This DIY faux leaded glass window project that will take your contractor grade window and make it look like a piece of art.
My house was built in 1942 but the bathroom was remodeled sometime in the 1980’s. That update included a plane, Jane, white vinyl window without any trim. Borrrring.
Eventually, custom chunky trim was added to my window to match the medicine cabinets when I did my budget bathroom renovation and then the faux leaded glass window was added.
Here are the directions on how you can easily complete your own faux leaded glass window project.
Supplies
- Gallery Glass Instant Lead Lines
- Gallery Glass Liquid Leading
- Small Scissors
- Tweezers
- Ruler
- Expo Erasable Marker
- Graph Paper
- Clear Tacky Glue (see note below, you may not need it)
Measure and Design
Decide what leaded glass window design you want on your project. Doing an online image search for “leaded windows” will give you hundreds of patterns to choose from.
Draw your faux leaded glass window pattern on graph paper before you start. Measure the window of your actual project then draw the outline of the window on the graph paper. If you are faux leading a large window, you will need to tape several pieces of graph paper together to get the size you need. Using a pencil, start measuring out where you want your faux leading lines to be.
Transfer the Pattern to the Window
There are a couple of ways you can transfer your faux leaded glass window pattern to the project window. Using the dry erase marker, measure out your window using a ruler and mark in the increments where you want your lead to go with the dry erase marker. You can see in my example photo, I did this for every inch. After you have your measure lines marked, draw your pattern directly on the window using the dry erase marker.
The other way to transfer your faux leaded glass window pattern is by taping your graph paper pattern on the outside of your project window. You will need to go over your pencil lines in a dark black marker before you do this to make it easy to see where your pattern will be traced once you hang it on the window. After you hang your pattern on the outside of the window, trace it on the inside using the dry erase marker.
Apply the Faux Leaded Glass Window Lines
Gather all of your supplies together near your project window. Using your finger or a small dry rag, erase your first faux leaded glass window pattern line and replace it with a piece of the Gallery Glass Instant Lead Line. Using small scissors, snip it to size. Taking the tweezers, manipulate the instant lead line exactly where you want it to go. Repeat this process being careful not to overlap lead lines. Work methodically from one side to the next until your faux leaded glass window lines are all in place.
Apply the Liquid Lead
Drop a small bead of Gallery Glass Liquid Leading on each of the intersections of your faux leaded glass window. Allow the liquid lead to dry and touch up any areas you feel you need a second dot.
Notes
I did my faux leaded glass window on a frosted bathroom window. This window was smooth on one pane and bumpy on the other pane. I found that the instant lead lines were not sticking to the bumpy surface. To solve this problem, I simply added a little bit of Tacky Glue to each strip and applied it with tweezers.
More Faux Leaded Glass Window Ideas
This project was so easy, I keep dreaming up other ways to use it! I plan to do this same pattern on my kitchen sink plant window. I also have a few empty glass doors left over from a cabinet I repurposed. I am going to design a holiday pattern on one and hang it up at Christmas time. Comment below share your faux leaded glass window plans.
