Tips on how to Paint Short term Stained Glass On Home windows (With Paint Recipe

Posted by Andrade on March 29th, 2021

Paint Autumn Leaves On Glass - Flower Patch Farmhouse™

Filed Under: Blog, Decor, DIY Tutorial, Let's Enjoy Fall! Tagged With: DIY projects, How to paint

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Paint Autumn Leaves on glass windows for beautiful DIY Fall decor. An easy beginner friendly tutorial with video.

This vintage window makes the perfect surface to paint Autumn leaves on glass. Hang it or set it on a console table along with pumpkins, mums and other fabulous elements of Fall for a unique DIY decor vignette.

The video shows each leaf being painted

Too busy now to watch? PIN for later.

Forgive the low sound at first, my microphone battery was dying but I figured it out and replaced it. .

This would be pretty on the front porch or garden room as well as inside your home. The acrylic paint will hold up just fine as long as it is on a covered porch. My supply list for this project is at the end of the post.

You can use any color of paints you have or wish, I listed what I had used for this project but it is by no means a rigid rule.

Painting on glass is very similar to painting on other surfaces with one caveat, you have to use a lighter touch to spread the paint without lifting it back off. I have to do a second coat for opacity though others seem to do just fine with one.

See how the first coat is not opaque? That is normal.

With the window I first painted a light circle on the back to give me a guideline to follow, it will be washed off once the leaves are all painted. I just used a plate to draw around with a loaded liner paint brush. You can see it in some of the photos, it is a yellow color.

I place a leaf pattern under the glass to follow. I painted this undercoat in one solid color, leaf above is undercoated with the color called Autumn Leaves.

You can see how much more opaque it is with the second coat.

Some I do the undercoat in a double load, but the choice is up to you. On both I used a pattern placed under the glass to follow but as you can tell I am not exact, it is merely a guideline.

In the video I paint all the leaves for you so you get an idea of how to move your brush. This one below is done without a pattern beneath. The wonderful thing about hand painting is no two are ever just alike.

After letting the base coat dry thoroughly (you can use a blow dryer to speed it up), then you can put on the second coat trying hard not to lift the base coat, it can be tricky but you get the hang of it.

You can see how much more opaque it is with just the second coat. In the video I share how I clean up the edges.

I still wasn’t satisfied with this one so I added another layer.

That is much better.

Painting on glass windows is great fun but what is also wonderful is if you make a mistake it is so easy to wash off to begin again. Or you can wash it all off and paint a winter scene once the season changes.

If you use regular craft acrylics you can even paint the windows of your home.

Ready to get started?

- Supply List:

Plaid FolkArt Paint in the following Colors

(for painted glassware like cups, wine glasses etc. I would use the FolkArt Enamels but on this project I just used regular craft paint so it can be washed off.

Autumn Leaves

Gilded Oak

Raw Sienna

Apple Orchard

True Burgundy

School Bus Yellow

Medium Yellow

Cinnamon

Brushes

Painting Books I enjoy on Glass Painting

Donna Dewberry Glass and Ceramics

Painting on Porcelain and Ceramic by Priscilla Hauser

For another post on painting Fall Leaves CLICK HERE.

Happy Painting!

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1. Mary Coakley says

October 28, 2016 at 11:44 am

Love your painting on glass,its beautiful,frankly I did not notice any flaws,You are very honest.

2. Jill says

October 29, 2016 at 7:06 am

Where did you get the patterns for the leaves. I love this but need the guidance like you suggested.

October 29, 2016 at 7:19 am

I traced leaves I found on the ground and I have used graphics I found online. I just do a google search of leaf graphics. Also my other leaf tutorials have files attached you can download. They are linked (red) in this post. 🙂

- Jill says

October 29, 2016 at 7:49 am

Wonderful!! Thank you!

October 30, 2016 at 6:29 am

You are most welcome, Jill.

3. Shannon says

October 30, 2016 at 7:56 am

I love watching your videos. Very informative and fun.

Your voice is so soothing. 🙂

If I use regular craft paint on my window will I have to scrape it off to change the design?

October 30, 2016 at 8:11 am

I usually just wash it off using the solution included in this post. http://www.flowerpatchfarmhouse.com/faster-and-easier-window-cleaning-tips-from-a-pro/ The alcohol really cuts the paint well. You can speed up the process a bit by using a razor blade after letting the solution sit for about 10 to 30 seconds on the painted glass.

I should probably include that in my post. Thank you for asking.

P.

4. Julie says

October 30, 2016 at 10:50 am

What do you seal it with if you want to make sure it stays nice? Julie

- Pamela says

October 30, 2016 at 12:25 pm

The windows I paint are not exposed to water so I don’t bother sealing it and they are temporary. If I was doing one I wanted to remain permanent I would paint it with the enamel paints. They air cure in 21 days or so and if it is glassware that will be washed you can bake the enamel paints.

The windows I painted at the gallery were there for over 3 months but under an eave, they looked great when I went to scrub them off to paint a new design. So the paints hold up very well even if not sealed.

5. [email protected] says

November 4, 2016 at 3:00 am

Your painting tutorial was super! Loved the blended colors and using a template makes this project doable. You have so much talent! Beautiful!

6. Linda Primmer says

November 4, 2016 at 12:50 pm

Very creative and pretty project. love the leaves. Great that you just copied leaved off the ground. Thank you for sharing at DI&DI.

7. Patti says

September 13, 2018 at 10:44 am

I love this! Creating something with old windows is on my inspiration list. I still haven’t figure out just yet what to make. Maybe when I find the perfect window it will come to me. You hand painted leaf wreath is gorgeous. I have to take some time and practice some of your painting techniques. Painting is some I also want to learn. So much to do, so little time.

8. Peggy Williams says

September 17, 2018 at 5:22 am

Absolutely love this tutorial. The window looks great! Thanks.