Easy Crayon Faux Stain Glass Effect Craft Paper Project

Even though this project is very simple, it is next level when you use faux stained glass paper to create crafts. Crayons are timeless fun! Melted crayons have even more creativity! With a few simple items that you may already have on hand, you can make your own faux 'stained glass' paper. Then make sun catchers, luminaries, paper house windows, cards, and other crafts.

We made this easy project in school when I was a kid. They had a long row of windows that were lined with our colorful art. I can still remember the awe of seeing the light coming thru all the colors and designs.

If you can...

• Pick colors
• Scrape wax
• Use an iron
• Use scissors
• You can do this!

It's as simple as making crayon shavings by grating or sharpening crayons, Placing in between wax paper, heating with an iron until melted, cut out your design with scissors, and hang on the window with tape! That is really all it takes! You can be as simple or fancy as you want! If you aren't a kid, bring your inner child out to play!

Supplies

Materials

• Crayons
• Crayon sharpener or grater
• Wax paper
• Paper bags, cardboard
• Black construction or cardstock paper (optional)
• Craft Iron
• White Glue or Glue stick (optional)
• Exacto knife (optional)
• Scotch tape
• Scissors
• Design to cut out

I added a few PDF files of designs for you to use.

Step 1: Start With a Design

Pick a design and color scheme. I wanted to do a triple moon design so I picked purples, blues, pink, and yellow. I printed out the image on the computer and laid the wax paper on top so I could see the design and see how much wax coverage I needed. I picked my colors and tested them on the printed paper design to get a feel for the color. Pick colors that go well together when mixed.

For design inspiration- think of shapes!

Do you like astronomy? Make a set of planets in the coordinating colors!

Nature lover? Leaves! Butterflies! Clouds! Moons!

So. Many. Possibilities.

Step 2: Ready the Wax Shavings

Use a crayon sharpener, grater, or Exacto knife to make crayon shavings. Lay the wax paper over the design print out so you can concentrate the shavings over the areas to be cut out. I shave the crayons right over the wax paper, using the tip of the crayon to distribute them where I want them to be. Once you are satisfied with the amount of shavings, top with another piece of wax paper.

The crayon sharpener makes nice, fine shavings, but is time consuming. I ended up just chunking off shavings with the Exacto knife!

Step 3: Iron the Wax Into Melted Magic

Use a piece of cardboard, or double up on paper grocery bags, as a base to protect the surface you are going to be ironing on.

Cut a single layer of a paper bag and place it on top. Heat iron to the lowest setting.

Place the hot iron on top holding it in place for 10-15 seconds as it heats and melts the wax.

You can hold it still for a color pop or move the iron around to blend the color.

Stop and check as you go along to see if you are getting the effect you want. This is the exciting part! Making the colors blend and melt into a surprise pattern of colors!

Step 4: Finalize Your Creation

Once you've made your colorful sheet of paper stained glass, tape your design on with blue painter's tape. Feel free to fussy cut, or utilize your favorite part of the colorful paper to get the look you want for your design.

Cut out your design. Use cellophane tape to adhere to a window. Can also be used on mirrors too!

Optional step- For a framed stained glass effect, stack two pieces of black (or any color) construction paper together. Draw a design on the top piece of paper with a pencil. This will be the cutout for the stained glass window. You can get as creative as you like, drawing grids, filigree, shapes. I've included some PDF downloads for you to print. Use an Exacto knife to cut the design out of both pieces of construction paper, tape the glass paper in on the corners and glue the frame of paper together, showcasing your creation in the center.

Step 5: Details for Consideration

This is so easy, preschoolers can do it! (You have to do the hot and sharp parts for them). Get the whole family in on this one! It goes fast and is an instant gratification project! Unless you make it in the middle of the night, like I did, and have to wait until the sun comes up to hang in the windows to enjoy and take pictures!

Caution - Wax is flammable. Use caution when heating your project. Smoke is a precursor to flame, so if it smokes, the iron is too hot!

You may want to use an iron and a grater that is dedicated to crafts when ironing and grating crayon wax.

Be creative and experiment! I liked using the white crayon too! The most underused crayon ever! Finally found a use for it!

So many creative ways to use this neat project! Get fancy with needle and thread and make a mobile. Trace cookie cutters for shapes. Use autumn colors and make leaf cut-outs to decorate the windows and table. Cover a whole window for privacy without blocking all the light. These can be used to line windows on a paper house, luminaries, LED candle holders, ornaments, homemade cards. Decorate a lampshade with a few leaf cutouts and see how you like it!. Make a wreath! Use in any paper craft! They are even pretty on a mirror!

Crafting and making art is the ultimate rebellion, and brings meaning and beauty to life! I hope you are inspired to make your own too.

tl;dr

Make crayon Shavings

Iron until Melted

Cut out Shape

Tape to Window

Bask in the GLOW