Print a variety of leaded glass panels in 16 styles.

Making damaged window panes with cracks. 

How to make windows with a fine frosted glass effect. 

Adding clear designs to frosted glass windows.

How to create the effect of antique glass on sheet plastic.

Producing an effect that resembles rain glass.

Simple leaded glass panes made from moulded packaging.

Milky glass panes from milk bottles. These also make great diffusers for back-lighting.

How to make mirrored glass. 

Creating an old mirror with foxing. 

Printing Leaded Glass (Click thumbnails for larger images)

Materials & Equipment

Acetate sheet suitable for printing (be sure to get the right type for your printer)

Inkjet or laser printer

Stage 1

This example shows a window with a printed bullseye design.

Example 2

Another window printed on acetate with a diamond leading pattern

Cracked Glass (Click thumbnails for larger images)

Materials & Equipment

Clear plastic sheet (blister pack)

Craft knife

White acrylic paint

Small paintbrush

Stage 1

Using the point of a sharp craft knife, scratch a pattern of cracks into the surface of the plastic sheet. If you like you can draw out the design on paper first and then scratch over the lines.

Stage 2

Paint the scratched area with the white acrylic paint. Be sure to get paint into all the cracks you made, and don't worry about any paint that goes outside the lines.

Stage 3

Allow the paint to dry, then scrape off the excess. I used my fingernail but you could use some kind of tool if you prefer - but be careful that it doesn't scratch the plastic.

Stage 4

Cut the plastic sheet to size to fit into your window frame.

Stage 5

Cut a small hole in the centre of the damage if you want to add a little variation.

Fine Frosted Glass (Click thumbnails for larger images)

Materials & Equipment

Clear plastic sheet (blister pack)

Nylon pan scourer

Craft knife or sharp scissors

Stage 1

Using the pan scourer, thoroughly scrub one side of the clear plastic.

Stage 2

The result is a sheet which is less transparent, like frosted glass.

Stage 3

If you want to make the material even less transparent, turn over the sheet and scrub it on the other side too.

Results

This plastic has been scrubbed all over on one side, and half of it has been scrubbed on both sides to show the different effects.

Stage 4

Cut the plastic sheet to size to fit into your window frame.

Clear Designs on Frosted Glass (Click thumbnails for larger images)

Materials & Equipment

Frosted plastic packaging

(Click for instructions)

Pledge Floor Polish

Fine Paintbrush

Masking Tape

Craft knife or sharp scissors

Stage 1

Draw or print a design. Secure the plastic sheeting in position with masking tape.

Stage 2

Paint the area of the design with the floor polish and leave to dry.

Stage 3

If you frosted both sides of the plastic you will need to repeat the painting process on the other side to make it transparent once again.

Stage 4

Cut the plastic sheet to size to fit into your window frame.

Antique Glass (Click thumbnails for larger images)

Materials & Equipment

Clear plastic sheet (blister pack)

Pledge Floor Polish

Paintbrush

Craft knife or sharp scissors

Stage 1

Add blobs of Pledge Floor Polish all over the plastic sheet using the paintbrush. For the best effect, vary the size and shape of the blobs, and leave some areas bare.

Results

Once the polish is dry, the effect is similar to looking through antique glass with its slight imperfections. The picture reminds me of a hall-of-mirrors reflection.

Stage 2

Cut the plastic sheet to size to fit into your window frame.

Rain Glass (Click thumbnails for larger images)

Materials & Equipment

Clear plastic sheet (blister pack)

PVA Glue

Bristle Paintbrush

Craft knife or sharp scissors

Stage 1

Add some PVA to the plastic and spread it over the whole area using the paintbrush.

Stage 2

Continue brushing through the PVA keeping your brush strokes in the same direction. Ideally, you want to get a series of fine lines all over the area with no large even patches of PVA.

Results

Once the PVA has dried completely, it becomes transparent with a texture that resembles rain glass.

Stage 3

If you want the glass to be more opaque, simply scrub the reverse side of the plastic with a nylon pan scourer as described in Fine Frosted Glass, above.

The same sheet of plastic with the back scrubbed to reduce the transparency.

Stage 4

Cut the plastic sheet to size to fit into your window frame.

Leaded Glass from Packaging (Click thumbnails for larger images)

Materials & Equipment

Clear plastic packaging

Black acrylic paint or Sharpie

Gunmetal acrylic paint or silver Sharpie

Paint brush

Craft knife or sharp scissors

Here are some pieces of different plastic packaging with grid patterns moulded in. Check the crates filled with multiple tubs or bottles at the supermarket, and you can probably get a load for free.

Stage 1

Turn the plastic so that the moulded lines are on the upper surface. Either drybrush with black paint or use a black Sharpie to colour the lines. Allow to dry.

Stage 2

Drybrush gunmetal over the top of the black, or use a metallic silver Sharpie to add a highlight.

Stage 3

Cut the plastic sheet to size to fit into your window frame.

 Milky Frosted Glass (Click thumbnails for larger images)

Materials & Equipment

Empty plastic milk bottle

Craft knife / sharp scissors

Stage 1

Wash and dry the milk bottle, and remove the label. Cut out one or more of the flat panels as shown.

Stage 2

Cut the plastic to size to fit into your window frame. The result resembles heavily frosted glass.

Example 1

These panels also make great diffusers for backlighting. Here is an example of a printed acetate window with a piece of milk bottle behind.

Printed Glass

Example 2

Backlit picture with the milk bottle plastic behind a leaded window from packaging plastic.

Leaded Glass

Example 3

Backlit picture with the milk bottle plastic behind a cracked glass pane.

Cracked Glass

Mirrored Glass (Click thumbnails for larger images)

Materials & Equipment

Clear plastic sheet (blister pack)

Mylar sheet or mirrored packaging

Craft knife or sharp scissors

Pledge Floor Polish

Paint brush

Stage 1

Cut the clear plastic to the right size to fit the mirror frame. The larger the piece, the longer it may take to dry.

Stage 2

Using the paintbrush, apply an even coat of floor polish to the clear plastic sheet.

Stage 3

Press the wet side of the plastic onto the mirrored material. Apply pressure if needed to remove any air-bubbles (circled) between the two layers. Leave to dry - this could take several hours.

Example 1

The resulting piece makes a pretty good mirror.

Example 2

The mirrored material can also be applied to the back of windows, to prevent any view through the glass and giving the illusion of depth.

Mirrors with Foxing (Click thumbnails for larger images)

Foxing occurs when a mirror's silvering reacts with the air, causing dark spots which no longer reflect.

Materials & Tools:

Clear plastic sheet (blister pack)

Mylar sheet or mirrored packaging

Craft knife

Pledge Floor Polish

Paint and brushes

Card (cereal pack)

PVA

Masking tape

Stage 1

Draw the shape of the mirror frame onto a piece of card.

Stage 2

Attach a piece of the clear plastic sheet on top of the card with masking tape.

Stage 3

Stipple a mix of black and silver paint onto the clear plastic. Remember that the frame will cover everything but the innermost  part.

Stage 4

You can have some more solid areas of paint at the outside edges, too. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.

Stage 5

Use a small drop of the floor polish to adhere the painted face of the plastic to a piece of the mirrored packaging.
Press firmly, put a heavy book or two on top and leave to dry.

Stage 6

Cut out the frame you drew at the beginning with a sharp knife.

Stage 7

Paint the frame - I wanted it to look old so I opted for a bronze colour with a little gold stippled on top.

Stage 8

Once dry, attach the frame in place over the stippled area of the mirror with a very small amount of PVA glue.

Stage 9

Once everything has dried thoroughly, trim the plastic to the size of the mirror frame.

Example 1

The finished mirror with areas of foxing blocking the reflection.

Example 2

A slightly larger mirror with a little less foxing.