How to Make a Stained Glass Paper Clip

Materials and Tools:

computer
scanner
color printer
adhesive-backed paper
printer paper
stained glass
copper foil tape
20-gauge wire
oversize paper clip
flux
soldering iron and solder
glass cleaner
glass enamel paint
paintbrush
electric grinding machine
safety glasses
glass scorer
glass-breaking pliers
burnishing tool
scissors
glass bead
towel
needle-nose pliers

Steps:

1. Draw a hibiscus flower pattern on paper. Scan it into the computer and print it out on adhesive-backed paper. Print out another copy of the design on regular paper for a guide.

2. Number the petals and cut them out individually.

3. Peel away the backing on the sticky paper and adhere the individual petals to a sheet of stained glass, following the grain of the glass.

4. Score the glass around each petal with a glass scorer and break the glass with glass-breaking pliers. Place the petals on the paper guide.

5. Wearing safety glasses, grind the edges of each petal with an electric glass grinder.

6. Remove the adhesive-backed paper from each petal. Clean the petals with glass cleaner and a towel.

7. Wrap the edges of each petal in copper foil tape and burnish. Apply flux to the copper foil.

8. Place the petals on the paper guide. Solder the petals together, using solder and a soldering iron. Lift the petals while soldering to give the flower dimension.

9. String beads on a short piece of wire for the flower stamen. Curl the wire at both ends with needle-nose pliers to secure the beads.

10. Apply flux and solder one end of the wire to the center of the flower.

11. Wrap one end of an oversize paper clip with copper foil and burnish it.

12. Apply flux to the copper foil and solder the back of the flower to the end of the paper clip.

13. Highlight the petals with brush strokes of pink paint, moving from the center outward. Let the paint dry.