I went to do some stained glass windows for the Weaver's Cottage this morning and found that a lot of my colored Sharpies are dead or dieing.
Rather than making a run to town, I decided to try what I had.
I traced the outline of the five small windows on quad rule paper and went to work. I want them to look rustic....They are certainly that, if not downright decrepeit.
I traced the outlines on sheets of plastic. It is hard to see them in the photo, but they are there...Honest.
I cut narrow strips of golfer's lead tape. Probably between 1/32 and 1/16" wide. I didn't measure.
I laid the plastic over the pattern and covered all of the lines with the self sticking tape. Then I flipped them over and did the same thing to the other side, covering the lead that I had just put down.
They turned out pretty bright. I may have to do another set. I think that I want something a bit more sedate, but I thought that I would show you how it's done anyway.
I learned about the lead tape in the 80s and haven't found a better way to do leaded windows. I do wash my hands whilst working with the lead. I have been using it for a long time and as they say, "I'm not dead yet....".
The last step is to flip them to the other side and put a sloppy coat of clear nail polish on to simulate the old rippled glass.
I don't usually coat the side with the ink, but since I think that I may do these over in a different colorway, I decided to try it.
I wasn't happy with the lines that I had made in some of the blue and purple. I tried two different brands of pens and they didn't seem to want to play well together.
That did seem to solve the problem. With the nail polish, I could move the color around on the plastic.
Anyway. I will try these in the windows. If they don't seem to bright, they will stay. If they do, I will be making a trip to town in the morning, bright and early.
See you tomorrow, with finished windows. One way or the other.....
4 comments:
Your technique for making leaded windows is great. I would love to try it sometime. Just need to get some of that golfer's tape.
Thanks for another useful tutorial!
I read ALL of your egg carton stone posts this morning. I see lots of room for improvement on the paper plates I'm trying...
That stained glass work is genius!
I can't take credit for the idea. The lead is something that I learned many years ago. Then someone told me that the pens and nail polish is what people like Rik Pierce use for their old looking windows. I tried it and it worked. I have seen it used by a lot of people, so I really don't know who started that particular technique.
Good idea!
Thanks the demonstration.
Bye Faby
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