I created the "stained glass" for the living room bay ceiling opening, which can be a bit tricky since there are multiple ways to make miniature stained glass. You can use traditional stained glass techniques or opt for simpler methods like 3M lead tape or car decal tape for the "lead." I prefer the latter approach.
For this project, I used the same materials as I did for the stained glass in The Beacon Hill Dollhouse - clear nail polish and permanent markers. I printed a stained glass design from my computer to use as a template. Initially, the clear acetate I had didn't work because it wouldn't frost over when painted with clear nail polish. This hazy frost is essential for mimicking glass. I ended up using some leftover acetate from the dollhouse kit windows, just managing to find a piece that fit almost perfectly into the opening I created in the living room bay roof. Fortunately, this opening isn't very large.
I started by applying a coat of clear nail polish to the acetate, which hazed over nicely. Then, I placed the stained glass template under the acetate with the nail polish side facing up and used markers to color in the design. This process transfers the design onto the acetate while leaving the underside shiny, creating a glass-like effect that faces outward from the dollhouse. On this shiny exterior side, I used a fine tip brush and black paint to outline the pattern, giving it a leaded glass appearance. This step requires patience but is forgiving; it doesn't need to be perfect. In real stained glass, lines can be slightly curved, so your hand doesn't have to be perfectly steady. If you stray from the pattern, you can easily fix it with a toothpick, which scrapes off any excess acrylic paint from the acetate. A craft knife can also work but should be used carefully to avoid scratching. Painting on the exterior side makes the "lead" appear slightly raised, similar to real stained glass. I avoided using a black marker for these lines because it turns purple on acetate and wouldn't look right.
Although it's hard to see in pictures, when light shines on the acetate, it resembles stained glass beautifully—making it a delightful addition to my dollhouse project.
