Making leaded windows.... so cool.

Welcome to Trimble Manor
'
I've finished the stonework on my front entrance.
  
 The bay windows provided  in this kit were pretty mundane.  The "glass" and window frames were not worthy of  Trimble Manor.

 Here is what came with the kit:

Thin sheets of acetate with diamond markings and thin strips of wood with blunt ends for the frames.

I'm going to upgrade these windows.

I have a roll of lead golfers tape which I've cut into thin strips sufficient to cover the white marks on the acetate.

Once I've stuck the tape to the surface of the acetate, I need to "work" it with my little stylus. I gently push it and shape it to create a more dimensional look.

 You can clearly see the difference after the tape has been worked.

 Next, I wanted to diminish  the silvery shine on these window panes, because aged lead windows would have more of a pewter color than silver. To do it, I used a black permanent marker to go over each strip of lead, one by one, immediately wiping it off with a damp Q-tip. This left a dull patina on my lead.

Next, as I did with my wooden windows, I created wavy old glass using the Triple Thick  gloss glaze carefully painted between each little diamond pane.
I made 12 of these windows.

 Next I made nice window frames using a beveled 1/2 molding found at Home Depot. Using my little mini miter saw, I cut the wood for each window AFTER I had painted and antiqued it.

  See here!

Add a window box..

Another substitution I made on this kit house, was the timber on the front and sides of the manor.

 Because this is a timber, plaster and stone building, I wanted the main timbers to look like they could actually support such a structure; they needed to look hefty and strong and as if they were cut with an ax , a mouse's ax of course.

  I want a slightly crook-edy and uneven look.

 The balcony that came in the kit was not my cuppa tea.
 Here it is before....

 I know the gingerbread is cute, but it isn't appropriate for my house, so I removed it. Maybe I will be able to use it elsewhere, for a fence or something.

Again, I want something more sturdy. I mean, what if a rat comes to visit and leans on that balcony? We don't want the entire railing to come crashing down, do we??!

 I made a better railing...
One that can't fail.

Even 3 mice could lean over this balcony at the same time!

  I ran out of window molding, need to take a trip to the store. In the meantime, I will finish the mortar work. Soon I will be plastering between the timbers.