# What kind of acrylic paint is it that they use for Suncatcher crafts for kids? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 14, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554 "2007-08-14T14:57:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/1 "2007-08-14T14:57:05Z")
Google is no help. It flows on like nail polish, clear and glossy, smells faintly of fruit (esters?), has water cleanup, and–here’s the important thing–it **goes on clear** and it **dries clear**. The little bottles of acrylic craft paint that you get at Wal-Mart or Hobby Lobby (such as [FolkArt ®](http://www.plaidonline.com/productDetail.asp?itemID=2247&productName=&Cat1ID=1&Cat2ID=1&Cat3ID=1&brandID=&keywords=&New=False&Closeout=False&HotDeal=False&page=1) or [Apple Barrel ®](http://www.plaidonline.com/productDetail.asp?itemID=20717&productName=&Cat1ID=1&Cat2ID=1&Cat3ID=1&brandID=&keywords=&New=False&Closeout=False&HotDeal=False&page=1) go on opaque, and dry opaque, thus rendering your suncatcher useless. The only place I’ve found the authentic clear suncatcher paint is in those exorbitantly expensive suncatcher kits, in the teeny-weeny Barbie-doll-sized pots, and since I’m in charge of church crafts for 60 kids for the coming year, I need this paint in at least 2 oz. bottles; I can’t afford to buy even a $1 Dollar Tree suncatcher kit for each kid every time we wanna paint suncatchers. …if the Dollar Tree happened to have 60 sacred-themed (or at least “general”) suncatcher kits fall off the truck, which they never do. It’s always Shrek, or Disney. So, what IS that stuff? I need some. ETA: I’m assuming that it’s acrylic paint because it’s water-soluble, and it’s non-toxic, and it’s (relatively) cheap. I’m not aware of any other kind of paint currently available at the mass-market Dollar Tree that fills all those requirements. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/2 "2007-08-14T15:16:43Z")
A while back, OK maybe 10 years, you could buy “stained glass” kits at some craft stores as well as repalcement supplies. I had a squeeze bottle of “lead caning” that dried raised up. This allowed you to follow a patern and lay out your design. After it dried, you used the paints to flow in between the raised areas with the colors of your choice. A quick Google for “stained glass paint” returned this site near the top: [Stained Glass Paint](http://jurgeninc.com/lacquerglasspaints.htm) It looks like the stuff I had. Edited to add that they also have pattern books. Perhaps you could do the “liquid lead” part in advance and the kids could add the colors. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/3 "2007-08-14T17:53:07Z")
Gallery Glass is the brand name I believe - that’s the brand my husband uses on his various projects anyway. It’s available at Michael’s. And Hobby Lobby might have it too. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/4 "2007-08-14T23:11:32Z")
“_Glass_ paint”. Ah **ha** … Sounds right. [http://www.deltacrafts.com/Paint/PermEnamel/xGlassPaint.asp](http://www.deltacrafts.com/Paint/PermEnamel/xGlassPaint.asp) Hmmm. I will go down to Hobby Lobby tomorrow and get some and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/5 "2007-08-16T01:55:11Z")
Update: Thank you. That was indeed The Right Stuff, “Glass paint”, and it was indeed “Gallery Glass” brand. It goes on opaque but dries to a nice clear stained glass look. So, thanks to you, this year, 60 kids get to paint suncatchers. Somebody shoot me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/6 "2007-08-16T03:00:10Z")
You should also try Oriental Trading- I get all my suncatcher projects and paint there. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/7 "2007-08-16T03:05:27Z")
[These](http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=48/3309&mode=Searching&erec=11&D=sun%2Bcatcher&Ntt=sun%2Bcatcher&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=0&N=0&x=0&sd=%22JESUS+IS+THE+LIGHT%22+SUN+CATCHER+VOTIVE+HOLDERS) are $5.95 per dozen, and [these](http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=48/1894&mode=Searching&erec=12&D=sun%2Bcatcher&Ntt=sun%2Bcatcher&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=0&N=0&x=0&sd=CROSS+SUN+CATCHER+WIND+CHIMES) are cute, and [these](http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=48/2476&mode=Searching&erec=15&D=sun%2Bcatcher&Ntt=sun%2Bcatcher&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=0&N=0&x=0&sd=RELIGIOUS+SUN+CATCHERS) are even cheaper. They have a lot more designs that are religious. The [paint](http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=56/1935&mode=Searching&erec=5&D=sun%2Bcatcher%2Bpaint&Ntt=sun%2Bcatcher%2Bpaint&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&y=0&N=0&x=0&sd=GLITTER+SUN+CATCHER+PAINT+SET) isn’t too expensive either, and there are tons of different sizes and colors. ---
**Author:** ![papaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@papaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papaw)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/8 "2007-08-16T03:18:16Z")
> [@](#): > > You should also try Oriental Trading- I get all my suncatcher projects and paint there. The wife and I buy from them occasionally for art and craft projects, and they will certainly send you seems like hundreds of catalogs throughout the year! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/9 "2007-08-16T03:38:08Z")
[QUOTE=papaw] The wife and I buy from them occasionally for art and craft projects, and they will certainly send you seems like hundreds of catalogs throughout the year! [/QUOTE] But they’re all pretty much exactly the same except for the seasonal section. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/10 "2007-08-16T13:35:39Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] [links] [/QUOTE] Cool, thanks for the links. 🙂 I’ve got an Oriental Trading catalog upstairs somewhere in the bathroom reading pile, but I didn’t know they sold separate suncatcher paint. ---
**Author:** ![WrenJupiter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@WrenJupiter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WrenJupiter)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/11 "2023-08-22T19:39:43Z")
Its called tempera paint ---
**Author:** ![WrenJupiter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@WrenJupiter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WrenJupiter)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/12 "2023-08-22T19:42:37Z")
[https://www.walmart.com/ip/Crayola-Washable-Kids-Paint-Set-10-Ct-Back-to-School-Supplies-for-Kids-Asstd-Colors/16904609?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=995&adid=2222222227716904609\_117755028669\_12420145346&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-294505072980&wl5=9016100&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=16904609&wl13=995&veh=sem\_LIA&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuZGnBhD1ARIsACxbAVjvKe1fwXn4\_kgMpiiMBUR-L58Vbrxbcgj07Yf1\_1yMVeLPkgIJ6FUaAkMoEALw\_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Crayola-Washable-Kids-Paint-Set-10-Ct-Back-to-School-Supplies-for-Kids-Asstd-Colors/16904609?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=995&adid=2222222227716904609_117755028669_12420145346&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-294505072980&wl5=9016100&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=16904609&wl13=995&veh=sem_LIA&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuZGnBhD1ARIsACxbAVjvKe1fwXn4_kgMpiiMBUR-L58Vbrxbcgj07Yf1_1yMVeLPkgIJ6FUaAkMoEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-acrylic-paint-is-it-that-they-use-for-suncatcher-crafts-for-kids/415554/13 "2023-08-22T20:08:45Z")
One of tempera’s primary characteristics is opacity.