How to Make Gallery Glass Suncatcher DIY with Freebie

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How to Make Gallery Glass Suncatcher DIY with Stained Glass Pattern Freebies!

Make gorgeous Gallery Glass suncatchers with these free patterns, create a beautiful Butterfly, a fabulous Luna Moth and a busy Bumble Bee!

This craft is made so easy by using Plaid Leading Sheets and Cricut!

I designed these 3 intricate patterns that can be cut easily with Cricut so the hard work of hand leading is done for you.

Let's get started!

This time of year we are all in dire need of some beautiful sunshine and suncatchers are the best way to capture it.

A stained glass sun catcher is beautiful and fun to make, but a pretty big investment (see this post here), so Gallery Glass is the perfect option.

GALLERY GLASS LEADING SHEETS:

Gallery Glass can be tricky, especially the black lines, if you are shaky or if the bottle of liquid leading is bubbly, it can ruin your suncatcher.

Plaid now has these rubbery-like "leading sheets" that can be easily cut with an electronic cutting machine, like Cricut.

GALLERY GLASS LEADING SHEETS: Gallery Glass can be tricky, especially the black lines, if you are shaky or if the bottle of liquid leading is bubbly, it can ruin your suncatcher. Plaid now has these rubbery-like "leading sheets" that can be easily cut with an electronic cutting machine, like Cricut.

FREE BUTTERFLY, MOTH AND BEE STAINED GLASS PATTERNS:

Lots of creatives use coloring book pictures to trace their designs on a plastic sheet, I've designed 3 png pattern piece files that can easily be uploaded into Cricut Design Space for cutting.

You could even cut them out of paper for another project type--link in the supplies list.

FREE BUTTERFLY, MOTH AND BEE STAINED GLASS PATTERNS: Lots of creatives use coloring book pictures to trace their designs on a plastic sheet, I've designed 3 png pattern piece files that can easily be uploaded into Cricut Design Space for cutting. You could even cut them out of paper for another project type--link in the supplies list.

These darling sun catchers are great for adding sunshine in the middle of Winter, or any time of year.

Just string some fishing line through the holes and use suction cup hooks to secure them to the inside of the window.

Suncatcher crafts are my favorite!

These darling sun catchers are great for adding sunshine in the middle of Winter, or any time of year. Just string some fishing line through the holes and use suction cup hooks to secure them to the inside of the window. Suncatcher crafts are my favorite!

Supplies Needed for Stained Glass with Gallery Glass Paint:

affiliate links

Gallery Glass Leading Sheets
Gallery Glass Paint
Straight Pin
Baby Wipes
Cotton Swabs
Gallery Glass Surface (2 Circle and 1 Hexagon)
Cricut Machine (I'm using the Cricut Maker 3)
Deep Point Cut Blade
Cricut Strong Mat
Vinyl Transfer Tape or Transfer Paper
Weeding Hook Tool
FREE Stained Glass Designs (Moth, Butterfly and Bee Freebies)

If you shop at Plaid ONLINE, Use the code: DOODLECRAFT15 for a discount!

Gallery Glass can be found at the craft store, although it's been harder to find all the colors.

Supplies Needed for Stained Glass with Gallery Glass Paint: affiliate links Gallery Glass Leading Sheets Gallery Glass Paint Straight Pin Baby Wipes Cotton Swabs Gallery Glass Surface (2 Circle and 1 Hexagon) Cricut Machine (I'm using the Cricut Maker 3) Deep Point Cut Blade Cricut Strong Mat Vinyl Transfer Tape or Transfer Paper Weeding Hook Tool FREE Stained Glass Designs (Moth, Butterfly and Bee Freebies) If you shop at Plaid ONLINE, Use the code: DOODLECRAFT15 for a discount! Gallery Glass can be found at the craft store, although it's been harder to find all the colors.

Step 1: Gallery Glass Leading Sheets

Begin by uploading the moth, butterfly or bee on honeycomb design into Cricut Design Space for your stained glass suncatcher.

Size the gallery glass design to fit the size of your Gallery Glass plastic discs surface.

I am using a 6 inch circle stencil blank, so I scaled the design down just a tad smaller to make it fit.

Step 1: Gallery Glass Leading Sheets Begin by uploading the moth, butterfly or bee on honeycomb design into Cricut Design Space for your stained glass suncatcher. Size the gallery glass design to fit the size of your Gallery Glass plastic discs surface. I am using a 6 inch circle stencil blank, so I scaled the design down just a tad smaller to make it fit.

Step 2: Cut the Leading Sheets

The Gallery Glass leading sheets are soft, almost rubbery and is easy to cut and work with.

Install the deep point cut blade into the Cricut, set the settings to corrugated cardboard and select the "more" on the pressure setting.

This cuts the leading sheets super smoothly.

When done cutting, leave the Gallery Glass leading sheet on the Cricut mat while you weed out the inside of the design.

Step 2: Cut the Leading Sheets The Gallery Glass leading sheets are soft, almost rubbery and is easy to cut and work with. Install the deep point cut blade into the Cricut, set the settings to corrugated cardboard and select the "more" on the pressure setting. This cuts the leading sheets super smoothly. When done cutting, leave the Gallery Glass leading sheet on the Cricut mat while you weed out the inside of the design.

The leading sheets are easy to weed, and you can use the weeding hook tool or just use your fingers.

You could even save the negative space cut outs for another DIY suncatcher project that would look opposite, with mostly leading.

Step 3: Transfer Tape

Next step, after weeding the Gallery Glass leading sheet, place a piece of transfer tape over the top of it.

The transfer tape helps the leading sheet retain it's shape while you transfer it to the Plaid Gallery Glass surface or even glass pieces.

The leading sheets can easily be cut with a razor blade hobby knife too, so as detailed as you want to cut, you can do really intricate designs.

Step 3: Transfer Tape Next step, after weeding the Gallery Glass leading sheet, place a piece of transfer tape over the top of it. The transfer tape helps the leading sheet retain it's shape while you transfer it to the Plaid Gallery Glass surface or even glass pieces. The leading sheets can easily be cut with a razor blade hobby knife too, so as detailed as you want to cut, you can do really intricate designs.

Step 4: Gallery Glass Surface

If your glass surface is dirty, clean it off with some rubbing alcohol and let it dry before application.

Then place the leading sheet cut out on the surface and press down firmly on the hard surfaces.

Then peel off the transfer tape from the leading sheet by rolling it over itself.

Step 4: Gallery Glass Surface If your glass surface is dirty, clean it off with some rubbing alcohol and let it dry before application. Then place the leading sheet cut out on the surface and press down firmly on the hard surfaces. Then peel off the transfer tape from the leading sheet by rolling it over itself.

Once the leading sheet is applied to the plastic blank, it can be filled in with Gallery Glass paint at any time.

This would make a fun Girl's Night craft, Summer Camp craft or Party favor craft.

Get the projects to this stage before the party and then everyone can just spend time painting.

Once the leading sheet is applied to the plastic blank, it can be filled in with Gallery Glass paint at any time. This would make a fun Girl's Night craft, Summer Camp craft or Party favor craft. Get the projects to this stage before the party and then everyone can just spend time painting.

Step 5: Gallery Glass Paint

Now select the different colors of gallery glass for your design use a bit of color that is unexpected!

Like how I am using aqua and holographic shimmer in the wings of the bees.

HOW TO USE GALLERY GLASS PAINT:

Begin by opening the container and removing the seal and replacing the tip.

Have a piece of scrap paper nearby to squeeze out a little paint gently to get the feel of the flow of the paint.

Then fill the entire space of the leading sheet design with the Gallery Glass right up to the edges of the leading lines.

It takes a little bit of practice to get the flow of it, but it falls in the easy craft projects category.

HOW TO USE GALLERY GLASS PAINT: Begin by opening the container and removing the seal and replacing the tip. Have a piece of scrap paper nearby to squeeze out a little paint gently to get the feel of the flow of the paint. Then fill the entire space of the leading sheet design with the Gallery Glass right up to the edges of the leading lines. It takes a little bit of practice to get the flow of it, but it falls in the easy craft projects category.

Continue on with each color of Gallery Glass paint.

Don't worry too much about air bubbles, but you can pop them with a straight pin as you work or just lightly go over it with a heat gun and pop out the bubbles.

Final step is to set the Gallery Glass project aside, covered if you have dust or pet hair around, and let it cure at least 24 hours.

The holographic shimmer becomes clear and glittery instead of just white!

The colors become more translucent and vibrant--if the paint overlaps the leading sheets, you can quickly rub them off with cotton swabs, paper towels or a wet wipe.

Final step is to set the Gallery Glass project aside, covered if you have dust or pet hair around, and let it cure at least 24 hours. The holographic shimmer becomes clear and glittery instead of just white! The colors become more translucent and vibrant--if the paint overlaps the leading sheets, you can quickly rub them off with cotton swabs, paper towels or a wet wipe.

The Gallery Glass paint changes color and opacity quite a bit during drying, so how it looks when it's wet is very different than how it will look when it's dry.

I find that they dry darker than anticipated.

I typically outline the shape inside the leading, then fill it in.

Some of the Gallery Glass flows more fluid than others, so test it out on a paper before heading right to the surface.

Once the suncatcher is dry, attach a string and hang up to give the window color!

The leading sheets no longer have their original rubber feeling, they just match the softness of the Gallery Glass.

This is such a fun craft to make a stained glass project in super cost-effective way.

Once the suncatcher is dry, attach a string and hang up to give the window color! The leading sheets no longer have their original rubber feeling, they just match the softness of the Gallery Glass. This is such a fun craft to make a stained glass project in super cost-effective way.

The butterfly pattern has some intricate areas that the nozzle of the Gallery Glass doesn't quite fit inside, so I use a straight pin to get the paint into all the little nooks.

If I am painting a blue butterfly, I typically use 2-3 different shades of blue to give the finished product some variety and interest.

I love using the Gold Gallery Glass, it's very opaque, so not a lot of sunshine goes through it, but it adds a richness with the translucent colors.

I tied these suncatchers with ribbon, but fishing line or twine works great too.

They are easy to hang on a window with suction cup hooks.

I love how these turned out--which is your favorite?

I think the Luna moth is my favorite...or that busy bee!

Make the three designs as a set, or just make the one you like the best!

These are a fun craft for tweens and teens too!

They would make a great Summer camp craft with time to dry overnight.

Making faux stained glass suncatchers with Plaid Gallery Glass Paints and Gallery Glass Leading Sheets is so much fun!

This makes creating gorgeous stained glass projects so easy!

Sun catchers make great handmade gifts, darling holiday ornaments and gorgeous home decor hanging in the window.

Making faux stained glass suncatchers with Plaid Gallery Glass Paints and Gallery Glass Leading Sheets is so much fun! This makes creating gorgeous stained glass projects so easy! Sun catchers make great handmade gifts, darling holiday ornaments and gorgeous home decor hanging in the window.

That's it!

Make Gallery Glass Suncatchers with my Free Patterns and using leading sheets cut with Cricut for the perfect finished product.

I love any project that reflects and shines colorful light!

This is an easy craft so give it a try today--if you use my patterns, post a picture and tag me @doodlecraft so I can cheer you on!

Like, Pin and Save!

Make Gallery Glass Suncatchers with my Free Patterns and using leading sheets cut with Cricut for the perfect finished product. I love any project that reflects and shines colorful light! This is an easy craft so give it a try today--if you use my patterns, post a picture and tag me @doodlecraft so I can cheer you on!

Here's some other fun Stained Glass Crafts:

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Make your own DIY window clings with 2 supplies and a Cricut cutting machine.

The perfect home decor for a clean window--let's get started!

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Learn how to use Plaid Folkart Murano Glass Paint on a few glass projects.

It's a fun way to add the look of hand-blown glass to glass objects that need some excitment.

Upcycle various glass pieces with different glass effects from Plaid's line of Murano Glass Paint.

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Learn how to make the cutest disco ball cherries to brighten up your shelf, desk or table.

This cute cherry decor DIY is chic and groovy all in one!

Disco balls and cherries are all the rage, so they are a match made in heaven!

How to Make Stained Glass with Gallery Glass Paint

Learn how to make the perfect faux stained glass using Plaid's Gallery Glass and Gallery Glass Leading Sheets.

It's easy to create a suncatcher, glass frame or even add special elements to windows in your home.

Stained glass suncatchers are beautiful and popular, and Gallery Glass is a great alternative to the huge investment and skill it takes to cut and solder glass.