• Start Here
  • Home
  • Books
    • Classics
      • 20th Century Classics
    • Early Chapter Books
    • Easy Readers
    • Folktales
    • Holiday Books
    • Middle Grade (8-12 years)
    • Nonfiction
    • Picture Books
    • Read Aloud Chapter Books
  • Games
    • Traditional Games
  • Kids Activities
    • Arts and Crafts
    • Literacy & Writing
    • Math
    • Playful Activities
    • Science
    • Toddler
  • Parenting

What Do We Do All Day

Books and Activities for Kids

You are here: Home / Art and Crafts / Kids’ Stained Glass Window Art Project

Kids’ Stained Glass Window Art Project

January 23, 2013

6678shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

The kids and I really love creating window art, especially on dreary days when we are stuck inside. This kids stained glass art project is my favorite one yet!

Easy Faux Stained Glass Window Art Project for Kids

Easy Stained Glass Art with Cellophane

I have been wanting to make this colorful faux kids’ stained glass window art project using cellophane shapes with the kids ever since I saw it on Matzo Ball Soup. Isn’t it gorgeous? It’s a variation on another cellophane art activity we did (that one used page protectors!) and terrific for covering up a less-than perfect view! (Note: affiliate links included for products, below)

The boys had so much fun. All you need is:

  • Cellophane  cut into a variety of shapes (you could easily customize this for any theme, like snowflakes for winter or hearts for Valentine’s)
  • solution of 2/3 water and 1/3 dish soap
  • paint brush or roller

How to make stained glass with cellophaneTo begin, Kiddo used a sponge roller to apply the soapy mixture to the window. I think this was just as much for him as adding the shapes.

Make faux stained glass art on the window with cellophane shapes

Stick the shapes on however you want. Overlap, create scenes or just engage in free art, like the boys did.

Faux stained glass window art project for kids

If the soap dries, just add more. You can also paint or roll over any cellophane corners that may be poking up.

By the way, those bars are child-safety bars required by the city, not prison bars! If you want to take window decorating one step further,  kids can paint directly on the window with washable paint and even wash the windows afterward!

Will you be trying this project?

*Note: many of you know that I have been trying to reduce the amount of plastics that we use. Cellophane is made out of plant material, although the process of making it is hardly environmentally friendly (sadly this is true for many art materials). We made this project using Hygloss Cello Sheets.

This post contains and affiliate link.

Want Your Kids to Love Being Unplugged?
Subscribe to our newsletter and as a thank you, receive 10 waiting games kids can play anytime anywhere.
Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
6678shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

by: Erica posted in: Art and Crafts 31 Comments

« Early Chapter Books about Girls {Stand-Alone Novels}
10 MORE Ways to Play with Toy Cars »

Comments

  1. Jeanette Nyberg says

    January 23, 2013 at 4:13 pm

    Love it, love it, love it! I haven’t seen this technique before, but you can bet we’ll be trying it. (And thanks for clearing up the bars question. :))

    Reply
    • Mom and Kiddo says

      January 23, 2013 at 4:26 pm

      It’s so easy and the colors are quite a bit bolder than the usual tissue paper stained glass activity for kids.

      Reply
  2. maryanne @ mama smiles says

    January 23, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    I was going to ask where you got your cellophane from – thanks for the explanation!

    And I’m really glad your windows have bars. I have heard too many stories of children falling out of windows.

    Reply
    • Mom and Kiddo says

      January 23, 2013 at 5:23 pm

      You can get it online, but we got it at the art store.

      Reply
  3. erin says

    January 24, 2013 at 8:03 am

    I love it! I would love for you to link this up to our Mom’s Library linky.

    http://chickenbabies.blogspot.com/2013/01/moms-library-9.html

    Reply
    • Mom and Kiddo says

      January 24, 2013 at 11:52 am

      I just did, thanks!

      Reply
      • erin says

        January 30, 2013 at 11:13 am

        I featured you today! Thanks for sharing!

        http://chickenbabies.blogspot.com/2013/01/moms-library-link-up-10.html

        Reply
  4. PragmaticMom says

    January 24, 2013 at 10:51 am

    Man, that is seriously gorgeous! I love these kind of art projects and I had no idea of how to prep the window first.

    Reply
    • Mom and Kiddo says

      January 24, 2013 at 11:51 am

      Thanks. I’ve seen some similar projects with tissue paper but they use contact paper and I like that this way keeps the window clear.

      Reply
  5. Ashley says

    January 24, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    Gorgeous! I’d love for you to link it to Mom’s Library if you haven’t already!

    Reply
  6. Ashley says

    January 24, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    Gorgeous! I’d love for you to link it to Mom’s Library if you haven’t already!

    http://lifewithmoorebabies.blogspot.com/2013/01/moms-library-4-for-me.html

    Reply
  7. Vicky @ Mess For Less says

    January 24, 2013 at 3:57 pm

    So pretty! I love these kind of simple projects that keep kids engaged. Where do you get your cellophane? Pinning!

    Reply
    • Mom and Kiddo says

      January 24, 2013 at 4:06 pm

      You can buy it online at Amazon (but Dick Blick has a better price: http://www.dickblick.com/products/hygloss-cello-sheets/). We got it at our local art store and I suspect most craft stores like Michael’s has it, too.

      Reply
  8. Jenny says

    January 24, 2013 at 8:37 pm

    I love art projects like this! I have just the window for it too. Now to find the cellophane!

    Reply
    • Mom and Kiddo says

      January 25, 2013 at 6:05 am

      If your local art store doesn’t have it, you can find it online.

      Reply
  9. Natalie says

    January 25, 2013 at 12:37 am

    This is beautiful, but we don’t really have a place where it would work. I thought at first that you added horizontal and vertical lines with tape before I realized that those are a fire escape and a window gate!

    Reply
  10. Claire @ angelicscalliwags says

    January 25, 2013 at 6:31 am

    This is a great take on stained glass windows. We did them in December and this would have been perfect for the younger two! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Mom and Kiddo says

      January 25, 2013 at 6:38 am

      Thanks, Claire!

      Reply
  11. Mary Catherine says

    January 25, 2013 at 10:18 am

    This looks like so much fun! I have a big glass door to my back porch that this would work well on. I’m going to pin this so I can remember your fun idea. Thanks so much for sharing it! 🙂

    Reply
    • Mom and Kiddo says

      January 25, 2013 at 10:22 am

      Oooh, I love the idea of covering an entire glass door!

      Reply
  12. Lisa @ Homegrown Toddler says

    January 30, 2013 at 5:31 pm

    Love this one! Gotta try it sometime! I’m wondering if those little squares of tissue paper (of which I already have a gazillion) would work okay too–probably would bleed a little, but nothing a little more soapy water couldn’t wash off, I’ll bet!

    -Lisa

    Reply
    • Mom and Kiddo says

      January 30, 2013 at 5:48 pm

      I think they might work, but tissue paper would also rip more easily (though I can’t imagine the kids would care about that. ) Try it and tell me how it works!

      Reply
  13. Allison says

    February 1, 2013 at 10:56 pm

    Gorgeous! I’ll be featuring this on The Sunday Showcase at Train Up a Child.

    Reply
    • Mom and Kiddo says

      February 2, 2013 at 6:09 am

      Thanks, Allison! 🙂

      Reply
  14. jackie says

    February 2, 2013 at 10:24 am

    This is such a simple and vibrant project. I love it!

    Reply
    • Mom and Kiddo says

      February 2, 2013 at 12:00 pm

      Thanks, Jackie. It certainly makes me smile when I open the curtain every morning!

      Reply
  15. kristin says

    February 18, 2013 at 2:55 am

    Have you found the cellophane to fade in the sun like tissue paper does? How long do you keep it up?

    Reply
    • MomandKiddo says

      February 18, 2013 at 8:54 pm

      It’s been up for about a month now and hasn’t faded. But, during the winter we only get one or two hours of direct sun on that window, so that might have some effect. We won’t know until Spring! I’m planning on leaving it up as long as the kids let me. Once in a ehile a piece falls off, but it sticks back on with a little water.

      Reply
  16. Jennifer says

    June 10, 2013 at 5:55 pm

    In addition to Monday Kid Corner Weekly Linky Party, this week’s theme is WATER. Brush off those archives and link them up at thejennyevolution.com. See you there! Jennifer

    Reply
  17. Janice usher says

    April 1, 2016 at 6:21 pm

    Hi, this looks great. Does it all peel off once the water dries?

    Reply
    • Erica MomandKiddo says

      April 4, 2016 at 2:10 pm

      Yes, you can peel it off with no difficulty. But if you like it, it will stay up. We left ours up for a long time and it still came off with no problem.

      Reply

Feed My Comment Addiction Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

STOP THE WHINING!

SAY, "YES I WANT TO UNPLUG MY KIDS." JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER LIST AND GET 10 WAITING GAMES YOUR KIDS CAN PLAY ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.

Join over 12,000 parents who subscribe to the most useful newsletter on the planet. 

    We won't send you spam (yuck). Unsubscribe at any time.

    Search

    What Have We Done Lately?

    Nonfiction Graphic Novels for Kids Ages 7-13

    Children’s Books that Address Domestic Violence

    Best Games for Small Families (2-4 Players)

    Picture Books for Older Children

    Indoor Nature Activities for Winter that Kids Love

    Winter Bookmark Coloring Page

    Martin Luther King, Jr. Books for Kids


    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
    Copyright 2007-2020 What Do We Do All Day? All rights reserved.

    EXPLORE MORE:

    Awesome Newsletter
    Favorite Resources for Parents
    100s of Book Lists
    Gigantic List of Indoor Activities
    Best Games on the Planet
    Stay At Home Parent Resources


    Privacy, disclosure and copyright policy

    Copyright © 2021 · Foodie Pro Theme Description: This is the Foodie Pro child theme created for the Genesis Framework. Author: Shay Bocks Author URI: http://shaybocks.com/ Version: 2.0.5 Tags: black, orange, white, one-column, two-columns, three-columns, fixed-width, custom-menu, full-width-template, sticky-post, theme-options, threaded-comments, translation-ready Template: genesis Template Version: 2.0.1 License: GPL-2.0+ License URI: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-license.php by Shay Bocks

    Want Your Kids to Love Being Unplugged?
    Subscribe to our newsletter and as a thank you, receive 10 waiting games kids can play anytime anywhere.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want More Free Activity Ideas?
    Join our email list and as a thank you gift I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games that will make your kids smarter.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want your kids to love being unplugged?
    Join our newsletter and as a thank you, I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you keep using this website we will assume you are OK with that. Read our privacy policy for more.OKRead more