13 First Stained Glass Projects From a New Hobby, Like a Lampshade Built Over a Foam Mold

“My first stained glass project”

I’ve dreamed of making stained glass for a couple decades now but was always too intimidated. This year for my birthday I finally bought all the tools. I designed the pattern myself. All and all I’m impressed I could accomplish this for my first try. I plan to paint on an eye and add a wire for hanging.

“Finished my first piece!”

My take on a Victorian window. Was definitely a challenge but I’m so happy with how it turned out!

Found out the hard way that the jump rings I put on the back couldn’t hold the weight and ended up having to reconstruct a lot of it, but it worked out.

I did a practice piece before this, but otherwise this really was the first thing I made! It took a very long time though; lots of mistakes as I went.

So initially I just used loops of solder in the back with a hanging wire, but a day after I put it up the loops failed and it fell and a bunch of the panes shattered. It’s a MESS on the back; so much sloppy looking solder, but I think I trust it not to fall this time.

I was working at a glass factory and some coworkers taught me stained glass. I made two tiny projects and then this was my third one, and still the biggest piece I’ve done to date. It probably took 50-60 hours and it’s hanging in front of my living room window 🧡 (the blue patterns and red scratches are enamel paint).

“My first Tiffany style lampshade”

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been gathering knowledge and supplies to make my own Tiffany style lampshade.

I made the mold from leftover styrodur and sketched out my own design. I wanted to go with irises.

This is my first time doing stained glass, except for a 3 hour workshop I took in March where we made a jewelry box from 13 pieces total

I have finished my first Tiffany style lampshade.

I quite like the final result, although the soldering is far from perfect as this was my first time doing it.

The whole process took about two months from start to finish, but it was also on and off (I was on vacation for a while in that period and there were weeks when I couldn’t get to it because of work).

“A very ambitious but rewarding first piece”

I had an empty transom window in my house so I made a stained glass piece for it. First time creating stained glass — I’m a woodworker so I’m used to working with my hands but it was still a very different and fun experience!

Designed it myself!

“My first piece!”

I definitely need a ton of practice, especially soldering, but I had so much fun! Stained glass is something I’ve always wanted to try but thought was way too challenging.

My first line of solder turned out okay and then the next one was terrible. I was thinking, “It’s okay keep going, it’s okay keep going” hahahaha."

I love this SO much, my heart is bursting with happiness! This project has spanned several seasons and I am beyond thrilled with how she came out! The back panel was my first stained glass project ever from a class and I love that each panel shows my progress as I improved.

I think the second panel was the arch, then the mountains, then the books—which, oh man, straight lines are not my favorite. All panels are my designs, sans the back piece.

“My 10-year-old came home from camp obsessed with stained glass!”

My son spent the summer at camp and came home with a new hobby. After we saw the pieces he brought home we got him a kit because he couldn’t stop thinking about making more. He’s hoping to share part of my table when I sell my pottery at an upcoming craft show 🥺

And he does everything — I don’t cut, grind, foil or solder. Proud of him!

We’ve already discussed that he might not sell any. But I’m proud of him working every day toward a goal.

“My 5th Project!”

I live in England so there’s no sun to see its true beauty yet, just another reason why I can’t wait for Spring!

I’m going to hang it in my bathroom, we get lovely morning sun through there.

I’m still a beginner after all, but I am pretty proud of what I’ve achieved so far. I completed a simple straight lined geometric pattern and a 3 5 petal flower as gifts, so this is my fifth piece and the most complex by far.

“My first ever collection!”

About 6 months ago I tried stained glass for the first time and it was so hard. I listened and learnt and just kept trying and now finally I have launched my first collection!

“First light fixture!”

Just finished and installed my first stained glass light fixture. I’m fairly new to stained glass (this is my 6th piece) and someone asked me to make them a light fixture. I wasn’t at all confident I could pull it off but figured I’d try anyway. Blew my own socks off with this one

My stained glass education was very unusual haha. I lived on a hobby farm in Panama and had a 20 year old Panamanian guy as my teacher. He didn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish, so I just watched him and tried to copy him. The only feedback I got was a thumbs up or down.

“First one I’m not embarrassed to show you guys”

This is my 4th piece.

I found a lot of it in the scrap bins at my local glass shop.

“A piece I made to celebrate our first kiddo being born”

Dimensions are about 3 ft wide by 2 feet tall. I had a framer build the wooden frame. It does have a zinc channel inside of the wooden frame to help provide stability. The bars are from the existing window that is secured in front of. The hardest part was grinding out all of the curves on the flowers.

That’s a mocking bird, true to size (maybe a little big).