Gingerbread House Photo Frame

By Michael C. Thomas The frame fits a 4 x 6-inch photo. Except for the house or background glass, this is a scrap-happy project. You can make any overlay with your choice of glass. Just maintain the 4 x 6-inch clear glass center, so the easel back will fit. E-mail or call Stained Glass Unlimited, so we can order any specialty items for you. Sponsored by Stained Glass Unlimited 7332 Main Street, The Colony, Texas 75056 972-625-3416 www.stainedglassunl.com.

Printing Patterns 

I scanned all patterns on 81/2” x 11” paper.

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To print the PDF, zoom = none or page scale = none.

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To print the PDF, auto rotate & center = none.

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On all patterns, I included a two-inch line. Measure this line to verify the correct scaling.

 Recommend you do not use a photocopier. Many photocopiers reduce images by 1-5 percent.

General Information 

The listing under Tools and Materials does not include common stained glass supplies and tools, such as; foil, solder, grinder, breaking pliers, and other items.

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The term tack-solder means to join pieces with a miniscule amount of solder. This will allow the pieces to flex somewhat. Furthermore, it is easy to un-solder, and then re-position pieces, if necessary.

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Pattern lines with arrows; indicate the cutting direction with foil shears. If pattern lines have a small circle, use regular scissors.

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Beginner copper foil experience is a prerequisite.

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For comments, contact me at [email protected]

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For a free download of the first three chapters of my CD Copper Foil Panel and Tiffany Style Lamp Making – Plus 3D Panel Projects, go to www.stainedglassunl.com. Look under the classroom tab.

Merry Christmas 2

Tools and Materials       

House: Armstrong 4118-S pale blue streaky, (12” x 12”) Candy Cane: Spectrum 357.1 red and Spectrum 305 white Candy Wheel: Kokomo 245D orange and Spectrum 337.6 blue Bell: Bullseye 0142 and Spectrum 357.1 red Stocking: Wissmach 101 green and Spectrum 365.1 yellow Bow: Spectrum 110.2WSC gold Silvercoat™ Photo Glass: 4 x 6-inch clear bevel or clear glass

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Vellum (2 sheets, each approximately 12” x 12”)(Office Supply Store) Water-soluble stick glue 20-gauge wire, pre-tinned Star casting (#8306-612)(www.warnerstainedglass.com) Gold glitter paint Brass ball chain (Home Depot or Lowe’s lamp parts. Pull Chain.) New Wave™ foil 16 each red cathedral nuggets, 1/2 inch diameter Brass angle .015” x 1/8” x 12” (K&S Engineering display at a Hobby Store)(Aerohobbies, 2305 S. HWY 121, Suite 110, Lewisville, Texas) Silicone glass adhesive (dries clear) Easel back 4” x 6” (#2079-011)( www.warnerstainedglass.com) 1 /4-inch jump ring Aerosol mirror edge sealant for mirrored glass

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Safety glasses Latex or vinyl gloves

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Instructions and Procedures 1. Trace the patterns onto vellum to make your cartoons. Use regular scissors to cut out the cartoons.

6. Foil the glass. With a razor knife, trim any unsightly overlapping foil. Use the New Wave™ foil on the clear glass or bevel.

2. With stick glue, paste the vellum on the smoothest side of the glass.

7. Make a tracing of the gingerbread house without the overlays. Use paper or vellum.

a. Orient the glass grain of the house glass from left to right.

8. Place the house, clear, and candy cane pieces on the tracing. Solder the pieces together. Flat solder the backside seam around the clear glass.

b. Take care with the mirrored silvercoated glass, because the backing scratches easily. Recommend you use an aerosol mirror edge sealant on the backing only. Paste the vellum on the glass, not the mirror backing.

9. Solder brass ball chain around the entire perimeter. Hold the end ball on the glass edge with a razor knife, screwdriver, or hook. Anchor the first ball with solder. Stretch the chain and add more solder about 1/2 inch from the end ball. Place dollops of solder on the chain to fill the gaps between the balls. Place the solder dollops in an up and down motion. Do not slide your iron along the edge. Align edges horizontally, while soldering. For the 1/2-inch gap, return to it periodically and only place one dollop of solder at a time in the gap until it cools.

3. Score and break the glass. With your glasscutter feel for the edge of the vellum, then score along the vellum. Try to break the mirrored pieces by hand or use sponges in your pliers’ jaws. 4. Grind the glass with the vellum face up. Again, take care not to scratch the mirror backing. Do not press down on the mirrored pieces while grinding. 5. Soak the glass/vellum in warm water for a few minutes to soften the glue. Remove the vellum and lay it on a towel. Rinse the glass of any glue residue. Rinsing removes grinder dust that inhibits foil adhesion. Lay the glass next to its respective vellum cartoon. Let the glass dry. If necessary, re-label the glass with a Sharpie®. Discard the vellum. Spray the mirrored pieces with the aerosol mirror edge sealant – back and edges only.

10. With a jeweler’s saw or rotary tool with a cut-off wheel, cut the brass angle into segments of 6”, 3”, and 3”. Use a file to remove any burrs.

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11. Tin the brass angle segments. On the backside, solder the six-inch segment

16. Cut small segments of wire to make

6” 3”

across the top of the clear glass in the center of the seam. Solder the three-inch segments on the left and right sides of the

the crosshatched pattern on the bell. In addition, solder a tinned 1/4-inch jump ring to the bell’s top.

Side Angle Segments

House Glass

Clear Glass

17. Rinse all pieces in warm water to remove the majority of flux. Then use flux/patina cleaner and a toothbrush to scrub thoroughly all solder. Rinse with water.

House Glass

clear glass. Start the side segments 1 /8 inch down from the top corners. You are creating a slot for the easel back.

18. With a toothbrush, apply the patina. Scrub all solder. Rinse with water. Scrub the project with flux/patina cleaner again. Rinse with water. Let the pieces dry.

12. Solder the star casting to the roof peak. 13. Solder the overlays. 14. Stretch a segment of 20-gauge wire between two pliers. Pull in a direction away from your face in case the wire breaks. Stretch the wire to straighten it, not to elongate it. Cut away the crimped ends.

19. With glass adhesive, apply the

15. Solder the 20-gauge wire around the perimeter of the overlays. Place dollops of solder on the wire to form a wellrounded edge. Place the solder dollops in an up and down motion. Do not slide your iron along the edge. Align edges horizontally, when placing dollops.

overlays and nuggets. Let the glue dry. Do this before waxing.

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20. Use glitter paint on the star casting.

b. There are many tiny filigree choices

as well. See www.warnerstainedglass.com c. If you cannot get the brass angle, use flat U 1/8” brass, copper, or zinc

21. Place two drops of wax or finishing compound on a cotton ball. Wax all solder. No need to wax the glass. Let the wax dry. Rapidly buff all solder with a soft cotton cloth. The residual wax on the buffing cloth will polish the glass. Use the hem of a discarded T-shirt and a small flat blade screw driver to polish the glass next to all seams. Use a toothbrush for those difficult areas. 22. Insert your favorite Christmas photo and install the easel back. 23. Substitutions and variations. Your creativity can embellish the photo frame beyond my simple design. So embellish, as you desire!

channel. With a rotary tool and a cut-off wheel, remove one side of the channel. You must remove one side or you will see the channel from the front.

a. Consider gluing small Christmas ornaments as overlays or replace the casting star with a Christmas decoration. Hobby Lobby® has many choices.

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d. You can substitute a regular photo

frame easel back, but insure the rear leg extends an inch or more below the easel bottom. In this way, your photo frame will stand more upright. e. Decorative soldering is always a stunning embellishment. f. Ball chain can be a challenge to apply. Consider using pre-tinned twisted 20-gauge wire.

Enjoy your family treasure!

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By Michael C. Thomas

Christmas Projects in Three-Dimensions, a Stepping Stone, a Mister, Coming November 2011, Look for my new CD at a Table, and Stained Glass Unlimited a Music Box