I have a thing for stained glass. There’s just something so reverently beautiful about rays of sunlight pouring through jewel-tinted glass, casting colorful shadows on the floor. And I’ve always wanted to learn how to make stained glass… but that seems like a pretty time-consuming and expensive hobby. So that’s why I’m especially excited about this project: I’ve found a way to recreate the beauty of stained glass with leaves gathered from Joanna’s backyard! Keep scrolling to create your very own mandala-inspired, stained glass art.
Materials:
- leaves in various colors, sizes and shapes
- hanging frames
- double-sided tape
Tools:
Start by gathering all your foliage! Mosey around your backyard or down your neighborhood street and clip a wide range of leaves with different shapes, colors and sizes. Make sure you get a few of each type so you can create symmetrical patterns.
Next, press the leaves using your handy flower press (and check out a couple of our other dried-flower DIYs here and here). Layer the leaves in between sheets of tissue paper and cardboard, tighten the nuts and let dry until the moisture has been pressed out, about a week.
Once the leaves are ready, it’s time to assemble the stained glass!
Start playing with the arrangement of the leaves, using mandalas as a reference. You’ll want to begin in the center of the frame and keep the pattern symmetrical, building outward as you go.
Once you’re happy with the pattern, use small pieces of double-sided tape so secure the leaves to the frame.
Now all that’s left to do is find a sunny window in which to hang your new stained-glass masterpieces. Easy, right?!
The Leaf Mandala Stained Glass
photography by Jojotastic, DIY by Hannah Cross.
Get more DIYs here!
