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A gorgeous stained glass window adds a touch of class to any home. But installing a new piece of stained glass can set you back hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars — even if you buy a vintage piece.
One TikTok user shared how to get the stained glass look for a lot less, using a bit of clear plastic and paint. @annaskates2u posted their process to TikTok, and their video has since gone viral with over one million views.
First, you trace the window that you’d like to install “stained glass” into, and then transfer that tracing over to a transparent plastic sheet or piece of thin plexiglass. Once you cut out your plastic, you can draw your design in pen.
@Annaskates2u then used Gallery Glass Simulated Liquid Leading to go over the pen lines. This stuff is thick enough that it won’t run and actually looks like real stained glass leading.
It looks like @annaskates2u put their liquid leading into a piping bag to get more precise lines, which is a great tip if you’re working on a more detailed piece.
Then, grab some acrylic paint and mix a few drops into clear school glue to create your colored glass. And use un-tinted clear glue in any spots that don’t have color to give the appearance of clear glass.
Once everything is dry, @annaskates2u said in a follow-up video that they put it in a 160-degree oven to set the entire thing. They noted that you can also spray the finished piece with Krylon UV-Resistant Clear Gloss to make sure your colors don’t fade over time.
And to hang the stained glass in your window, you can use clear Museum Gel or clear adhesive dots.
With a little bit of paint and some glue, your house just got a whole lot classier.
Olivia Harvey is a freelance writer and award-winning scriptwriter from outside Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a big fan of scented candles, getting dressed up, and the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. You can make sure she’s doing okay via Instagram and/or Twitter.