Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Faux Stained Glass Feathers

A few weeks ago I saw some amazing stained glass feathers and instantly wanted to learn how to make stained glass.....Cut to me realizing that this new hobby might be a little more involved than I anticipated.  I decided instead to use some of my favorite paints from DecoArt (Americana Crystal Gloss Enamels) to create faux stained glass feathers.  You know what?  I love them just as much and they were soooooo much easier to make.  Plus, I made a ton of them and just put them everywhere.  You will, too.  Remember, make messes, have fun and always Make Your Mark!
 Hang them from a cheap-o embroidery hoop like I did!
Hang them from a curtain rod for a beautiful boho look!

See how easy they are to make here!
STUFF YOU'LL NEED
*These can be baked on glass for a permanent (dishwasher safe) stained glass look
Embroidery hoop
Yarn
*You could use old plastic folders or even clear plastic take-out lids
HERE'S HOW
1. & 2. Design your feathers on white paper and place the clear plastic over the top
3. & 4. Trace the design with the Americana 3D Opaque Gloss Enamel and let dry
5. - 8.  Fill in the designs with different colors of the Crystal and Frost Gloss Enamels and let dry
9.  Cut out each feather
10.  Tie four pieces of yarn around the embroidery hoop so that you can hang it
11. & 12.  Tie yarn to the end of each feather and then hand from the embroidery hoop
Boho Beautiful!
Love they way they look in my window
Floating in the wind

66 comments:

  1. Beautiful! I love a variety of colors. Well done!

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  2. These are pretty awesome. Especially if someone doesn't want to get involved in actually learning to make stained glass.

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  3. Any tips or links for baking it on, as mentioned in the post?

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    1. Hi Jenn, you don't want to bake these plastic feathers! This paint is permanent if you bake it on glass only. Use them on wine glasses or plates and bake them to cure the paint and make it dishwasher safe.

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    2. That was my guess. Thank you for the clarification :-)

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    3. Your feathers are lovely. Well done,they look amazing.

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    4. I made a batch of these for my brother in a nursing home. I bought plastic, used permanent marker(they come in hundreds of colors now) and baked them. Like shrinkydinks. They will last forever and he loves tell colors!

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    5. What kind of plastic did you use?

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    6. There is a link in the list of supplies.

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  4. They are fun - bright and cheerful. I definitely want to try making them. Just wanting to clarify is this paint permanent on plastic?

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    1. Yes, it's permanent on plastic. You can bake it on glass for a dishwasher safe finish, too. Don't bake the plastic.

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  5. Thanks Mark. No baking - lots of painting :)
    Many thanks for sharing this fun project

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    1. My pleasure Annabella! Make sure to keep in touch, OK!

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  6. That is so creative. I have everything now....need to start. Thank you for sharing.

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  7. So I'm guessing you mean clear plastic like the stuff I've bought on a roll to laminate things with? It's clear and it's plastic and I've lamented fall leaves with it. I'm asking because I have stencils and I can see so many possibilities with this other then feathers, although I love yours. What I really like is the colors! I am so going to try this on a card and maybe make one of these with flowers for my yard! I love the idea! Thank you so much!

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    1. Hi Gail, I think you might be talking about clear contact paper and that's not what we used. If you ever get takeout salads in clear plastic containers, the flat lid is more like the plastic we used for this project. You could also try making flowers with clear plastic soda bottles. That would work, too. Have fun!

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  8. Beautiful and looks fairly easy...love these!! Thanks.

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  9. Absolutely beautiful, and the best part, no breakage! You did a wonderful job of showing how beautiful God's world can be. Blessings, Lisa

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  10. Would page protectors be tooooo flimsy?

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    1. I think they might be. I like to use things like the lids from take-out salad containers. Something a bit more sturdy. You might try using the plastic from a 2-liter soda bottle. That's a bit more thick, though curved. it would still be better than a page protector.

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    2. For the 4th of July I purchased several large tin pans with lids at dollar tree. These lids would ba perfect for this project .

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    3. Robin, after looking all over for affordable plastic sheets, I think you have the best solution!

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  11. Fish! It would also be awesome to create colorful fish :)

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  12. Fish! It would also be awesome to create colorful fish :)

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  13. I love the fact that all my grandkids can participate from 1yr to 10. and think it is cool.

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  14. Can you use Sharpie Markers???

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    1. You can, but it wouldn't really look like stained glass.....The paint gives it a thickness and weight that works very well with this project.

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    2. I can hardly wait to do this project with the grandkids!

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  15. This is beautiful. I'm going to have my granddaughter use a hoop and make it into a dream-catcher (she's a 10 year-old pro) and then hang the feathers from the dream-catcher. Thanks for the great idea!

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  16. Absolutely beautiful!! I love it. My 2 boys and myself will be making these this week for sure!! Thank you!!

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  17. Absolutely beautiful!! I love it. My 2 boys and myself will be making these this week for sure!! Thank you!!

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  18. when I clicked the link for the paint, I don't see the bottles with the tips, only the crystal color.....did I get to the wrong site?...help, please.

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    1. Hi Glenda, I usually just screw on my own writer tips (which is what I did for this video. All you need is one or two at a time. You can get them at the 99c store in craft area. They usually come on empty bottles.

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  19. Replies
    1. If you can find them made in a thicker plastic. Subject dividers work well as do plastic folders if you can find them. I often see them at the 99c store. You can mix colors....For example if you find them in yellow, you can use reds and blues to make greens and oranges.....etc.

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  20. Years ago, back in elementary school we made fake stained glass on parchment paper or wax paper. We glued black yarn around all of the edges. Then we added food coloring to glue to make different colors. Then used the glue like paint to fill in everything. The glue dries clear but leaves beautiful color. I bet the same method might be able to be used here.

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  21. Couldn't you use recycable plastic from milk jugs,plastic containers that have salad, cookies etc for the clear plastic for the feathers? Would be more affordable if working with kids.

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    1. Yes Iris, I suggest that in the video as well.

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  22. Fantastic idea!
    Just in time for our school summer break ina couple of weeks too yeahhh

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  23. They actually have faux stained glass paint. Can that work as well on the plastic?

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    1. Hi Lisa, Crystal and Frost Gloss Enamels are faux stained glass paint. You can paint them on glass and bake them for a permanent, dishwasher safe finish.

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  24. Would "Gallery Glass" paints work? I have some left from another project...

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  25. I love these! I am excited to try this! TFS!

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  26. These are so cool!!!! Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to try this!!

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  27. Betty
    I absolutely love this idea. I have stained glass paint on hand; will that work? It also has the leading with the kit. This will be so much easier than glass; thank you so much. You're a genius!

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    1. That should work, although I love the ease of the Gloss Enamels....They are truly my favorite paints.

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  28. Another suggestion-use a hole punch on top to string the yarn thru. Would that work in the hanging process?

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    1. Yes, for sure. I didn't have a hole punch that was small enough for the spine of the feather.

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  29. I see many people are asking about using diferent types of plastic material? I use acetate alot, and it is pretty sturdy? Is there any reason why acetate would not work? I have gallery glass paint and Im wondering is there a major difference in this type of glass paint?

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    1. Hi Kathy, the plastic doesn't matter at all. As far as the paints, use what you have. I prefer the DecoArt Crystal Gloss Enamels, but everyone has their favorites.

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  30. I made this mobile a few months ago with my 3 year old daughter after I saw it on the blog, and we are loving it! I drew the feathers with the black paint, and she helped fill them in with the lovely glass paint colors! It got moved inside to protect it from the elements.

    Our Feather Mobile

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  31. if i bake the design on glass can i use it outdoors? Thank you for answering so many questions and presenting such great instructions.

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    1. Yes. You can still use them outdoors. They should be fine on the plastic, too.

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  32. Hi! How long did it take for the outline black paint to dry? I'm thinking of doing this with kids, but don't want the initial dry to take too long!

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    1. About an hour but you could do one or two first and by the time they fill them in they would be able to work on the others.

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  33. Since you've posted this two years ago, how is Decoart paint withstanding the rain and elements of your outdoor plastic painted project?

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  34. Try #2. Since your post is over two years, how have the feather on plastic project withstanding the elements (rain, etc.). Are the colors intact and as bright as before?

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    1. They were hanging under my covered patio for over a year and they looked great actually! It was just time to take them down. No real wear and tear other than tangling in the wind every once in a while.

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