Methods of producing stained glass effects

A method of producing stained glass effects and objects produced thereby are provided wherein a clear glass or plastic object has adhered on one surface a string outline of art work being produced and colored stain within areas defined by said string to produce a multi-colored art work product.

This invention relates to methods of producing stained glass effects and 
objects produced thereby and particularly to a clear glass having outlined 
thereon in adhered string, art work which is stained in the areas defined 
by said string. 
The beauty of stained glass work is so well known that it requires no 
description here. Equally well known, however, is the difficulty in making 
stained glass art work by the conventional practice of cutting colored 
glass pieces and assembling the same with lead and solder connections. 
Various techniques have been proposed for simulating this technique 
including cutting and assembling colored plastic film on a glass substrate 
and similar practices. These practices also require some considerable 
skill both in cutting and assembling and in handling adhesives. 
I have invented a technique for craft projects which produces a unique 
effect similar to that of stained glass without the cutting and assembling 
associated with stained glass or even that associated with cutting and 
assembling plastic film. The technique of my invention is simple, 
inexpensive and can be practiced by children as well as adults to produce 
objects of great beauty. 
In the practice of my invention I follow the steps of either placing a 
sheet of clear glass or a glass object, or a clear plastic sheet or object 
over an art work to be copied, moistening one edge of a length of glue 
impregnated dry thread or string, placing the moistened edge of the string 
around the outlines of the art work visible through the glass so that each 
color area is defined by a surrounding fence of string or thread adhered 
to the glass, placing a colored stain in each such defined area to provide 
the necessary color in the area defined by the string or thread, 
permitting the stain to dry and removing the glass from the art work or of 
following the same steps but using original art work without copying. 
Preferably, the stain is a translucent stain. The string or thread may be 
pre-dried or colored and is preferably precoated or impregnated with a 
water soluble, clear drying glue and dried prior to use. The glue 
impregnating string is preferably cut to length as the art work is copied 
and moistened along one side with a small brush prior to application to 
the glass. Preferably, the string is coated with a clear stain before 
applying the colored stain so as to waterproof it and prevent colored 
stain from being absorbed by the string. The completed glass or plastic 
art work is preferably mounted on a white background or hung in a window 
to permit light to pass through.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 2, I practice my 
invention by placing a sheet clear glass or plastic 10, cut to the desired 
size, over a piece of art work 11 to be copied. The art work 11 is clearly 
visible through the glass 10. I next cut segments of dry glue impregnated 
string 12 to the proper lengths to follow the outlines of the several 
colored areas 13 of the art work. Each string segment 12 is moistened 
along one edge with water applied by a brush and the moistened edge 
pressed onto the glass following the outline of a colored area. In the 
case of a line or a flower or leaf stem 14 the string 12 is preferably 
predried or colored with the desired color. Where it is desired to accent 
the outline, the string or thread may be predried or colored. After the 
string 12 is in place defining a colored area 13, a colored stain of the 
desired color is placed in the area and flowed thereover until it contacts 
the string and forms a meniscus between the string and glass, coloring the 
string and waterproofing the string and joining area to protect the same 
from moisture. Preferably, however, I use colored string and coat the same 
with clear strain after the strings are in place and dried so as to 
waterproof the same and prevent absorption of colored stain. 
After the stain has dried in all areas, the glass 10 is removed from the 
art work 11 and either hung over a window to permit light to pass through 
or placed over a white background sheet to provide reflected light through 
the art work. 
The same practice can be used on vases and similar non-flat glass or 
plastic objects. 
In the foregoing specification I have set out certain practices and 
embodiments of this invention, however it will be understood that this 
invention may be otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of the 
following claims.