Stained Glass Window Patterns - Five Ways to Find Them on the Internet

Knowing where Monster action figures find stained glass window patterns is difficult, especially if you have just recently started doing glass work. Let me guide you to a variety of ways to find them, with the added bonus that most of the patterns are free.

The search will be a bit easier if you Tarzan action figure what theme/type of pattern you're looking for. However, browsing through patterns to come up with a theme can be fun, plus you'll get ideas for future projects.

If you are just starting to work with glass, I would suggest keeping the pattern simple. Look for something with easy pieces to cut. Depending on the size of the window, the pattern should have no more than 30 to 50 pieces for a window that's over 1 1/2 square feet in size, or 15 to 30 pieces if the window is smaller. To determine the square footage of a pattern or window, multiply the width times the height, in inches, then Dell comics by 144. To convert metric to square feet, multiply width by height in centimeters, then divide by 930.25.

1. There are several thousand free patterns available. Search for your theme by typing in "free xxx patterns for stained glass". Make sure you replace the x's with whatever theme you are searching for, such as flowers, angels, dogs, etc. If you don't know what theme you want, leave out the x's all together so that it says free patterns, instead of free xxx patterns.

2. If you can't find any free patterns that suit you, leave out the word "free". That will bring you results that include patterns for sale. There are many patterns on the internet that cost just a few dollars, which is far less than buying a book. Some web sites will even custom design a pattern for you.

3. There are many forums online, with people very willing to help you find a pattern, or to share one of their original patterns with you. Many of the forums have a picture gallery where people display their work. Have a look through the pictures. If you see something you like, ask on the forum, where the pattern came from. You can search for forums by typing in "stained glass forums".

It is against copyright laws to copy patterns from books to share with someone else, so please don't ask anyone on a forum to do that for you. You're likely to get a virtual slap on the hand! Most people on the forums are aware of copyright laws and shy away from openly copying and Kidrobot you a pattern from a book, but they will be very happy to tell you what book that pattern came from.

4. Search for quilt or stencil patterns by typing in "free quilt patterns" or "free stencil patterns". Many of them seem to be ready made for stained glass window patterns. Mosaic patterns are another possibility.

5. Finally, you could design your own patterns from photographs, magazine pictures, coloring books, and pictures books (especially children's books). I have found great pleasure in taking pictures of flowers, then using the pictures as the basis of my design. Designing your own can be fun as well as rewarding. You will have your own one of a kind original. There are several designing tutorials available that can be found by doing a Google search for them.

Another way to design your own patterns is to buy Pattern Wizard or Glass Eye 2000. Both programs have free trial downloads. You will get quite a few patterns, as a bonus, with the free trials, as well as a fair length of time to try out designing your own stained glass window patterns before you make a decision to buy.

If you're looking for free patterns for stained glass, visit Sue Spire's web site at http://www.freepatternsforstainedglass.com/freestainedglasspatternssearch.html to use the easy to navigate and time saving free patterns search.

While you are visiting her web site, learn how to design for stained glass, browse through the tutorials, or have a look at the photos gallery, which are just a few of the many topics that make her web site unique.

Aluminum Can Crafts - Interesting Craft Ideas

Kids love crafts, and aluminum cans are a perfect craft base because Axis and Allies are 1970 Topps baseball cards abundance. The aluminum makes them sturdy and sometimes waterproof (depending on what is put over them).

Free Aluminum Can Crafts - Ghostie

For this project you will need to gather an aluminum pop can, clear acrylic spray, white and black paint, fishing line, paint brush, masking tape and scissors. Before you begin, remove Superman comics tab from the top of the can. The can will need to be crushed in a certain way, so it might be a good idea to have some extra cans around in case the originals don't get crushed the way you'd like them to. For the silhouette of the ghostie, crush the top part of the can in one direction, opposite the bottom portion. If sharp edges remain, these should be smoothed over with masking tape. Depending on the type of paint you're using and the colors in the crushed can, it may take several coats to cover the can so it appears The Lizard white.

The black paint is now used to create the mouth and eyes. The opening of the can, where the tab was pulled, should be used as the mouth, and eyes can be hand painted above that opening. Wiggle eyes can be used, but it's best to glue these on once the whole project has been sealed. Allow the paint to dry, and then use one more dot of white inside the black eyes. You can then create a 3-d effect with the eyes to allow the white dots to dry then add two more black dots. This makes it look like an pupil and gives it a little more interesting detail. Seal the ghost with acrylic spray using as many coats as you wish. Attach the fishing line to the back of the ghostie then hang it from a window or doorway!

Free Aluminum Can Crafts - Christmas Tree

You'll need 27 emptied and rinsed aluminum cans, Christmas tree lights (one or two strands), spray paint, a hot glue gun, a foam core board or piece of plywood, and duct tape. Arrange the cans by creating a trunk of three cans in two rows, glued together with hot glue. On top of this, six cans are glued together and lay on top of the "trunk." On top of the six row (or first layer), create a five can "branch," then four, then so on, until you have one on the top, so it resembles a Christmas tree. Spray paint the tree whatever color you'd like, secure the lights with duct tape, pushing the lights between the cans. Glue your tree on to the piece of plywood if it is to be hung outside, or use the foam core for indoor use. Try using stickers as ornaments, and even a tree topper!

Free Aluminum Can Crafts - Cow

Items for this project include white, black and pink paint, white felt, wiggly eyes, an aluminum can (crushed) and acrylic spray paint. Crush the can so the head of the cow (top of the can) is crushed above the bottom portion. If there are jagged edges in the tab (which needs to be pulled out), soften with masking tape. Paint completely with white paint, allow to dry. Pain black cow spots on the can (they resemble clouds), and a pink nose on the tab portion of the can. Attach white (or black) felt triangles to the back of the cow's head. Seal with acrylic spray and when this process is complete, glue on wiggly eyes. Instant cow! Following these simple directions and with minor adjustments, you can make an entire barnyard!

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

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