Rowlux Illusion Film Challenge: Stained Glass Effect Panels

There's nothing more fun than trying out new materials, discovering their capabilities and then imagining the possibilities. So I was very excited to join in the latest Designer Craft Connection Challenge which this month was sponsored by Rowlux® Illusion Film. If you're not familiar with Rowlux® Illusion Film, remember those cool little pictures made from ridged plastic that would magically move as you shifted the plastic from side to side? Those are called "lenticulars". Now imagine those as giant translucent sheets of pure color that come to life as you shift your angle of view. Well that's what you get with these beautiful sheets of Rowlux® Illusion Film! There are thousands of tiny parabolic lenses molded into the polycarbonate surface which make it seem to ripple and shimmer with motion when hit by light. It's a very cool optical effect.

The 12" x 12" sheets come in a wide range of colors and patterns including "moire" and "sea glass". I especially love the "moire" pattern which causes the color to appear to undulate like the folds of fabric. Gorgeous!

Well, for my project I decided to take advantage of the translucency of the film and treat it like glass. I had a set of four plastic decorative panels that I'd rescued from someone's curbside "help yerself" heap a while back.

Although they were a very ugly gold color, the panels did have an interesting floral design which I thought would make cool stained glass inspired pieces when paired with the illusion film. Add a little spray paint, a little adhesive and now the gold panels have been totally transformed! Here's how:

Stained Glass Effect Panels

Materials & Tools:

• Rowlux® Illusion Film - Gold Moiré, Emerald Serpentine, Medium Blue Sea Glass, Red Moiré
• Decorative panels or frames
• Kool Tak™ Ultra Clear Double Sided Tape – 1/8″

• Black spray paint
• Scissors
• Kraft knife / cutting mat
• Pencil
• Ruler

1. Spray paint the panels black. Set aside to dry.

2. Cut a sheet of Rowlux® Illusion Film wide enough to cover the back of the panel. A cool thing about Rowlux® Illusion Film is how easily it cuts. Use a ruler and kraft knife to score the film. Then fold the film at the score line and it will snap apart easily!

3. The film comes in 12" x 12" sheets so if your panel is longer or wider than that, you'll have to jigsaw puzzle pieces to cover the back of the panel. For these panels, I cut two pieces of film and then chose a area where I knew the seam between the two would be hidden by the floral design when viewed from the front. Mark the seam lines with pencil, then cut the pieces with scissors.

4. Attach the film pieces to the back of the panel with Kool Tak™ Ultra Clear Double Sided Tape. Use long strips of tape along all four sides and add a few pieces to the center seam just to keep everything in place. The tape will be slightly visible through the translucent film but because this will be the back of the panel, no one will ever see it!

5. Repeat for the remaining panels. Then hang and enjoy!

• If you don't have a window in which to hang your panels, they will still look fabulous when hung against a wall!

• You could also substitute old picture or mirror frames for the decorative panels. Just remove the glass and back board and then add the film.

I had a blast working with Rowlux® Illusion Film. The colors are rich, the textures are dreamy and it is easy to cut, light-weight and flexible. I ran a sheet through my diecutter and ooh baby, does the film cut beautifully! You've got my head spinning with ideas now, Rowlux! :)

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You can see lots more Rowlux® Illusion Film Craft ideas by following along on the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop. Just click on the "hop forward" or "hop back" buttons on the badge to visit the next site. You'll be inspired when you see all that the Designers have created!

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