Stained Glass Blue Suncatcher

canada goose outlet usa Just as a dreamcatcher canada goose outlet jackets traps all the bad dreams canada goose outlet , this suncatcher traps sunlight to brighten your day. This started the suncatcher idea. I wanted to use a hexagon pattern like a canada goose outlet nyc dreamcatcher, but also wanted more realistic feathers than glass suncatchers usually provide. I made these by drawing what I wanted, scanning my drawings into the computer, and then using the smart line function in Microsoft Word to trace canada goose outlet new york city out my pattern. Pro tip: clipart works as great stained glass patterns. As long you can cut out the paper pieces, you can likely make it out of glass. canada goose outlet usa

canada goose outlet phone number The feather patterns are about 5 1/2″ tall and the dreamcatcher is 9″ in diameter (both provided above). It is helpful to print out two copies of your pattern, label the pieces identically on both copies, and then cut out the pieces on one of the copies. This way you can check an individual piece’s dimensions and see how it fits into the project at large. canada goose outlet phone number

canada goose outlet winnipeg Step 3: Color Selection canada goose outlet winnipeg

canada goose outlet florida While this suncatcher would be gorgeous if it used all the colors of the rainbow, I really wanted to evoke the feeling of a bright, summer day, so blue was the natural color to choose. I used a variety of blues to create a patchwork border around the suncatcher, showing how versatile one color can be in your artwork. (Other frame possibilities are wood grain glass, the rainbow, or a pure white border.) I also wanted to accurately depict the “threads” of a dreamcatcher, so I used clear glass with straight line striations that run through it for center. In the last step I add a black patina on the threads, which helps the center pop. Layout your pieces carefully and thoughtfully. I try to accomplish two goals at once: 1, I actively conserve my glass, cutting only what I need. 2, I consider how the grain or pattern of the glass will affect my final image. As you see with the above picture you can get some crazy cuts to help conserve glass. Start by laying out your cut pattern pieces on the glass and draw around the final shape of the pieces. Then, mark out the cuts you will make to separate the pieces. I like to leave a little extra canada goose outlet store space around my piece and then grind to my final shape, as this lets me perfect the parts and insure they fit tightly. With only a glass cutter and patience you can cut out some complex, tight curves. The trick is to use a glass cutter that is not dull, oil your cutter regularly, and tap the crack along your score to release your shape. Make your cut firmly, but not so hard you can see chips popping off. Surprisingly little pressure can achieve great results as long as it is consistent. Then tap the ball on the end of your glass cutter on the opposite side of your score line. Begin on one side and then move to the other and repeat. Insure the glass is only a few inches off the work surface because, as you tap, a crack will appear out of your score line and then your cut piece will break free soon after. The amount of control you get with this method is incredible, and I did not break a single piece of glass with this score and tap method. It is incredibly satisfying to not have to re cut a particularly canada goose outlet uk sale complex part! I like to cut all my pieces out and do a quick clean of my area before moving on to the next step. Be sure to keep all of your pieces organized and labeled, especially those identical hexagons. Like I said in canada goose outlet in usa the last step, I like to leave a little extra on my glass so I can grind to my final shape. However, too much grinding can be exhausting so be sure to trim extra with the glass cutter canada goose outlet toronto factory if you left more than a 1/4″ of glass around your lines. Be sure to fill your reservoir with plenty of water. I also pull the sponge out and pour canada goose outlet online a little grinder wheel coolant on it. After replacing your sponge, turn on the grinder and let it run until the head is completely dampened before you start to grind. While you wait, set up your manila folders (or other guard) around the glass cutter; this will help with glass spraying everywhere. canada goose outlet florida

canada goose sale uk Put on your safety glasses now! Hold your glass down securely with the finger tips of both hands and apply even firm pressure to the grinding head. Take off small layers at a time or grind to your final shape by slowly carving out the piece, whichever works best for you. I find myself switching between both methods. Either way, don’t use too much pressure; if you’re bogging down your grinder you are using way too much pressure and are liable to break your glass canada goose outlet store uk or your machine. Grind all pieces, checking the shape canada goose jacket outlet with the cut pattern pieces as you go along. You will likely need to reapply the sharpie as it gets washed off from the grinding coolant/water mixture. Silver sharpie, while easier to see, needs to dry for a long time or the smallest amount of water will remove it. Some people rubber cement the pattern piece to the glass insuring the pattern is canada goose outlet black friday always there, but I do not enjoy the cleanup, and I also like to save and reuse my pattern pieces. After each individual piece is ground, place it on the overall pattern, and insure it fits next canada goose outlet shop to its brothers and sisters. To do this, we must first clean our pieces thoroughly with glass cleaner, as we canada goose outlet uk want the greatest amount of adhesion as possible. Keep track and label the pieces you spent so much time grinding to perfection. canada goose sale uk

canada goose outlet england I used two different copper foil tapes in this project. One is black backed and was used on the transparent pieces to give the illusion that the “threads” go all the way through the glass. The other was copper lined, which I used for the rest of the piece. canada goose outlet england

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