French Manor Bathroom Window

We have wonderful readers and occasionally we get a new one. I got this post from Diane -- a new GGC reader-- over the weekend.

"I just found this very informative blog and I'm so happy I did. Thank you so much for all the great information and if you ever run upon a fleur-de-lis pattern and how you would suggest doing one please post it. That is my favorite decorating element. It might have something to do with being from Louisiana and adoring our Saints football team."

Diane, I don't know how ambitious you are, but here is one of my favorite Fleur de lis patterns from several years back. We photographed a book full of projects in the new home of a Plaid employee. They had NO window treatments, so we were free to go crazy. I love the simplicity and subtle color in this arrangement. It also has an air of formality, which may or may NOT, go with your decorating style. Not a Saints fan, no problem! There are a number of design motifs you could substitute for the fleur-de-lis. If you already have window treatments, you may want to enlarge the central pattern and do the design as a framed art piece. It would be appropriate for either an 8"x10", 9"x12" or 12"x18" with a simple border around the centered design. Here are the instructions for the window. This project incorporates Redi-Lead strips and the modular technique. Click on "Learn How Tips" to the right of the home page--for details about this technique.
Diane, you can enlarge an image and substitute the actual shape of the Saint's logo if you want.

1. Prepare window surface by protecting work area with paper towels. Clean glass with glass cleaner. Let dry. Measure window and create a pattern enlarging and adjusting design elements and measurements.

2. Place Fleur-de-lis patterns under leading blanks and outline with Liquid Leading. Let dry. Paint them according to the color guide on the pattern. Transfer the pattern elements to the window, reversing them as needed. Peel off cured Fleur-de-Lis and place them on the window. Outline the shapes of the swags with Redi-Lead strips.

3. Using a black marker and ruler, mark off the center of the window into even squares. We used 6"x6" because it made sense for the size of our window. We used a GG large round bevel mold for the medallions, but it's discontinued, so you can make your own medallions by spreading Crystal Clear Gallery Glass across the bottom of some clear crystal glasses that have molded patterns on the bottom. Spread the paint evenly and let it dry thoroughly. Then trim off any "crust" that remains around the motif and place them in the outlined circles in the corners of the squares, as shown.

4. Paint the Swags using the desired colors. Apply Crystal Clear to all squares on window. Let dry.

5. Using small brush, apply Etching Medium to the background area outside of the swags.

Gallery Glass Supplies:

Amber 16020, Cameo Ivory 16003, Crystal Clear 16001/16081, Gold Sparkle 16019, Snow White 16002, Etching Medium 16044.

Speaking of Irises and Doorways--

Before there was Gallery Glass, what was a person to do with a wide open door and sidelights like this? You may be thinking--who would pick such an arrangement? Let me assure you that there are many such homes in my neighborhood with the same half doorlight--or worse--a full view doorlight. I have often thought that it is the result of a builder's sense of humor--the same builder who puts the biggest window in the house--right over the tub--where you would want the MOST privacy! Or maybe a builder who has a brother-in-law, who sells window treatments. Because the first thing you have to do is cover those lovely windows with some kind of covering. Otherwise your neighbors can write out of log of what the family wears to bed and watches on TV. My point is--what are you going to do--if NOT Gallery Glass? The alternatives are not pretty--mini binds, fluted curtains or some fancy paper shades. A more expensive alternative is probably plantation shutters, but then you could have added a finished basement or bought a new car with the money.

So let's talk about how you go about this project. First, this scenario is probably going to require the vertical application technique. The door and sidelights can't be painted horizontally because they are already in place. However, they have wood molding around the glass, so inserts would be possible. But, as much vibration as doors and sidelights get from the constant slamming of the door by the kids--I wouldn't use them. I would recommend doing the design directly on the window--for stability and wearability. So the first thing you need to do is coordinate the patterns of the door and windows. Notice that the design in the corners of the sidelights visually "frames" the design in the door. And the S curve is actually adapted from an element in the lower section of the doorlight. Otherwise the sidelights are really simple--so as not to compete with the simple and elegant door design. Once the pattern is complete, you need to cut off all borders and tape it to the outside of the window before you start the Redi-Lead process. After spot soldering the conntecting points of the leading with Liquid leading, you are ready to paint. Few people realize that you can apply the paint on a vertical surface. You start at the top of each section and work down. It doesn't run unless you apply too much. Notice how well the texture of the Crystal Clear obscures the image of the furniture and even the dark doorway that is visible in the top picture. The color scheme is very sinple--only Etching Medium and Crystal Clear. If you wanted to add another texture, you might consider the Clear Shimmer. I love the way it looks from the outside when the light hits it.

Of course, once you have an elegant door, you'll realize that it's time to refurbish the entry hall. First we painted the walls a wonderful Sunflower color. Then the column shapes were masked-off and painted white and the column tops and the grooves were stenciled in Gold Leaf. Floral Iris prints were decoupaged on door panels. The accessories were crafted to match the decor. The rug was created with quilter's tape and coordinating paint on the back side of a linoleum scrap, cut to the desired size. The re-purposed umbrella stand was painted and antiqued and the same flower elements that were used on the door--were decoupaged on the front. It's a sensational finish to a door and entry hall makeover. And the cost was minimal because the Gallery Glass only costs about $3/foot. People will think you spent a whole lot more.

Here's a Big Tip: If you want to make a big impression, you can duplicate the leaded outlines made by the Redi-lead on the inside of the doorlight and sidelights --on the OUTSIDE of the house. We don't recommend paint for the outside, but the Redi-Lead is weather-proof and will be fine outdoors without paint to hold it on. This makes the outlines of the Gallery Glass treatment look like H channel leading, which will fool almost everyone into thinking that you have installed REAL stained glass. What's the harm? If they don't ask, don't tell them. It can be our secret!

Gallery Glass Supplies: 16081 Crystal Clear, 16044 Etching Medium, Redi-Lead or Liquid Leading.

Mother's Day --celebrate with Gallery Glass

Every year we try to create the ultimate Mother's Day gift--something that expresses our love and appreciation for the woman who did so much for us. And if she is deceased, as mine is, we celebrate in other ways, such as honoring the mothers who are important to us NOW. Some of us honor our daughters or daughters-in-law because they take care of the most important people in our lives--our grandchildren! Some of you men will want to honor your wives and the mothers of your children. And even fewer of us can still celebrate with our grandmothers. But all in all, it is a celebration of feminine contribution and sacrifice for the general health and happiness of the universe. So bring out the roses and the candy! Let's see how we can honor Moms everywhere.
I chose to do this rose in pink because it was my Mom's favorite color. I used Magenta Royale and Hot Pink as the two shading colors, but I added a touch of Hologram Glitter to the edge of each petal and most of the leaves. That gave it a sparkle to the edges that was very festive. I used Gold Glitter for the letters, but you can use Gold Extreme Glitter in the 2 oz. size if you don't have the discontinued color. It was an easy project and one that can adapt quite easily the the favorite rose color of the Mom that you are honoring.

I also did a motif that was a little more casual. I thought it was a good project for kids. It has a smaller footprint and uses brighter colors.  But mainly it is different, so if you want to give two gifts, you have an additional pattern.

Here's another good Mother's Day design. It's the one we did this week for the children at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite to paint and give to their Mothers. It is very kid friendly because the spaces are large and the message is clear. The design can also be used for a personalized Valentine, so hold onto it for other occasions.

Bearded Irises of Gallery Glass

I love my irises--almost as much as I love my roses. The only reason "almost" popped up in the previous sentence is because Irises only bloom once a year. Otherwise they would top the roses--especially considering my never ending war with beetles, which cause me to have to decapitate their fragrant blooming heads in the heat of the summer.
Irises come in a plethora of colors. Only God can make an iris. I feel very proud when I just plant the bulbs in the Fall and then simply wait for it-- the glorious color that appears predictably in May. A wonderful friend, Judy Johnson, sent me these pictures of real irises last week. Maybe it will give you some ideas when you decide to paint your own iris panel. 

Here are the colors I used, but you can create your own color combination.
Gallery Glass supplies:
Crystal Clear 16081, Sunny Yellow 16004, Kelly Green 16008, Amethyst 16014, Magenta Royale 16017, Amber 16020, Berry Red 16023, Ivy Green 16024, Lime Green 16035, Celladon Green 16096, Hot Pink 16423, Purple 16424, Light Brown 16426, Sunflower 16455, Plum 16457, Berry Grape 16458, Italian Sage 16459, Yellow Ochre 16461, Spring Rose 16463, Fresh Lime 17052.

Ivy Bowl Gifts with Gallery Glass

Clear Ivy Bowls are available in most craft stores and dollar stores. With these wonderful ideas, you can create unique one-of-a kind gifts that are both functional and decorative--not to mention fun to make. These wonderful ideas were created in '04 by my wonderful and creative friend, Jacque Hennington from Hamburg, AK. It was a Plaid book that is out of print and many of the products such as Redi-Lead Shapes, Stick-Ons and Etching Stencils have been discontinued, but don't let that stop you. You are creative glass crafters and you can take the idea and adapt it to fit your needs and available supplies. I apologize in advance for the print being so small, but I wanted to scan the projects as one document, so that you can click on it and print it out. Use the instructions on the Message Board to accomplish this feat. By the way, this is only the first half of the year's designs. I'll do the 2nd half of the year later. Good luck!

More Seasonal Ivy Bowls - 2nd half of the year

Now that you've celebrated the occasions during Spring and Summer, let's look at some ideas for gift making and holiday decorating. You can use any stencil for these wonderful gifts--especially the self adhesive ones from Plaid.

Religious Projects with Gallery Glass

These designs first appeared in one of Plaid's Gallery Glass books as a plate design to display on a plate stand. I don't have plates or stands in my craft room, so, I worked up the sample on a 12" round chain-wrapped plexi blank, and that coordinated it with the cross project. This required that I alter the color scheme so that the main colors would be repeated in both pieces. This pair would make nice hangings in a church community class room or in your own window for certain holidays that are more religious--like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As I have stated many times before, I love to paint food, and the "Daily Bread" plaque certainly qualifies as a food project. I thought that the wheat was a little wierd since you don't really eat it, but the colors work well with the other motifs. The turquoise cross coordinates with the crown on the other plaque. The gold glitter adds a touch of elegance for the border around the cross and also alternated with gold sparkle in the dove picture's crown motif. The fruit colors are repeated as jewels in the crown. You don't have to repeat every color. The white dove is unique and so is the cocoa brown bread. The biggest mistake that Beginners make is using too many colors in a project. Just because you have over 50 bottles of paint, doesn't mean you have to -- use them all. So remember when you are planning out the design, that "Less is More"!


First, the design must be leaded and I am lucky to have a stash of the chain-wrapped 12" blanks, that I could use. If you wish to create these designs, you may want to source out the surface before enlarging the pattern. You could use an 11"x14" poster frame, but I would shave 1/2" off the sides of the circle and keep the size of the design 12" . The wheat detail will get too tedious to lead if you shrink the design much smaller than that. 

For a bigger project, you could center these round designs on a  12"x18" poster frame, if you draw a border around the perimeter that runs under the circle on the sides and fills up the space at the bottom and top of the rectangle. This border also gives you a chance to repeat more of the colors, or you could use etching for the border (see Tulips and Eggs project, below). If you are a proficient leader, you can use shrink the design smaller and put it on a clear glass or plastic plate.  

However, before you can paint, you must lead the design. Let's see a show of hands out there--how many of you would rather lead than paint? Aha--nobody, right? That's because you are not following my seasoned advice. Stop reading and go directly to Leading Tips, listed over on the right of this home page. Promise me you will try the tape tip, please!!!!

Dove Pattern 12" Round

Gallery Glass Supplies: 16008 Kelly Green, 16024 Ivy Green, 16035 Lime Green, 16081 Crystal Clear, 16002 Snow White, 16021 Pearl White, 16440 Gold Glitter, 16019 Gold Sparkle, 16015 Ruby Red, 16457 Plum, 16036 Turquoise, 16426 Light Brown, 16014 Amethyst, 16017 Magenta Royale

Our Daily Bread Pattern

Gallery Glass Supplies: 16008 Kelly Green, 16024 Ivy Green, 16081 Crystal Clear, 16007 Cocoa Brown, 16440 Gold Glitter, 16019 Gold Sparkle, 16015 Ruby Red, 16036 Turquoise, 16426 Light Brown, 16020 Amber, 16014 Amethyst, 16017 Magenta Royale

Eggs, Eggs and More Gallery Glass Eggs!

The Easter Egg is a traditional motif that can be presented in a variety of ways. It struck me one day that our oval blank was somewhat egg shaped. Aha! Perfect surface for an Easter Egg project. I decided to treat the whole oval as one egg and would love to make a whole window full of varying designs, but I don't have time, so I'll show you the first design and you might be inspired to create one. The interesting thing about this panel is the use of two new Plaid colors--Bluebird and Lavender. These are very opaque, in fact so much more than the Sunflower and Hot Pink--that I decided to dilute them with Crystal Clear 1:1. It really made the perfect opacity to coordinate with the yellow and pink. The greens are somewhat opaque as well--Fresh Lime and Light Green. If you can't find these new colors, order them from Plaid (click link below). I can't remember the last time I used all opaque colors in a project, but it IS an EGG, after all.

If your schedule does not allow the creation of an "egg wall" comprised of variations of big eggs like the one above, why not put all your egg design ideas into one project. I love the 12" chain wrapped blank because of the added glamour of the gold framing. And I like the fact that the generous 12" diameter makes it possible to do more intricate designs that on the 10" round blank--my other favorite surface. Notice that the eggs are shaded around the outside to give the illusion of oval-ness. The color scheme is very flexible. After I finished it, I thought there should have been a purple egg. So I think it would be better to make 6 different color combinations rather than repeating each egg combo twice.

I love the look of stained glass and am always searching for REAL stained glass patterns that can be done faster with Gallery Glass, but most of the time, we have to resort to adapting simple line designs to get an authentic stained glass look. So you can imagine how excited I was when I ran across this clip art design that has the true feeling of stained glass. I couldn't wait to enlarge the pattern and squeeze out the shapes with Liquid Leading. I think that you'll agree that it turned out spectacular. I didn't put a circle around the design because it is a very round design that would look awkward in a circle. But the basket needed grass, so I decided to create the illusion of grass with Green Sparkle and omit the lead line because I didn't want the horizon to go off in space. What do you think? 

Gallery Glass Supplies: 16455 Sunflower, 16423 Hot Pink, 16036 Turquoise, 17077 Lavender diluted half strength), 17052 Fresh Lime, 17051 Light Green, 16076 Black Liquid Leading. 16216 Styrene 6x9" oval.

Egg Wreath

Gallery Glass Supplies: 16017 Magenta Royale, 16423 Hot Pink, 16021 White Pearl, 16014 Amethyst, 17077 Lavender (diluted half strength), 16425 Citrus Yellow, 16455 Sunflower, 16035 Lime Green, 16051 Fresh Lime, 16008 Kelly green, 16051 Light Green, 16011 Blue Diamond, 16073 Blue Bird (diluted half strength), 16019 Gold Sparkle, 16081 Crystal Clear, 16076 Black Liquid Leading, 12" round surface or 11x14" or 12x18" poster frame.

Egg Basket

Gallery Glass Supplies:

16017 Magenta Royale,16463 Spring Rose, 16023 Berry Red, 16005 Orange Poppy, 16429 Pumpkin Orange, 16020 Amber, 16004 Sunny Yellow, 16035 Lime Green, 16008 Kelly green, 16012 Royal Blue, 16011 Blue Diamond, 16015 Ruby Red, 16081 Crystal Clear, 16076 Black Liquid Leading, 12" round surface or 11x14" poster frame.