This incredibly easy abstract "stained glass" art project is perfect for days when the kids are stuck inside, or for the preschool classroom.
The kids and I love to decorate our windows. Cheerfully decorated windows always brighten up our day. Although we love to paint directly to the glass, like we did with this Mondrian window art, sometimes you want something that you can easily remove like this clever abstract faux stained glass.
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Instructions
This abstract stained glass is so easy to make, even for preschoolers! A lot of kids' stained glass projects use tissue paper and sticky paper, but because we use alternative materials, our faux stained glass is much clearer and translucent! The sunlight glows as it passes through!
What you need:
- Plastic sheet protectors like these. Preferably clear finish.
- Colored cellophane.
- Clear tape
- Scissors
Preparation:
Cut the side and bottom of the sheet protector so that it folds open. Cut cellophane into abstract shapes. Alternatively, depending on the age and focus level of your kids, children can cut the cellophane into shapes.
Cellophane escapes with the slightest breeze, so I put all the shapes in a container on the table.
Make the faux stained glass:
Kids choose and place a variety of abstract cellophane shapes on the plastic. When they are content with their design, close the protector and tape shut at the side and bottom edges.
If the child placed cellophane on both sides, when the protector is shut, they will notice some color mixing!
Once my son was done we hung his abstract design up in the window. It was pretty challenging to get a photo without the fire escape or child safety bars in the background, but you can see how wonderfully the light comes through!
MORE WINDOW ART:
SkylarKD says
Dover Little Activity Books have a line of stained glass colouring books, and Fiona French has 2 religious storybooks illustrated in stained glass style.
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Christy says
We have used contact paper to do this. It's nice because the tissue paper sticks to it and then you just cover it up with another sheet of contact paper.
There is a Christmas book called Din Dan Don (I think) that is illustrated to look like stained glass. We borrowed it from the library last year and my kids oohed and aahed.
Kristin says
Those are really great, I am definitely doing this with mine - do you just get coloured cellophane at the craft store? I second the Dover stained glass colouring books, you can colour both sides of the page and with different things, wax, paint, etc. and it looks really great.
Mom and Kiddo says
I got the paper at the small local art store here. I'm sure any large art and craft store would have it.