lacquer is selected depending on the desired translucency of stained glass.
Aniline or acrylic paints diluted with water with the addition of PVA emulsion. The paint is applied in strokes, from the contour of the fragment to the middle. After the first layer has dried and the color saturation has been corrected, the stained-glass fragments are poured.
The stained-glass window is covered with a transparent varnish, and when installed in the frame, a rubber seal is used.
Technology for stained glass "Tiffany"
Two draft stained glass drawings are being prepared. Fragments on them are numbered and indicated by color. One of the sketches is cut along the contour lines into fragments. The cut out elements will serve as a pattern for cutting colored glass.
Tiffany stained glass sets are sold in hardware stores or art shops. They have different thickness, texture and color density. It is desirable to purchase glass of uniform quality and necessarily the same thickness. In the same place, edging copper foil is purchased - folia. Folia - a strip of copper foil with a one-sided adhesive surface. Depending on the type of patina chosen, black or copper foil is purchased.
Fragments of a stained-glass window sketch cut out of paper are glued onto colored glass. On them, the elements of the pattern are cut out with a glass cutter. With the help of a grinding machine, the part is adjusted to size and chamfered. Glass elements are degreased and blotted dry with a napkin. Each piece is wrapped in foil.
On a sheet of thick plywood, a second whole sketch of a stained-glass window is placed. On it, starting from the corner, elements of stained glass are laid out. Along the outer perimeter, the stained-glass window is fixed with planks or baguette rails. The laid out several elements are nailed and soldered.
The seams are treated with flux, and the tin solder is evenly distributed over them with a hot soldering iron. Wooden slats around the perimeter are removed and the stained-glass window is framed with a U-shaped frame profile. The points of contact of the profile and seams for strength are seized by soldering.
A fully soldered Tiffany stained glass window is opened at the seams with patina. The patina solution is applied with a sponge. Stained glass is cleaned with glass cleaner and installed in the frame.
The simplest film stained-glass windows
For making stained glass self-adhesive film you will need:
- a set of translucent multi-colored film on an adhesive basis;
- lead stained glass tape;
- scissors;
- stationery knife;
- sketch;
- marker.
Work can be done even in the vertical position of the glass. Dirt is removed from the glass and wiped with a degreasing solvent. According to the film pattern different color stained glass fragments are cut out. To the opposite side of the glass on double sided tape a sketch drawing of a stained-glass window is glued.
Along the lines visible through the glass, a embossed edge made of lead flexible tape is glued. The joints of the contour side can be soldered. Colored pieces of film are glued into free openings. The film is applied in the central part of the fragment and smoothed to the sides of the contour. Excess film is trimmed with a sharp clerical knife. The air sinuses that have arisen when sticking the film are pierced with a needle and smoothed out with your fingers.
Conclusion
Home-made stained-glass windows are difficult to distinguish from factory ones. When working, show attention and patience. Stained glass for windows is advised to be located on the south side of the house. In this case, they look more beautiful in the light and "steal" a little sunlight. published
A self-made stained-glass window will give your room originality and unusualness. Things for the interior, made independently, have a significant advantage over serial production. This article will discuss 4 ways to make stained glass windows with your own hands.
The first way to make stained glass windows
Do-it-yourself stained-glass windows require stained glass. Glass cut to size is thoroughly washed and degreased. The selected drawing is performed on a sheet of paper in full size. The contours of the drawing are transferred to the glass with black oil paint using a thin brush. For these purposes, you can adapt a rubber can with a tip from a medical needle. The paint in this case is diluted to the required viscosity. It should be remembered that, transferring the contours of the pattern, you should not touch the degreased surface with your hands.
You can separate fragments of a stained-glass window using narrow slats or halves of twigs that are glued to the glass.
Another way to draw a pattern outline on a stained glass window is epoxy resin, in which aluminum or bronze powder is added. This composition is conveniently applied to the contour lines using an old tube of toothpaste.
Now you can start coloring the image. Paints for stained glass at home are prepared on the basis of:
- food gelatin;
- glue BF-2 (or other similar adhesive compositions);
- colorless furniture nitro varnish.
To obtain paint for stained glass based on gelatin, gouache or aniline dye, used for dyeing fabric, is added to its solution. The pattern is painted with the resulting compositions. Contour lines do not allow mixing different shades, so you do not have to wait for the previously painted adjacent area to dry. Gelatin-based paints are not flammable, practically non-toxic, they can be used even indoors.
Paints for stained-glass windows based on BF-2 are made from light grades of glue, diluting it with acetone by half. Alcohol-soluble paint, ink or paste is added to the resulting solution. ballpoint pens. Such paint thickens very quickly, so it must be used in a short time.
Paints based on furniture nitrolac are prepared as follows. The varnish is diluted with a special solvent twice. To the resulting composition add artistic oil paints required color. It should be remembered that the proportion of paint should not exceed 10% of the prepared composition. Work with solvents must be carried out in a well-ventilated area and comply with fire safety regulations.
After the paints have dried, the surface of the stained-glass window is covered with a colorless varnish so that the glass can be washed with water.
With thin slats, beer and Epsom salts glass door can be painted antique. The wood is painted under bog oak and the slats are positioned so that an imitation of fine-grained devitrification is obtained. For glass processing, a solution of the following composition is prepared: a glass of beer and a pack of Epsom salts. For better dissolution, the beer can be slightly warmed up. The solution is applied with a sponge on the horizontal surface of the stained glass window. Of course, the glass must first be well washed and degreased. As it dries, Epsom salt forms decorative patterns yellow-brown. After drying, the glass is covered with a protective layer of varnish.
The second way to make stained glass
After developing a sketch of a stained-glass window, cover it with glass on which the stained-glass window will be made. It must be clean and fat free.
The first method of making stained glass is based on the use of soluble colored fabrics such as acetate silk, which dissolves easily with acetone and nitro varnishes. Cut out pieces of thin fabric of the required configuration and color according to the pattern of the future stained glass window. Cover the glass with a thin layer of transparent nitro varnish and dry. Then the same nitro-lacquer is applied to separate zones, and patches of the workpiece are glued to them. Gluing must be done as accurately as possible, since the fabric begins to dissolve almost immediately, and it will be impossible to move it. After gluing the flap to the place allotted for it, coat it with nitro-lacquer on top and proceed to the next one.
After filling all the glass with stained glass elements, apply another layer of nitro-lacquer, and on top of a couple of layers of parquet. The next step in making a stained-glass window with your own hands is the manufacture of a pseudo-frame. To do this, epoxy resin is mixed with a hardener in a ratio of 1: 8~10. The resulting mass is mixed with talc and aluminum or bronze powder until the mixture acquires metallic luster and will not spread on the glass. Then the resulting mass is filled into a confectionery syringe or a used toothpaste tube and squeezed out with an even roller along the outlines of the stained-glass window. In this case, it is important to avoid intersections between the lines, since the rollers should not run into each other.
We recommend that you perform all actions with nitro-varnish in a well-ventilated area or in the open air, and with epoxy resin you need to work with rubber gloves. The solvent for epoxy is gasoline.
The third way to make stained glass windows
You can make stained glass from broken glass and silicate glue. First you need to develop a full-size stained glass drawing on a piece of paper. The image must be in color. When developing a sketch, a drawing from a postcard, poster or magazine illustration is taken as the basis. It should be borne in mind that a dark outline plays an important role in the drawing, so its drawing should be expressive, but simple and constructive. The completed sketch must be pasted on the reverse side of the glass on which the stained-glass window will be made, with the front side to the glass. Then with a thin brush and quick dry paint black, dark brown or dark blue color should be applied to the glass outlines of the image. Now you need to pick up colored glass. Useless car lights, used filters, glassware, etc. will do. Glasses must be broken into fragments of the required size. The stained glass is performed as follows. Glass with a sketch pasted on it should be laid on a horizontal base, for example, on a table, face up.
Then its surface must be degreased. ammonia, apply a layer of silicate glue on it ( liquid glass) and lay out a mosaic of colored glass fragments based on the drawing. The stained glass ornament can be laid out in sections that are limited by contours. After 4-6 hours, it is necessary to fill the surface of the finished stained-glass window with glue so that it covers all the protruding fragments. To prevent the glue from dripping off the glass, you can place a border around the stained glass window. wooden slats by attaching them with plasticine.
A continuous layer of silicate glue smooths out the roughness of the stained-glass window, as a result of which its surface becomes wavy and shiny and transmits light well. In order to obtain a continuous colored layer during the manufacture of a stained-glass window, you need to prepare a slurry by mixing silicate glue with crushed glass, and lay it evenly on the surface of the glass with the end of the brush. Epoxy glue or polyester resin can be used instead of silicate glue
Studio manager artistic stained glass Alexander Poltavets says about glass for stained glass:
Sometimes it is very difficult to find glass of the right color. However, from any hopeless situation, you can always find two ways out. Colorless glass can be painted with zapon varnish. Aniline paints are also used as a dye: yellow - auramine, rivanol; blue - methylene blue; green - brilliant green (can be purchased at a pharmacy); red - rhodamine. In order for the coating to be uniform, the surface of the glass is doused with varnish, allowing the excess to drain. If the glass is exposed to strong sunlight, it is better to use glyphthal lacquer to paint the glass. It is a solution of artificial resin (glyphthal) and aniline paint of one color or another in wine alcohol. If there is no zapon or glyptal varnish, you can prepare an alcohol colored varnish of the following composition:
- 500 ml of ethyl (wine) alcohol,
- 1 g aniline paint,
- 1 g shellac.
The fourth way to make stained glass
It is possible to make a stained-glass window from whole colored glass using the following technology. We prepare a sketch of a stained-glass window and fix it on the reverse side clear glass, as in the previous cases. We cut out sections of the pattern of the required configuration from whole colored glasses. We make a "dry" set of stained glass on a transparent base glass. The space between the pieces of colored glass is filled with a solution of the following composition: cement - 1 part, sand - 3 parts, glue (PVA type) - 1 part. For convenience, during this operation, you can even take a plastic container from under the shampoo, into the cork of which a glass or plastic tube with a diameter of 4-5 mm is inserted. Before pouring, the edges of colored glass at the junction with silicate glass are carefully smeared with a solution using a wooden stick. After drying, the main filling is performed. With this treatment, the solution does not leak under the colored glass, and the stained-glass window turns out to be neat.
The art of creating stained glass windows can be applied in your home. The room, in which fragments of stained glass decor will be present, will sparkle with new colors, such a design will not go unnoticed.
Useful information about stained glass windows
This type of design, like stained glass, refers to artistic painting. This decorative art knows no boundaries either in time or in the diversity of its application.
Some facts of history
This art form has an ancient history. Archaeological excavations confirm that stained glass art existed in Ancient Babylon, Rome, Greece, and Egypt. Some finds made of multi-colored glass, according to archaeologists, are about five thousand years old.
The modern understanding of stained glass is inextricably linked with Christian traditions decoration of temples. Windows decorated with stained-glass windows were created by Byzantine masters of their craft in the Church of St. Sophia of Constantinople (VI century). Stained glass windows of that time were boards interspersed with glass. Those countries in which glass was not yet suspected used stones (in the form of plates) - selenite, alabaster.
This is how the images in the temple, made using the stained glass technique, look like
The first book describing all the subtleties of stained glass art was published in the 11th century. This work, written by the German monk Theophilus, contains all the classic basics of the use of glass for decoration.
Let's skip the centuries-old history of the development of stained glass decor and return to our days. Over this long period, both materials and tools have changed dramatically.
The combination of classics and innovation is typical for the works contemporary masters this kind of creativity. The technologies for creating stained-glass windows have become much simpler, and this makes it possible to use this technique to create a beautiful decor with your own hands.
Places of application
Modern use of stained glass is very diverse:
- window;
- doors and doorways;
- glass partitions;
- niches;
- pieces of furniture;
- mirrors;
- panel;
- ceilings.
Stained-glass windows are decorative elements that are appropriate both in public places (cafes, restaurants, museums, offices) and at home. Furniture in the children's room and in the kitchen, slides in the bedroom, ceilings in the living room, facades of furniture sets - this is a very small fraction of what can be decorated with stained-glass windows in the home interior.
Benefits of using stained glass windows at home:
- Security. Such elements cannot injure either adults or children, especially if the stained-glass windows are made using film technology.
- Variety of colors and styles. You yourself have the right to decide what tone and style to choose so that the stained glass decoration is in tune with the whole environment.
- Easy care. Stained glass windows do not need any special care products, a regular glass cleaner and a soft cloth will do the job perfectly.
- Profitability. Creating a stained glass window at home with your own hands is much cheaper than ordering such a pleasure from companies involved in their production.
Types of techniques
Stained-glass windows can be created using various techniques and techniques developed by masters of their craft. Here is a brief description of these techniques.
Technique | Stages of creation | Application |
Classic |
| Suitable for creating structures with large dimensions. All areas listed above. |
| This technology is similar to the process of creating artistic canvases from paints, stained glass details can be so small. The application is diverse, but the design of lamps in this technique is interesting. |
|
| The relief and layering of the resulting products allows them to be used as paintings, mirrors and other interior decorations. |
|
Sandblast |
| The decor turns out to be matte, so it is most often used in interiors to dim the light, as well as to decorate doors, etc. |
| A variety of applications - depending on the ideas of the decorator or designer. The screens covering the batteries look interesting under such “protection”. |
There are many other ways to apply patterns to glass surfaces, but most likely it will no longer be a stained glass window, but its imitation: film technique, filler, scalloped stained-glass windows, photo printing, glass matting, collages, 3D design, etc. An excellent option for using such stained-glass windows - wardrobe doors, mirrors, furniture elements, etc.
Creating stained glass windows with your own hands
First, think over, and then imagine on paper what you want to get in the end. Based on this idea, stock up on materials.
Choice of materials and tools
For stained glass painting (one of the most affordable techniques for a simple layman) you will need:
- acrylic paints, matched to the color of your sketch;
- a solvent suitable for such materials;
- brushes of different sizes;
- contours for stained glass works;
- cotton buds;
- barbecue sticks or toothpicks;
- ferrule.
Acrylic paints have long gained great popularity among needlewomen of different directions. And this is no coincidence, since they are easily washed off (when applying unnecessary strokes), lay down qualitatively and mix with each other, there is no chemical smell when working with them.
When choosing a paint, do not forget to look at the line about the purpose of these materials. They should be suitable for working with glass, ceramics.
It is very easy to embody a stained glass window on a glass surface using a film technique. To do this, you need to find a special film that differs from the usual self-adhesive and is a high-tech imitation of colored glass. Between the two transparent layers is a colored substance that is resistant to sunlight, temperature fluctuations (from -45 to +135 Celsius). Colors, presented by the manufacturers of such material, help to realize any idea.
The stained glass film is cut with ordinary scissors, you do not need any special devices. Fragments are glued together with a special lead tape. There is another option - the easiest - to use the film already with the printed pattern, ready. But in this case, your idea will have to say goodbye.
The choice of technique and appropriate materials is up to you.
Making a stencil
If, nevertheless, the embodiment of stained-glass windows in a painted version is closer to you, then you will need a stencil for work. This is especially necessary for people who do not have sufficient experience and certain skills as an artist.
Stencil selection
A sketch, previously drawn by you or downloaded from Internet sources, needs to be transferred from a thin paper sheet to a denser “carrier” - cardboard, drawing paper, etc.
If the stained glass pattern is supposed to be used several times, then there is a logical reason to make a stencil from plastic, then it can serve more than once.
There are templates that can be reproduced on a stencil, with special designations for each fragment of the future stained glass. These can be numeric or alphabetic abbreviations indicating the color of this area.
By securely attaching the template pattern to the glass surface, you can not worry that you will not accurately reproduce your idea. You will only have to draw, following the notation of the template.
We bring ideas to life
- We print (we draw ourselves) a suitable stencil and transfer it to a dense material.
- Then you need to degrease the surface that we will decorate.
Degreasing the glass surface
In this article: real look for the manufacture of stained-glass windows at home:
- what types of stained glass windows are suitable for making at home
- what tools and materials are needed for work
- which training courses you can trust, find out course reviews And see the work of beginners
- watch video tutorials on making stained glass at home
- find out where to start
Creating stained glass windows is an ancient art that was previously available only to selected masters, but in our time it is very possible to make a beautiful stained glass window yourself at home. Of course, you will not make a stained glass window using medieval technology in this way, but modern materials And modern technologies allow you to create very beautiful compositions, which outwardly differ little from those very ancient stained-glass windows. 
Methods for creating stained glass windows, which are suitable.
There are many ways to make stained glass. In some cases, making stained-glass windows is a rather time-consuming and complex process that requires the mandatory availability of special equipment, while other methods make it relatively easy to make a stained-glass window with your own hands at home. The word relatively is the key. A stained-glass window cannot be made without cost and effort.
As a rule, stained-glass windows are classified according to the method of their manufacture and the materials used. Some techniques are not very different from each other, but there are differences in the materials used.
This is the very first stained glass technique known since the Middle Ages. Such stained-glass windows are assembled from pieces of glass held by metal partitions. This is a rather complicated and time-consuming work that requires special equipment and skills, moreover, such stained-glass windows are expensive. And they turn out to be quite heavy, so you can not install such a stained-glass window on some fragile structure. However, as they say, “hunting is worse than bondage”, and such trifles cannot stand in the way of creating beauty.
Now you can buy ready-made glass for stained glass in specialized stores. The choice is fascinating, as the variety of colors and textures can awaken the imagination of even the most conservative person.
However, the cost of such glasses is very high, and for the manufacture of 1 sq.m of stained-glass surface, as a rule, 1.5 - 2 sq.m. glass. For the manufacture of lamps, floor lamps, chandeliers, glass is used with a thickness of 3-4 mm, and the thickness of different types glasses may fluctuate within one sheet of glass, so it is difficult to calculate the required amount of glass per product. Surely there will be unclaimed pieces of expensive material.
How easy and simple it is to make a classic stained glass window by Svetlana Romanova and Marat Ka can be seen in this video.
Tip from an experienced stained glass artist:
“You don’t need to buy a glass grinder yet,” the store clerk said, “at first, just take a whetstone and grind the sharp edges. Then, when you gain skills, buy a typewriter.
The advice seemed reasonable, and the rather high price of the machine pushed me to postpone its purchase until later. And we followed this advice.
So, gentlemen, if someone ever advises you like this, send the adviser to hell. The very first thing a beginner stained glass artist should buy is Sander for turning glass.
Without it, work will turn into torment. Especially at first, when you have not yet learned how to cut glass exactly along the contours and you will have to remove a lot of unnecessary things in order to give the curved lines of the details an accurate shape.
This type of stained glass also includes Tiffany technology, which involves collecting pieces of glass on a copper tape.
At home, you can make a stained glass window using Tiffany technology, but this will also require the ability to work with glass.
- Stained glass work begins with a sketch. The details should also not be too small, otherwise they simply cannot be cut out of glass normally.
- The sketch is cut into parts, each part is applied to a sheet of colored glass of the desired color, after which, with the help of a glass cutter, a part is cut out.
- Then the edge of the parts will need to be turned evenly and wrapped with copper foil. When everything is ready, the parts need to be folded into a composition, tightly pressed against each other.
- The edge of the foil must be coated with soldering acid, and then the seams must be joined using tin and a soldering iron. At the end of the work, it will be necessary to wash the stained-glass window so that no plaque remains on the seams. You can do this with a regular detergent.
- The seams will need to be covered with a patina, and then washed again, thereby completing the work.
Watch the video of how his students make their first works in the studio of the artist Roman Zorin.
Film stained glass
stained-glass windows of this type best for home use, since there is no need to buy special equipment and expensive materials. This is a stained glass window, but on a single piece, the glass does not need to be cut into pieces, it does not need to be turned, no need to spend money on adhesive tapes, because no cuts on fingers. The entire drawing is mounted on solid glass. It could be window glass, door or decorative panel in the entire wall or a tiny decorative element.
To do film stained glass, You will need special film. The leaders in quality available on our markets are English films from Regalead. This is not an ordinary self-adhesive film, it is an amazingly technological imitation of glass, the film consists of a dye located between two durable layers that do not transmit ultraviolet light and protect paint from fading, and also withstand temperatures from -45 degrees to +135 degrees Celsius. The films have an incredible range of colors and textures, and also differ in the degree of transparency.
Film cutting does not require special machines or other devices, although enterprises or private workshops where they work with big amount orders use plotters, digital devices for precise cutting according to the printed pattern. At home, it is enough to have scissors.
And, of course, special lead tape for connecting pieces of film. And, of course, a good teacher. These include the artist Irina Kiseleva, she will tell and show, teach where to get what and how to do it, publish an electronic magazine to help beginners, create stained glass and teach how to create stained glass professionally.
fusing
In another way, this technique is called sintering. On a colorless glass base, pre-cut pieces of multi-colored glass are laid out, placed in an oven and, under the influence of temperature, the glasses are sintered together. Also, other objects can be used to create a pattern, for example, colored sand, with which patterns are laid out, or wire. Of course, contour images cannot be obtained by this method, but the abstractions are bizarre and beautiful. The technique is attractive, the products are bewitchingly beautiful, but look at the video what equipment is used to make such gizmos.
Sandblasted stained glass
The technique for making stained glass windows of this type is the use of air flow and sand. There are three subspecies of stained glass windows of this type, which differ in the way they use an air jet and colored sand.
Etching
Stained glass windows are made with acid. The glass is applied with a special protective film, as well as a stencil with the contours of the picture, on which the image is melted. Such stained-glass windows are embossed, with three-dimensional drawings. It is worth noting that the technique of working with acid is very dangerous and therefore rarely used. In order not to be poisoned by acid fumes, artists wear respirators and special clothing. Totally unsuitable for the home.
Cast stained glass
A complex technique in which each glass module is cast or blown by hand, while the glass is given a special texture that enhances the refraction of light and gives expressiveness to the stained glass. Glasses are fastened together with metal fittings and cement mortar.
Painted stained glass
This technique implies the mandatory use of painting. And such a product can be called a stained glass window with a big stretch, but nonetheless. The surface of the glass is painted either with acrylic opaque paints and then, after drying, varnished, or painted with expensive silicone transparent stained glass paints, and then the glass is fired in a special oven. Of course, no one wants to burn anything at home. And here is how charmingly the glass was painted and at the same time, the designers shared their secrets in the Dacha television program:
Filled contour stained glass window
In fact, this is just an imitation of a classic stained glass window, since no glass processing is required here. stained-glass windows of this kind is performed using special paint. First, a contour is applied that imitates a stained glass frame, and then another layer of paint is poured into the area bounded by the contour.
Where to begin?
Choose a drawing, or draw it yourself, go to the store, on the advice of a cheerful seller, buy a bunch of unnecessary materials and ... FLUSH THE WHOLE BUSINESS?
Creating stained glass windows, however, is not the easiest thing. Even the easiest way, film, requires certain knowledge and skills. After all, what is a profession - this is knowledge of the nuances! So if you want to know how to make stained glass windows, contact professionals who own professional nuances, do not enter into statements about the ease of the process that does not require preparation, this is not.
Go to courses in your city in workshops for artists, buy special literature, watch video lessons. Although the Internet enough stupid advice on the product of stained glass paints with your own hands, for example.
Therefore, the phrase "contact professionals" will never lose its relevance. Turn to professionals, it will save you your time and your money.
The artist Irina Kiseleva has long been engaged in stained-glass windows. Her professional activity Started working for a stained glass company. The artist maintains an electronic magazine where she shares tips with readers, and she also has a training video course, which was created specifically for those who want to learn how to create stained glass windows.
Irina Kiseleva's training course reviews
Irina Terekhova presented a photo of her work and words of gratitude to the author of the course (source of information is vse-v-tvoih-rukah.ru):
I liked M. Tsvetaeva's poems:
Success in your endeavors, Always with you,