Love stained glass? Learn how to do it yourself!
Remember when you daydreamed about making stained glass and filling your home with gorgeous colour and light? When you were lost in your own creative world making beautiful glass gifts for someone special?
That was before the dreaded 'To Do' lists landed. IN came the lists and OUT went your precious creative spark, leaving you with a sense of loss.
I'm Milly Frances, stained glass artist, teacher and self-styled 'Creative Spark Champion'. I'm here to tell you that you CAN make time for your precious creativity. I can't magic away those 'To Do' lists but I CAN teach you stained glass in time-managed steps to fit in with your busy life.
Along with a range of proven online classes, I offer free videos and tutorials giving beginners and improvers the skills and creative confidence to make beautiful stained glass.
Now is the time to rekindle your Creative Spark. Let's make your daydreams come true.

GET MY FREE ‘CUTTING PERFECT CURVES’ eBOOK
Click here to get my Free Cutting Perfect Curves eBook
My simple to follow free e-Book shows you how easy it is to cut even the most difficult type of curves in stained glass.
Favourite Copper Foil Tutorials
Step-by-step Tiffany-style
Learning how to make stained glass is easier if you take one step at a time. These Copper Foil Tutorials guide you through each process starting at the beginning with designing tips and pattern ideas.
By the time you get to the final patina and polish tutorial, you'll be an expert too!
Improve your soldering
With video and close-up photos showing you how to achieve a smoother seam.
Patina and polish
The final stage. Polish your stained glass panel until it sparkles! With information on which type of patina to use and how to stop that ugly white residue building up. Includes video.
Decorative soldering
Add a special 'something' to your gifts with this gorgeous decorative soldered edge. For more experienced learners looking for a challenge!
Cutting glass circles
Watch this video to learn how to cut a perfect circle using just a cutter and grozer/breaker pliers.
Best Tools and Materials
All the stained glass tools you need
Choosing stained glass tools is one of the real pleasures of stained glass. But what if you’re not sure which tools you actually need and which ones to buy?
Here’s where you’ll find reviews and recommendations to help you choose the best essential tools that will last for years to come.
Stained glass kits
You might choose to buy a ready-made kit instead of selecting the tools individually. Make sure the high quality stained glass kit you choose contains everything you need.
Grinder reviews
Cut down on waste and achieve precision fits with a stained glass grinder. Discover which grinder comes out top for value and quality.
A look at glass cutters
Enjoy cutting stained glass and reduce breakage by choosing the best glass cutter.
Popular Stained Glass Tutorials
Step-by-step lead came
These making stained glass instructions focus on the wonderful time-honoured technique of leaded stained glass. If you want to make a larger panel with strong lines and surface texture, then these Lead Came Tutorials are for you.
This making technique is especially good for external panels that need to be waterproof.
Step-by-step glass painting
These instructions cover everything you need to know about stained glass painting, ranging from different types of paint and how to choose the right one for you; step-by-step guides to painting techniques and advice on buying materials and suppliers.
There are clear and detailed instructions for those who have never done painting before, alongside more advanced tutorials for the more experienced.
Keeping safe
Vital tips on keeping safe in your studio. Think of it like your house insurance - you might not ever use it the knowledge but just having it gives you a warm glow. And it leaves you free to create without worry. Keep safe!
*No wine was drunk, cigarettes smoked or chocolate eaten in the making of this photo.
What students REALLY think of Milly's teaching...
"Milly taught me I CAN do this. I feel very confident about the skills I've learned & am already starting a new piece."

Kathy Saulton
"I'm learning so many tricks and tips I hadn't thought of before. Your course and videos are so great."

Cindy Miller
My 'Creative Spark'
Over 20 years ago I was missing a creative spark in my life and it was stained glass that helped me find it. I wasn't sure I'd be able to do it and had no clue as to how to make it. So I started simple and small, by making colourful angel sun catchers.
I didn't have lots of spare time and I didn't have a studio. Nor did I have mountains of expensive equipment. And yet I made stained glass art to be proud of. There's more about me here.
Now I want to share what I've learnt with you. No, not just share it, but guide you each step of the way, right from the beginning to the very end of each project. You can choose your level and be sure that you'll get the support you need along the way.
All the boring questions like 'what tools?',' how much shall I buy?', or 'is it safe?' will be taken care of.
And where does this leave you?
Free to start creating beautiful stained glass art for your home and gifts to make your family smile. Nothing beats giving a loved one something you've lovingly made.
So, are you ready to rediscover your Creative Spark?
Reader's beautiful work




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Milly,
I love your site and all your helpful tips. I’m am looking for a software to help me design and print my own patterns. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you
GlassEye 2000 is recommended by lots of my students so that’s the one I’d recommend. I have to say that (as yet) I haven’t used it as I have a Mac and it’s a bit harder to get it on my machine. Just so’s you know I’m not an expert!
Hi Milly. I love your site and all I’ve learned from it. I have a slight problem. Awhile back I bought a vanity mirror for my daighter. It’s the kind that is round, has a light and is on a swivel stand. (Not unlike the stained glass half round stands). She dropped the mirror breaking one side. I want to keep the stand to put a round stained glass piece in it but I’m not sure how I would attach it. It doesn’t seem to take solder. Any suggestions. I’m not sure if I could post a pic here.
It’s difficult to answer without seeing the stand. Generally if a metal doesn’t take solder the first solution to try is to see if you can stick copper foil to it. Sorry I can’t be of more help and good luck!
I just want to say thank you for all the helpful advice on the Stained Glass Made Perfect and Leaded Stained Glass Artistry courses.
I’ve been working with stained glass for a couple of years now and decided to do your courses to improve my practice and answer a long list of questions.
Both courses have proved really useful and have improved both the way I work and also my confidence. Having the work books to hand are a real bonus. Thanks, Milly, I would recommend your courses to anyone.
Aw, that’s great to hear, thanks Adrienne. I’m glad the online courses were useful and that they’ll continue to be so – if you need to check something further down the line.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Hi thank you so much .Love your classes.
My question is- I have done a little project ( I am new)
now I want to paint 2 little eyes on it.
What kind of paint can I use?
Thank you.
You can use ‘cold’ glass paint for this. It’s called ‘cold’ because you don’t have to fire it in a kiln. It does mean that it isn’t permanent though. Or there are semi-permanent ones that you bake in a regular oven. Pebeo Vitrea 160 Oven Bake is a good example of this.
Thanks for your kind comments; I’m so glad you find my stained glass classes helpful.
Hi, you might find this useful. I have packs of leftover “overhead projector” copy sheets. They’re durable, reusable and easy to cleaan and dry and put away for future use. I copy my patterns onto them with my regular printer since they are clear but because I can print and copy in color, I have black or bright yellow edges when I cut them for easier transfer to light or dark glass. Feel free to send on if you find it useful.
That’s a top tip, thanks for sharing it Meg. Very ingenious and a good use for the acetates.
Merry Christmas Milly and everyone who reads this. I recommend your site to everyone I talk to about stained glass. I have picked up several very helpful hints just from the newsletters and signed up for the lead came course when it was on sale a few months back. What was perfect for me was that I was able to buy it then even knowing that I wasn’t able to do it at that time – I had two larger pieces on the go and too many Christmas items to do! – but that I could pick it up any time and refer back to the material any time in the future. The course is my first project for 2018. Thank you Milly for everything you do for the art of stained glass and Happy Creating New Year to everyone.
Hello Lynn, that’s so kind of you, thank you. I’m looking forward to seeing how you get on with the Leaded Stained Glass Artistry course. I think you’ll love it.
Your lovely testimonial makes me realise I should try and capture all these nice comments for other readers. It’s helpful when you’re wondering whether a teacher is any good 🙂
I am recently retired and am considering trying my hand at stained glass. Being on a fixed income I am concerned about the cost of buying sheets of glass at $8-10 each and wonder about the possibility of using reclaimed glass wear that I can purchase cheaply at garage sales…..is this feasible?
Hi Char, absolutely it is! You can use any sheet glass for stained glass. So if you can possibly stretch to getting the tools and materials then I’d recommend giving it a try.
Thank you so much. I am excited about the possibilities. There is so much excellent information on your website.
Go for it Char! Glad you find the site helpful.
Hi I am very new with stained glass. I am looking for a support group to answer questions I have . Does anyone know if this site can help me with the basics?
Hi Robin, thanks for your question. I’m a bit biased as it’s my website but lots of visitors have told me they find the information on it very helpful to them. You’re welcome to browse all this information for free.
If you’re talking about my Stained Glass Made Perfect class, that’s something different. It’s a paid-for course that takes you through each stained glass process from beginning to end with lots of advice and tips along the way. Just right for you at this stage I would say.
There is a private forum attached to it with some very friendly people who are always happy to help out, support and encourage newcomers.
Does that answer your question? Let me know if you have any more.
I signed on for the Stained Glass Made Perfect course after working in stained glass for 3 years. I am always looking for ideas to improve my skills. I was not disappointed. I did not complete the project as I completed the course but simply wanted to learn ways to improve. I picked up many tips! I also love the fact that I can go back and view the videos anytime as well as having the workbooks. Thanks for a great class!
So glad you learned some new tips from the Stained Glass Made Perfect course Janie 🙂 I’m glad you’re using the accompanying workbooks too. When I’m learning I like to look and look and LOOK at videos too, so I’m happy to hear you’ll be checking back whenever you need to.
Thanks for taking the time to write your thoughts on the course.