Whether you make stained glass art or enjoy buying it, you have plenteous stained glass gift ideas. While most people are familiar with stained glass window panels that are present in many churches, you don’t have to be a highly skilled stained glass artist to make simple stained glass gifts. Many resources are available for learning to craft stained glass art including stained glass training classes at community colleges, books and DVD’s from Amazon.com or your local library, and even You Tube videos. The stained glass tutorials that I have read explain that modern stained glass making involves the steps of tracing patterns, cutting, filing, soldering with the copper foil method (fusing metal by melting), and polishing. The vibrant color of stained glass is achieved by adding metallic salts to glass while it is melted. Specifically, gold chloride produces red, chromic oxide produces emerald green, and tin compounds produce white. Both stained glass artisans and buyers will benefit from the following gift ideas, the materials needed to craft them, and online craft shops to buy the finished products.
Stained Glass Wind Chimes or Sun Catcher Mobiles
Stained glass wind chimes or sun catcher mobiles make excellent gifts for hanging on the porch or securely on a tree. The materials needed to craft them include stained glass, grease pencils, a glass cutter, a glass drill, glass oil running pliers, a diamond file, copper tape, and a fishing line craft ring. Those who are interested in buying them already assembled will find some great choices online at Amazon.com and Etsy.com. A notable Etsy craft shop that sells hand stained glass wind chimes is Desert Creations by Deborah Hanson . This shop carries various-sized stained glass wind chimes in vibrant colors such as teal blue, orange, maple, green, and pink.
Stained Glass Lamps
A stained glass lamp is a wonderful gift for someone special. According to the tutorial available on The Store Finder’s website the materials needed include 2 copies of the stained glass design pattern, 7/32-inch copper foil, copper foil shears, breaker/grozier pliers, solder, flux, flux brush, glass polish, 16-gauge copper wire, a ½-inch vase cap, a lamp base, and black patina.
Stained Glass Earrings
I love earring drops that are made with stained glass. Foiled and drilled stained glass earring findings are available for you to make stained glass earring in a matter of minutes. More convenient, you have the option of buying from sellers who sell stained glass earrings and who will even add custom art. I adore the stained glass earrings crafted by the Etsy craft shop Paula Smits such as “Balls of Fire Dichroic Glass Dangle Earrings” featuring the colors of burgundy, gold, and black and sold for $12.50. Paula Smits Stained Glass creations are crafted with hand grinded and kiln fired glass.
Stained Glass Pendants
Stained glass pendants make creative gifts since they can be cut to fit into lockets and worn as a necklace. Some of the most exquisite stained glass pendants are encased with dried flowers. The basic materials required to make these pendants include a grease pencil, a glass cutter, round and running nose pliers, a diamond file, jeweler’s glue and jewelry wire. Paula Smits Etsy craft shop also sells stained glass pendants including “Puzzle Pendant” for $17 and “Dichroic Glass Heart Necklace- 6″ ” for $21.
Stained Glass Ornaments
During the holidays, stained glass ornaments are in demand. The Etsy shop The Glass Menagerie located in New York, sells the lovely “Red Heart Ornament” hand crafted with ruby red glass shaped as a heart encasing an Austrian lead crystal teardrop for $10. Another of my favorites is “Stained Glass Cardinal” sold for $15.
Having reviewed these stained glass gift ideas, you sense how rewarding it is to both craft and buy stained glass art. Stained glass artisans have various resources for obtaining free stained glass patterns such as on the Stained Glass Pattern website or they may choose to draw custom art. Above all, anyone who receives a stained glass gift will especially cherish it for its brilliance!
Sources
Barnett, D. “Stained Glass/Making A Panel Stained Glass Lamp.” Thestorefinder.com.
“Free Stained Glass Patterns.”Stainedglasspatterns.com.
“What Causes Color in Stained and Colored Glass?” Geology.com .
Your Place to Buy and Sell All Things Handmade, Vintage, and Supplies.”Etsy.
