How To Create Faux Stained Glass Using Window Clings

No matter where you see stained glass, its visual warmth and subtle coolness always seem to evoke nostalgia. So, what if you want a few unique stained glass windows to transform your kitchen or bathroom? Well, you'd likely pay about $600 per piece of glass. However, if you're a DIYer and don't mind cheaper replicas, there are a couple of options. You can create stained-glass-style window clings and place them on your windows, or you can paint the glass using acrylic paint and clear glue.

For the clings, you'll need to first draw your stained glass design and have a vinyl design company, such as Printmoz, create a window cling version of it. You can expect to pay around $25 per cling, making this a budget-friendly stained glass DIY. If you can't draw, consider outsourcing this on a platform such as Fiverr, where you can get it done cheaply. Upon procuring the cling, just remove the paper backing and carefully lay the vinyl on your window.

You can also easily transform any room into a visual delight with the second method. For this one, you'll draw the stained glass design on paper and then trace it with a paint and glue mixture directly onto your glass. You can brighten up your space with glass plant designs or make your own wall art for less than $60 with this option. Expect to pay about $20 to $40 for the glass, Gotideal acrylic paint, and Aleene's clear glue combined. You'll also need a few other inexpensive materials that you may already have at home.

Additional materials that you need include a pencil, plain paper, disposable cups, a popsicle stick, a squeeze bottle, Q-tips, rubbing alcohol, and paintbrushes such as this set from Phinus. First, draw the intended glass design on the white paper with a pencil (a pen or marker will also work). The paper should be the exact same size as your glass pane. Next, pour an ounce or two of glue into a disposable cup, and add a few drops of black paint. Mix the solution with a popsicle stick, and pour it into your squeeze bottle. Note that you can use food coloring instead of paint. 

Next, place the paper beneath your glass pane face-up, and trace the design outlines onto the glass with your bottle mixture. Be sure to go slowly to get sharp lines while squeezing the bottle gently. Keep the rubbing alcohol and Q-tips nearby, using them to clean up any spills or smudges. After the black outline dries fully, fill in the rest of the design using your paintbrushes with your design's paint colors. Let the glass dry completely before hanging it.

Also consider giving your faux stained glass a little razzle-dazzle by mixing in glitter with your paint colors. Or you can use glittered paints instead. Maybe break a few rules by blending in iridescent-colored or pearlescent acrylic paint, or even gold leaf flakes, to give the glass a more gilded look in certain areas. And you can always create your own unique designs by adding a few rhinestones or maybe a mosaic pattern with beads.