This post was sponsored by Elmer’s Products, Inc. All thoughts, opinions and craftiness are my own!
Once in awhile I like to pull out a Christmas kid craft project for my brood that I know they will flip over but will take a bit of concentration on their part to finish. Not everything can be pure instant gratification! Inspired by the Elmer’s glitter glue window clings we made when I was a kid and a couple of cheap Dollar Store-type frames I had hanging around, I had the children make up what turned out to be some really excellent Christmas stained glass pieces.
They are so pretty sitting in our windows at home, and looked equally pretty when I stood them up with battery powered tea lights behind them. Holiday decor made by kids can look professional!
I’m branching out a bit here recently to video, and this craft project really lends itself to seeing someone make it for you.
Easy steps, it’ll just take a bit for the kids to complete. I would recommend this project for 8 years old and up. For those of you who like to see the photographic progress of a project like this, I’ve also listed out for you below.
Materials:
- Elmer’s glitter glue in assorted colors
- 5×7 frame
- Elmer’s black paint pen or permanent marker
- Picture or graphic to trace
First, you’ll need to create a graphic to trace. I made up two here you can download and use as a starting point, but the beauty of this project is that any line drawing can be used to create a pretty stained glass.
Once you have your line drawing, use a pen to draw angular lines all over the paper. These make up what is the stained glass leading for the template.
Take the glass out of your 5×7 frame and lay it over your template. Color in each of the shapes from the template with glitter glue on the glass until the entire glass is covered in glue.
Let dry completely! This may take over night.
Trace the lead lines from your template with a black paint pen or permanent marker. To make the picture in your stained glass stand out a little more, go over the major lines a second time to make them a bit thicker.
After the marker or paint pen is dry on your piece, remove the template from the back of the glass.
Place the glass back in the frame and put it somewhere where you can enjoy looking at all the hard work the kids did!
Jennifer Hopkins
Tuesday 9th of November 2021
How do you keep the glass from falling out of the frame?
Paula Biggs
Monday 15th of November 2021
My frames have always had little metal tabs to keep the glass to the wood. I suppose if yours are absent, some good quality clear tape might do the trick!
Marie
Thursday 10th of December 2015
Omgosh, this is such a cool idea for a kid craft! We will definitely be making these over winter break!