Stained glass is a show-stopping feature in any home. The glass itself is a gorgeous piece of art, and the way sunlight shines through and bounces color throughout the room elevates any space. Whether the design is extremely intricate and depicts a detailed scene or is simple and geometric, stained glass is surprisingly suitable for many different home decor aesthetics. If you are considering installing some stained glass, there are things you need to know about adding stained glass to your home, such as the price. Getting stained glass installed, especially custom designs, typically costs between $90 and $600 per square foot, making it unattainable for many people. However, if you are feeling creative and want to experiment with a temporary but beautiful stained glass project, then making your own DIY stained glass window using markers is a perfect activity for you.

To make this temporary DIY stained glass window, all you really need is a set of washable window markers, some tape, and faux lead lines. Many window markers are designed to have vibrant colors and be slightly opaque so that they are easily seen on the window from either side. You can achieve an even more realistic stained glass look with the Crayola Washable Crystal Effects window markers. They are slightly more translucent and create a crystal-like pattern as they dry that is very reminiscent of stained glass. Gallery Glass Instant Lead lines will also add a realistic element to your design, making the lines look just like those on a real stained glass window.

Once you have your supplies, clean and dry your window to prevent dirt, dust, and oil from disrupting your art. Then, use tape to map out your design. For inspiration, check out some unique stained glass windows. In real stained glass, lead lines connect the pieces of glass together, so if you want a realistic look, then make sure each glass section you make looks like it is connected to the others. Once you have your taped design, grab your markers, and start coloring in a section. Try to use lines at a single angle as you color to get a smooth finish, and make sure that you do not leave any gaps in your coloring. If there are missing spots, carefully fill them in before the markers dry. Users of the markers have stated that trying to apply the markers over colored sections that have already dried makes the underlying dry parts peel away. Once the coloring is dry, you can remove all of the tape and replace it with clean faux lead line tape.

These marker designs are not meant to be permanent. When you are tired of your window design or, more likely, the design starts to smudge or peel over time, all you need to do to get your window back to its normal state is remove the lead line tape, spray the window with some glass cleaner, then wipe it away with a dry towel. The clean-up process is easy, and you can start over again with a new design.

Real stained glass is made of pieces of colored glass, which are created by adding different materials to the glass while it is in its hot, liquid state. Then, stained glass images are created by an artist cutting pieces of colored glass, decorating the pieces, and securing them together using lead strips. Texture is also a common feature of the glass that helps it bounce around light in interesting ways. Stained glass is also very durable and can last for generations. 

Surprisingly, crystal effect markers will give you a somewhat similar effect. The colors will only be on one side of the window’s glass and now part of the glass itself, but the texture created by the crystal markers will give light some spots to bounce around for cool results. Combine it with faux lead lines, and you have a pretty good recreation that can be done in an afternoon. If you want something more permanent but do not want to invest in real stained glass, creating affordable and beautiful faux stained glass is easier than you think. There are plenty of ways to add the look of stained glass to your home through DIY methods without the high price tag of real stained glass.