Liven up your windows for spring with a bright, cheerful suncatcher made from a glass plate!  It’s inspired by stained glass, but unlike actual stained glass this project doesn’t require any special tools or skills.

Project estimate:

• Glass plate, $1
• Assorted nail polish, on hand
• Double-sided tape, on hand or $1
• E6000 glue, on hand
• Hanger, on hand or $1
• Nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol, on hand
• Pattern, free (search “stained glass patterns” for thousands of them!)

Total:  $1 and up

Clean the face of the plate with nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol and let dry.

Using the double-sided tape, stick the pattern to the underside of the plate. Remember that you will be adding a hook so make sure your pattern covers that area.

Patterns vary but you will want to use the same technique. Outline your pattern and allow to dry.

Then fill in the outlined areas.  To avoid brush marks, apply excess nail polish. Load the brush and dab it in the center of your design, in this case, one of the wing sections. Take the brush and push the polish so that it meets the outline. Dab on more paint if needed.

Once you have filled in all the sections and they are dry, go over the outline again. If, when held to the light, you have areas that didn’t reach outline, it is easier to make the outline wider.

Clean the area where you’re putting the hanger with nail polish remover and let dry. Apply E6000 to the plate and place the hanger on top of it. Hold the hanger in place with something heavy any let dry overnight. (I used the tip of my wire cutters)