STAINED GLASS RUINS

INSPIRATION FOR THIS BUILD:

A demonstration on haunted attraction props by Mr. Allen Hopps (YT: Stiltbeast Studios) was the basis for trying a unique approach to miniature stained glass window creation.

With the introduction of Dall-E 2 in late 2022, I experimented with idea of AI-assisted custom stained glass windows.

The early prompts that were entered yielded super interesting results - though incomplete as a whole.

AI only partially generated the works, which required the photos to be further edited in Adobe Photoshop Elements to complete the window type I was looking for.

A few different styles and shapes were melded together to create a somewhat unique and mysterious window design.

Though a .png is fine for Cricut Design Space, the design was also converted to an .svg file in Inkscape. I feel it's a cleaner cut with non-pixellated edge lines. Eight black cardstock (176gsm) cutouts were made, doubling up each side of each window for strength. I would like to make these again in the future a different way so they are stronger and last longer. I consider this to be a prototype for that project.

A sheet of acetate was used between the cardstock pairs and glued (I'm fairy certain I used PVA for these test windows).

I also wanted to make something that was resin-free because not everyone has access to it. This was a perfect opportunity to give it a try and the recipe is simple:

3/4 tsp Elmer's CLEAR glue
3 drops of liquid food coloring (I haven't tried gel food coloring), mix thoroughly after each drop
Apply with a toothpick

I found that two applications one thin coat at a time were sufficient for a vibrant, yet translucent result.

There is a note in the video about preventing warping; I had originally set out to make an updated long-form version of this project but have not as of yet. I would highly suggest that after joining the cardstock pairs together to coat them with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) in a well-ventilated space from a needle-tipped bottle. Make sure to coat thinly and evenly. This will give the cardstock body and strength, which should prevent warping. I fully intend on revisiting this experiment using these guidelines.

As for the remainder of the scene, it was constructed with three squares of foam board from Dollar Tree. The walls were made using stencils from Thicketworks, joint compound, and acrylic paint. A few random air dry clay castings were glued to the wall for effect. The floor was painted with acrylic, adding organic dirt, rocks, and crushed leaves. A few pinches of dried coffee grounds were used sparingly, then all of the layers on the floor were sprayed with isopropyl alcohol (to break the surface tension), then treated with PVA glue mixed with water for a matte seal.

After three years, there has been some warping because I didn't reinforce the cardstock with the plan above. When it initially came into contact with the moisture from the clear Elmer's glue, it curled slightly as it dried. However, the piece has held up excellently otherwise - especially the bright coloring which has remained intact.

Ultimately, I was pleased with the project's turnout and I think it would make some great easy to make terrain for tabletop gaming.

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