Stained glass is an amazing art form that has ancient origins. Stained
glass can be transparent or translucent, depending on the type of glass that
is used.
Stained glass windows
decorate the churches and
cathedrals all around the
world, and tell us things about
the people and ideas of those
living long ago.
Like many other things, the
ancient Egyptians were the
first to experiment with glass
as an art form. They made
beads out of hot glass as early
as 2700 BC.
Archaeologists found
the earliest evidence of a
stained glass window at St.
Paul's Monastery in Jarrow, United Kingdom. The window was found in
fragments and is believed to be from around 686 AD.
Stained glass art became popular as a hobby in this country starting in
the 1960s. Stained glass windows and "sun-catchers" are used in many
places as decorations today.
Have you ever seen a stained glass window? Where?
What is
supplies needed:
• Crayons (use old broken crayons)
• Wax paper
• Iron or hair dryer
• Scissors
• Twine or ribbon
• Crayon sharpener, pencil sharpener or grater
• Hole punch
• Plastic bags, muffin tin, or small dishes or cups
how to make the ornament
1. Begin by removing papers from old broken crayons.
2. Use a sharpener and sharpen crayons to get shavings. Or
grate crayons with a
kitchen grater.
3. Add each color
of crayon shavings to a
Ziploc bag, sections of a
muffin tin or individual
dishes or container and
set aside.
4. Lay down a large
piece of wax paper on
a protected surface.
Sprinkle crayon shavings
onto the wax paper.
Have fun experimenting
with different color
combinations!
5. Add a second piece
of wax paper on top of
the shavings. Iron across the wax paper on the lowest setting
until all of the wax has melted. (Iron over an old dishtowel to
protect your iron.) Or use a hairdryer for about 15 minutes to
melt it. (Ask your adult to help with this step.)
6. Allow the paper to cool and then trace a circle onto the
paper. Use a cup or for tracing the circles more easily.
7. Cut each circle out.
8. Use a hole punch to add a hole to the top of the
ornament. Cut a piece of twine or pretty Christmas ribbon to
create a loop for hanging the ornament on the tree.
Recycled crayon
"stained glass"
ornaments
stained
glass?
sources: www.khanacademy.org, www.workingtheflame.com
www.officialKidsmag.com • DecemBer 2022 • 27
