Colorful Faux Stained Glass

This project combines two of my favorite things: (faux) stained glass and hexagons! I’ve been wanting to do this since I saw this post. I loved the idea of turning something as utilitarian as folders into something so pretty. I was inspired by this post, but I decided to try hexagons instead of the Moroccan tile pattern.

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First, here’s what I used.

Supplies:

• Translucent folders
• Hexagon template
• Permanent marker
• Scissors
• Glue
• Frame

Optional:

• Cutting machine (such as a Silhouette Cameo)
• Xyron 

I ordered the folders online, and I bought the frames at Dollar Tree. They’re simple, silver, and pretty. 

I was reminded all over again during this project that I really do not enjoy cutting out hexagons by hand. I don’t actually enjoy cutting much out by hand, but I can never seem to get the hexagons just right. Next time I attempt this, I’ll play around with the cut settings on my Cameo to see if I can simplify the process. That said, scissors do work.

I found an image of hexagons somewhere online, and then I sized it to fill the page before I printed it out.

To trace the hexagons onto the folders, I first put the paper inside each folder. I used my fine-tipped Sharpie to trace all of the lines. I had originally planned to use a rule to keep my lines straight, but the lines were so short that I didn’t.

The pack of folders I bought had 8 different colors (9 including black), so I repeated the process 8 times. Look at those colors!!

To cut out the hexagons, I tried to cut just inside the Sharpie lines. I was hoping this would make them a little more uniform, but I still had some that were a little wonky. As I said earlier, next time I would use my cutting machine to do this. But since this art is for me and doesn’t have to be perfect, it works.

I didn’t know how I was going to attach the hexagons to the glass until I was ready to start gluing. I was wishing I’d had a bigger Xyron machine (I have a tiny one) to turn the hexagons into stickers. But, alas, I do not. My next thought was spray glue. I ended up using it for the first—and most colorful—of my frames. I underestimated how 1) messy it would be, and 2) how  much texture would show. I guess number 3 would be how very non-repositionable they would be once stuck down. I tried to move a hexagon at some point and tore the glue underneath. It’s not so noticeable from a distance, but I was annoyed at the time.

My third thought was a glue stick. A regular Elmer’s school glue stick might work fine, but I used an extra-strength version that I had. It’s still a little streakier than I would have liked, but I don’t think it looks bad.

So really, it comes down to whatever you prefer and/or have on hand to use. I know there must be a lot of options I just haven’t even thought of. I’m very tempted to buy the Xyron before I do this again, just because I think it would give the smoothest, clearest finish. Between glue sticks and spray glue, though, the glue sticks were easier.

I opted to not use any sort of faux leading for this, but that would be another way to go. It would solve some of the gapping issues I had. I have the liquid leading I used for my clear glue stained glass project, and I really liked using that. You could get the same effect using puffy paint.

Before I put the glass back into the frames, I used pliers to pull out the little tabs on the back of each frame. I was able to pull some of them out with just my fingers, but I needed pliers for most.

Then I used super glue to line each frame and put the glass in.

We have so many windows in our house, and I had a heck of a time finding a good place to display them so I could photograph them. I intended for them to go in my craft room, but they won’t glow as much as they do upstairs.

What do you think? If you make your own faux stained glass, I’d love to see! You can tag me on Instagram @katieishstl

Happy crafting!