How to Paint a Horse Suncatcher with Gallery Glass Paint
The trouble with having a craft room is that it can hold an astonishing number of things you have every intention of using someday. When we added a craft room to the house, I was thrilled to finally have a place for the fabric, yarn, materials for future projects, my spinning wheels for turning fiber into yarn, and the floor loom I use for weaving. As soon as the drywall went up, boxes began making their way upstairs. I thought I knew how much I had collected. I was wrong. Some of those supplies were things I had purchased, but a surprising amount had been given to me by people who no longer wanted them. I never liked seeing perfectly useful materials go to waste, and it was easy to imagine the quilts, woven pieces, and little projects they might become. Of course, imagining a project and finding the time to finish it are two different things. As I finally began sorting through those boxes, I found something that reminded me why I had saved so many of them in the first place: a little horse suncatcher, still sealed in its package. It was the kind of simple craft project someone might pick up for a child, but I could already picture it catching the afternoon sun in a window. The paint that came with it had dried up. The horse itself, though, was perfectly usable, and I knew I had other paint that might give it a second chance.
The little horse suncatcher was a separate preformed craft blank, not a Gallery Glass kit. If you enjoy experimenting with decorative finishes, try my marbled paper craft tutorial. Its original paint had dried up inside the sealed package, but that was no reason to give up on the horse. I remembered the Gallery Glass paints I had bought because I wanted to experiment with stained-glass effects until I could find time to work with real stained glass. I have always loved the way sunlight pours through colored glass and scatters little patches of color across a room. I also like the idea of decorative windows that let in light while offering a little privacy. I have never wanted to shut out all that daylight with heavy curtains, so experimenting with the look of stained glass appealed to me. A small horse suncatcher was a lovely way to play with color before tackling anything larger.
So, I dug out the Gallery Glass paints and got to work coloring in the sections of the horse. The paint by number that came with the horse was helpful in choosing the colors I would work with. I used a small paintbrush in some sections and squeezed the color directly from the bottle in others. I did have to smooth some of the paint to get rid of the larger bubbles, but I allowed some of the tiny bubbles to remain. I felt it added an artistic effect.
I left the painted horse lying flat overnight. Once it had dried, I added a ribbon and hung it in my kitchen window. I had considered selling it at an upcoming craft fair, but seeing the light shine through those colors changed my mind. I wanted to keep this one.
In This Article
Giving an Old Suncatcher a New Life
A homestead has a way of teaching you to look twice before throwing something away. That little horse was a good reminder. The original paint was beyond saving, but the clear suncatcher was ready for another try. I did not need to buy an entirely new project; I needed to match a useful supply already on my shelf with something I had nearly forgotten.
That distinction matters if you want to make one yourself. The horse was a separate preformed suncatcher with outlined sections ready to color. Gallery Glass was the paint I used to fill those sections. You do not need to find an identical horse kit or assume Gallery Glass makes that particular kit. Look for a clear, paintable suncatcher blank with raised outlines or recessed areas, then choose a compatible transparent glass-effect craft paint. Read the directions on both products before starting, because not every plastic blank accepts every type of paint.
Why I Love the Look of Gallery Glass in a Window
There is something about colored light that makes an ordinary room feel different. A bright window is beautiful on its own, but add a piece of stained glass and the sunlight becomes part of the decoration. That was what drew me to Gallery Glass in the first place. I could enjoy a little of that effect without cutting glass or taking on a full window project.
A painted suncatcher is not the same thing as a leaded stained-glass window. It is a decorative craft, not a permanent privacy window or a replacement for safety glazing. But when you hang one where daylight can reach it, those transparent colors can glow beautifully. The little horse was never going to replace a stained-glass window, but it did not need to. It gave me a reason to stop at the kitchen window and enjoy the way the colors caught the light.
What You Need to Paint a Horse Suncatcher
Start with a preformed horse suncatcher or another transparent suncatcher blank intended for painting. My original horse came with a paint-by-number guide, which was useful when I chose my colors, but you can make your own color plan if your blank does not include one. You will also need compatible Gallery Glass paint or another manufacturer-approved transparent glass-effect craft paint, a clean protected work surface, a small brush if the paint instructions permit brush application, and a ribbon or hanging cord suitable for the finished piece.
Choose colors with the window in mind. A shade that looks dark in the bottle can appear surprisingly luminous with light behind it, while very pale colors may be subtle on a bright day. Think about which sections you want to stand out and whether adjacent colors will be easy to distinguish. You do not have to follow a printed color guide exactly. I used the guide that came with my horse as a starting point and worked with the paints I had.
How to Paint a Preformed Horse Suncatcher
Prepare the blank and your workspace
Before opening the paint, check that the suncatcher is clean, dry and free of dust or packaging residue. Put it on a flat, protected surface where it can stay undisturbed while the paint dries. If the blank has a hanging hole, locate it before you start so you know which way the finished design will face. Keep the package directions nearby, especially if you are using an older blank or a paint you have not worked with before.
Choose your colors before filling the sections
Lay the paints beside the horse and look at the outlined areas. A little planning helps avoid putting two similar colors next to each other unintentionally. If your suncatcher has a paint-by-number pattern, use it as a guide rather than a rule. One of the pleasures of a small project like this is being able to try combinations without committing to a large window design.
Apply the paint carefully
When I painted my horse, I squeezed some colors directly from their bottles and applied others with a paintbrush. Work within the outlined sections and avoid dragging one color into the next. Follow the paint manufacturer's directions for how much to apply. A layer that is too thin may look patchy when held up to the light, while too much paint can pool, overflow or take much longer to dry. Work slowly enough to see what the paint is doing rather than trying to finish every section at once.
Watch for air bubbles
I noticed some bubbles as I worked. I smoothed out the larger ones but left a few tiny bubbles because I liked the effect. If you prefer a smoother, glasslike finish, inspect the paint while it is still wet and gently work out visible bubbles using a method approved for your paint. Do not overwork a section after the paint begins to set; that can leave marks instead of fixing them. Small differences in the finished surface are part of what makes a handmade suncatcher personal.
Let the suncatcher dry flat
I left my painted horse lying flat overnight. That worked for my project, but drying time depends on the paint, the thickness of the application and the conditions in your room. Follow the current manufacturer's instructions and allow extra time if the paint still looks cloudy, feels tacky or has thick areas. Resist the temptation to lift it by one edge to check too soon. The best place for it is somewhere level and out of reach of pets and curious hands until the coating has cured as directed.
Hang it where the sunlight can find it
Once the paint is completely dry, attach a ribbon or suitable hanging cord and choose a window. I hung mine in the kitchen. A secure hook or other hanger rated for the weight of the suncatcher is important, especially if the window is opened and closed regularly. Avoid placing it where it will strike the glass, get caught in blinds or curtains, or fall onto a hard surface. Then watch how the colors change as the daylight moves through the room.
A Lovely Homeschool Art Project
This is also the kind of activity I would consider for a homeschool art lesson, provided the children are old enough for the materials and an adult supervises the work. It offers a hands-on way to explore color, transparency, pattern and the effect of light. Children can choose a palette, predict what will happen when the painted design is placed against a bright window, and compare the appearance of the same colors in shade and sunlight.
You can take the lesson a little further by talking about how stained-glass artists use separate colored sections to make a picture, then explain that a craft-painted plastic suncatcher is a different material and process. Younger children may do better with a simple design containing larger areas to fill, while older students may enjoy planning a more detailed pattern. Always check the product's age guidance, ventilation and cleanup directions, and do not assume a paint is child-safe simply because it is sold for crafts.
There is a practical lesson here, too: use what you have before buying more. An old suncatcher blank with dried-up paints does not necessarily mean the entire project is ruined. Sometimes a little creativity and a different compatible paint are enough to bring it back to life.
Troubleshooting Gallery Glass Suncatcher Paint
Why does the paint look cloudy?
Some transparent craft paints change appearance as they dry. Check the instructions for your particular product before deciding that something has gone wrong. If the paint is still thick or tacky, give it more drying time rather than hanging the suncatcher immediately.
What if the paint has bubbles?
Inspect the wet sections and gently smooth larger bubbles before the paint begins to set. A few tiny bubbles may not bother you at all; I actually liked some of them in mine. The choice depends on the finish you want and the instructions for your paint.
Can I use Gallery Glass paint on any suncatcher blank?
Not necessarily. The paint and the blank must be compatible. Some blanks are designed for particular paints or surfaces. Check both manufacturers' instructions, especially when using older kits, flexible plastic or materials of unknown composition.
Where can I find a horse suncatcher now?
Look for preformed paintable horse suncatchers, transparent craft blanks or similar designs from craft suppliers and resale sellers. Availability changes, and the exact horse I used may no longer be sold. The important thing is finding a blank designed for transparent paint, not finding a matching package from years ago.
A Little Color Worth Keeping
The horse suncatcher was hardly the biggest or most complicated thing in that craft room. Between the yarn, fabric, weaving equipment and unfinished projects, it would have been easy to overlook. But it is often the small things we make with our own hands that find a permanent place in our homes. This one found its place in my kitchen window, where the sunlight could do the rest.
If there is an old craft blank hiding among your supplies, take another look before you decide it is no longer useful. You might already have what you need to give it a second life, and you might find yourself keeping the finished piece, too.
How to Paint a Horse Suncatcher with Gallery Glass Paint
Give a forgotten preformed horse suncatcher new life with colorful Gallery Glass paints. A cheerful window decoration and a creative homeschool art project.
Materials
- Assorted Gallery Glass paints
- Preformed horse suncatcher
Tools
- Assorted paint brushes
Instructions
- Set the preformed suncatcher on a clean, level, protected work surface.
- Choose your Gallery Glass paint colors, using the blank's paint-by-number guide if one is included.
- Fill each outlined section with paint. Squeeze paint directly from the bottle or use an assorted paint brush as appropriate for the paint.
- Gently smooth large air bubbles while the paint is still wet, taking care not to mix neighboring colors.
- Leave the suncatcher flat and undisturbed overnight or until fully dry according to the paint directions.
- Thread ribbon through the hanging hole and hang the finished horse in a sunny window.
Notes
Check that the paint is compatible with your suncatcher blank. Drying time varies by product and paint thickness. Adult supervision and manufacturer age and safety guidance are important for homeschool use.
