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Stained glass is anancient art formdating back thousands of years to the earliest innovations in glass working.
Today, contemporary artists and craftspeople push the boundaries of stained glass.
So, what is stained glass and how is it formed?
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The colored glass can then be cut and recombined to create patterns and images.
Stained glass combined in this way is known ascame glasswork.
It is the method seen in themedieval church windowssuch as the Rose Window in Notre Dame Cathedral.
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Always wear protective glasses, gloves, and double-check tools are kept away from the reach of children.
Like an architect, sketch out your plan in detail firstwith life-sized pieces.
Aneasy trickis to cut out the pieces of your paper design and trace them directly onto the glass.
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If you are looking for a ready-to-go beginner project idea, you might also check out thisbook.
Glass sheetscome in a variety of sizes and beautiful colors.
Be sure to follow the instructions of your pattern with regard to size and thickness.
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To cut the glass into pieces, you will need a glass cutter andcutting oil.
The oil keeps the wheel of the glass cutter in good shapesome cutters have abuilt-in reservoirto fill with oil.
Is all this sounding a bit pricey and intimidating?
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If so, there are two options to make getting started cheaper.
By far the easiest way to get started is to purchasepre-cut glass kits.
In a variety of designs, the pieces are already ready for you to put together.
The list includes copper foil, solder, and a soldering gun.
To bind lead with lead cames is more advanced, so beginners should probably stick to the foil method.
Try thisblack-backedor thissilver-backedcopper foil for the style you want.
The foil also comes in different sizes, so refer back to your pattern.
This process can be daunting, so check out theseinstructions from Everything Stained Glassto verify you’re foiling right.
TheHakko FX601comes highly recommended bystained glass craftersas it reaches the ideal temperatures for stained glass work.
Solder is a soft metal alloy containing lead that is typically sold in coils.
The iron melts the alloy which then binds the foiled edges of the glass together.
Then you will need to apply flux, aliquidor balm solution, to the copper.
The flux allows for the molten metal to flow over the seams.
You will then apply solder to cover all seams and hold your piece together.
For more detailed steps on soldering, see thisarticleand this video fromGlass Crafters.
Do your research, be prepared, and be careful of the hot tip and liquid metal.
It may seem intimidating, but you could get the hang of it.
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Your end result will be a beautiful panel of stained glass.
As you get more advanced, you will find an endless repertoire of possible stained-glass art awaits.
On Etsy, experienced crafters have created stained glass patterns for sale.
For the Kids, or the Adults
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Soldering can be intimidating.
There are several cheaper,fun alternativesto came and foil glasswork.
For youngsters, try these classicMakIt and BakIt kits.
You may remember them from your childhood; they are still available in a variety of fun shapes.
Your kid will love pouring the colorful crystals into the frame and baking it (with adult help).
The result is a cute (less-breakable) sun catcher they can proudly display in their window.
For an oven-free craft, stained glasskits with paintortranslucent stickersare the perfect low-maintenance craft that yields stunning results.
Painting glassfor a stained-glass effect is not just for kids.
Adults can try the sameacrylic paintsandpaint pensthat their kids use.
Just be sure to check labels, as many non-toxic paints are still not food safe for kitchen items.
The magic of stained glass is that it lights up a room no matter how you create it.
