LeeB Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 (edited) I want to make a "stained glass" border of colored squares around a window using the transparent paints that are used for making suncatchers. But I can't figure out what to use for the leading. I have tried permanent marker on the clear acrylic but it rubs off. My hand is not steady enough to paint it with a brush. Surely someone has done this before. Any ideas for something to outline the squares that would stick to the surface and be uniform in width and easy to control? Edited February 23, 2020 by LeeB clarity 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Some members cut down self-adhesive lead golf tape, which you can do with a sharp utility knife and a cork-backed steel ruler, but if you go that route DO wear rubber gloves to prevent absorbing any lead through the skin of your hand & fingers. I do use black acrylic paint from the tube which I streak with minute bits of white and use a liner brush and short, small strokes. If you are doing straight lines, try a Sharpie pen with the steel straight edge and a sheet of scrap paper under your hand to keep from smearing the Sharpie ink. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid-life madness Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 I took a class from Barbara Sabia last year.https://www.etsy.com/shop/BarbaraSabiaMinis?ref=pr2018_faveshops The hardest part for me was cutting the lead tape to 1/32 of an inch. Tape the acetate window over the pattern you want use. After cutting several lead stripes, stick the lead to the window following the pattern. Apply leading to both sides. Then use the paints to fill in the squares, on both sides. http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/?app=gallery&module=gallery&controller=view&id=137728 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyCindy Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6bJ3-z6g6CQ This is a great tutorial for using art tape, which is available at Hobby Lobby. I bought a roll yesterday for this very purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medieval Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 This one would probably work with the paints you are talking about better than her sharpies. And it looks very realistic, especially the leading. https://youtu.be/56v4PJdioso Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalesq Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 I’ve used puff paint to create raised “leading” for one inch scale houses. It does require a steady hand. There is also this product which will give you the dimensional effect. https://smile.amazon.com/Gallery-Glass-Instant-Lines-16690/dp/B0018N3SZ2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1BV0EN1D88TKM&keywords=gallery+glass+instant+lead+lines&qid=1582480696&sprefix=%2Caps%2C298&sr=8-1 It comes in precut shapes and different thicknesses too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kells Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 15 hours ago, havanaholly said: DO wear rubber gloves to prevent absorbing any lead through the skin of your hand & fingers. Glad you shared that advice. I ordered rolls of leading from a UK supplier to do a lead roof on a slanted roof addition (similar to Greenleaf's Baslow Ranch kit) for a farmhouse. The instructions that came with it had at the top in big bold capital letters a warning to wear gloves so you didn't get lead poisoning. Okay, good enough for installation, but then what? Do you have to never touch it again, or make sure no one else ever does?? No thank you. I just put on some stripwood for the battens and age-painted the whole thing in slightly varying shades of gray. Looked fine and I don't have to worry about lead poisoning, TYVM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kells Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 (edited) And with my little lead rant over, haha, I use simulated liquid leading. I get mine from Michael's but a quick search shows it's available in lots of places. Only snip off the tiniest portion of the top so the opening is not too large. I cut mine too small then just widened it by working the tip of a metal kitchen skewer into it. It worked well to make nice Tudor style diamond-paned leaded windows, but it does take a steady hand. EDIT: Always a P.S. afterthought with me! I remembered that I didn't care for the perfect black look as the leading. I used silver leaf Rub 'n Buff and just swiped it onto the leading with the tip of my pinky finger. I was concerned that it would look too shiny, like actual silver. Thankfully it did not, and I found it to create the perfect finish. Edited February 23, 2020 by Kells Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeB Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 Thanks to all of you for the many tips. I will work my way through them all and decide which works the best for my situation. And I will share the results once I get it done. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyCindy Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 http://web.archive.org/web/20121112103613/http://www.miniland.ca/StainGlassClass.html Stumbled across this tutorial this morning and thought of your post. Not sure if it will be of any help, but I usually find that too much info. is better than too little! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soapz Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 I seem to remember flat lead wire being sold in the UK for fishing. Something like this: https://www.flyshopeurope.com/hends-flat-lead-wire/ https://www.flyshopeurope.com/hends-half-round-lead-wire/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeB Posted March 2, 2020 Author Share Posted March 2, 2020 Not that I don't appreciate all the great ideas that so many offered. I will definitely keep them in mind for another project. But I guess I am more of a wood guy. After doing some online searching, I discovered that more often than not, when the glass is in a door, the design I had in mind was more likely to use little wooden mullions instead of lead. I already had some and would not have to go shopping or order online, but go right ahead. Here are the results (The maroon and teal is the exterior. The stained and varnished side is the interior.) : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 The transom looks like a printie transparency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 Nicely done, Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FurMama Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 Bravo! Looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medieval Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 Awesome work! I'm getting ready for my doors on Pierce. You've modeled a whole new direction of ideas for me. Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyCindy Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 What beautiful results! Love your door! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeB Posted March 3, 2020 Author Share Posted March 3, 2020 Thank you all for the positive words. Holly - the transom is part of a transparency that was on a card I got at Notre Dame Cathedral - a photo of one of the windows there. Tragic to think that the original may not even exist anymore. But fun to be able to use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 It really dresses up an already gorgeous door, Lee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeB Posted March 4, 2020 Author Share Posted March 4, 2020 thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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