Thank you! :-)

I got most of my supplies at Michaels. Michaels sells the Gallery Glass (GG) paints that are best for applying directly on the vertical window. I also bought a few paints and a couple of tools from http://www.windowbutterflies.com/index.html. She sells the cling and the paints that are great for those. My advice is don't buy the GG liquid leading unless you have the world's steadiest hand.

For my window in the bathroom I did it all right on the window with Gallery Glass paints and the instant leading lines.

For my son's window I did the main art elements (butterfly, flowers, arc at bottom) with the paints from the windowbutterflies site onto clear vinyl clings. Then I cut them out and stuck them on the window. All of my straight lines are GG instant leading. Then I painted the big areas with the GG directly on the window. I also hot glue gunned on those clear marbles with the flat backs.

Michaels (and eBay) sells lots of patterns and even kits with the tough parts pre-formed for you. With the patterns you draw them onto your window with transfer paper. Then just peel and stick the leading lines. Then make "solder points" where the leading lines meet (never cross them; cut them) which covers over any gaps and makes it look more like the solder points in a real stained glass window. I used the liquid leading from the butterflies site for that -- it's easier to control than the GG one. The painting is easy, but don't get too much on or it sags down -- better to do multiple layers. You just apply the paint right on the window with the tip of the bottle.

The clear texture is easy -- you just make tiny little circles with the tip of the bottle until it's all filled in. On my first window it came out very thick so on my son's window I just applied the clear in zig-zag lines more sparsely, and used the tool I got from butterflies to make the little circles until it was all filled in.

I have to go put on at least one more layer of green on the stem on my son's window, but I'll try to get a picture of it while I'm there -- I've done a lot more work on it and I'm really pleased with it.

It took a little while because you don't want to smear wet paint, so you go take a break while the part you just painted dries. I talked with one gal who did her windows ten years ago and they're still beautiful, so your time is well spent. And yes, you can clean the finished window with Windex or whatever you use, just like your other windows (but I do it gently). If you're working on your window at home it's easy. You just work on it for a while and then take a break, then work again when you have time. So it took me a few days to complete it but it's not like I was working all day.

I was pretty religious about cleaning the tips of the bottles well after each use. You don't want them clogged when you go to use them again.

No, you don't need any assistance and there's no room for an assistant. There's nothing heavy to lift or any reason for an assistant. All you do is peel and stick and cut, and squeeze a little paint bottle.

If you do your own design just do it on big paper and transfer it to the window with transfer paper. Use a ruler for the straight lines. I did mine on the computer and then somehow figured out how to print them out the size I wanted and tape all the papers together. But I like doing my own designs. You don't need to.

I did try putting the pattern outside the window but it was too hard on a double-paned window to see where the lines really were, so I advise the transfer paper. Then it's just peel and stick your leading lines and paint. You'll need a good exacto knife to cut the leading lines.

If you're unsure, then try some decals first. You do those on the clings (I think JoAnn fabrics sells the clings too). So pick a line drawing you like, lay the clear cling vinyl over it, tape it down, pipe your leading lines on and when they're dry paint. I did a hummingbird/flower one and stuck it to my sliding glass door so people wouldn't try to walk through it. I printed my pattern off something I found on the computer. I think that would be the easy/fun way to start. You can do little fun ones for your kids' windows.

If you can color in a coloring book you can do this! You'll be amazed and delighted with your newfound skills. It's fun. Let me know, okay? I can't wait to see what you do.

I forgot to say, you can do the clings right at your dining room table. The butterflies gal has an instructional video on her site you can watch. I like her paints best for doing the clings. Oh, and don't believe you can do a design on glass at your table and peel it off. I tried that and when I peeled it off the glass it stretched and tore. Use the clings.

Mistakes are easy to wipe up on the window when they're wet (keep paper towels handy). After it's dried you can peel your mistakes off with your little knife. Don't be scared -- it's just paint!

Thank you for your quick response! I'm afraid I have to save your post for later, though, as I am knee-deep in a sewing project and de-cluttering the rest of the house right now. Also, it's cold and so is the glass, so I suppose that may make a difference (or is that an excuse?!?)

It is the perfect solution to my front door, and I am anxious to get going on it. I may also do as you suggest for my French door - I don't know how many birds have knocked themselves out on it. I'm going to watch the butterflies video right now. THANK YOU!!! I think it's always easier to do a project if I have a coach who offers lots of tips.

Thanks for the detailed instructions. I will keep them in mind if I can think of a spot for it! Yours turned out lovely - I really admire them.

Thanks to you both for your very kind words. It's really fun to do. I want to see pictures of what you create!

Sherrmann, no cold won't hurt a thing. Extreme heat might melt the paint, as they tell us not to try a decal in our car windows. But regular weather in/on your house and even steamy showers don't hurt it.

How about doing some decals for friends for Christmas presents or for stocking stuffers for your kids? That would be a great way to get your feet wet, and a great way to justify it - lol! The decals don't take much time. In fact if you have older kids you might want to help them make decals for their grandparents or teacher? They'd love that!

I *hate* it when birds hit my windows, poor little things -- and I have parrots, too. I'd carefully shown my birds repeatedly that the windows were solid, but every once in a while one would still try to fly through them. In my last house when I got new windows installed I had grids put in them and that stopped it. But yes, a decal or two should stop it too.

I have a big clear window above my front door. I really want a stained glass window there, but I don't want to stand on a ladder to make one. So I think I'll look for an old window in a salvage yard, make my "stained glass" at my dining room table, then ask my son to hang it in the window for me. My sidelight is already privacy glass, darn it.

Last Mango, I hope you find the perfect spot for one!

On the butterflies video -- I didn't do that smearing technique she shows on my windows; I wanted them to look like real stained glass. But I did it for fun on my decal and it was very easy and pretty. That gal is wonderfully friendly and helpful on the phone and her paint colors are very dynamic -- but they're for working on the flat, not for applying directly to the windows... though I've added a thin coat to the windows to intensify color. They are a bit more runny than the GG.

The clear smells exactly like Elmer's glue, and that's what my son thinks it is. Could be. That gives you an idea of the consistency. You'll want ventilation if you're doing a lot of the clear. I doubt it will poison you but it will stink for a while. I had to open the front door a crack while I was doing the massive amount of it on my son's window and he said it stunk when he first got home.

Let me know if you have questions when you get started. I'll be happy to help.