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

     

    Kids' Stained Glass Window Art Project

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    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 ⅔ water and ⅓ 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.

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    Reader Interactions

    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. 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
    4. 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
    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!

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

      Reply
    6. 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
    7. 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
    8. 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
    9. 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
    10. 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
    11. 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
    12. Allison says

      February 01, 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 02, 2013 at 6:09 am

        Thanks, Allison! 🙂

        Reply
    13. jackie says

      February 02, 2013 at 10:24 am

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

      Reply
      • Mom and Kiddo says

        February 02, 2013 at 12:00 pm

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

        Reply
    14. 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
    15. 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
    16. Janice usher says

      April 01, 2016 at 6:21 pm

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

      Reply
      • Erica MomandKiddo says

        April 04, 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

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