Glass is such an amazing medium—it comes in many forms, and one of my favorites is frit. Frit is available in different sizes including coarse, medium, fine, and powder, and each size has its own unique uses. This post is all about one special use of glass powder—creating powder wafers. These delicate designs are made using a powder printer and templates available through The Fusing Factory. The first row shows the powder printer and template setup and below are some samples I recently created using glass powder and these templates. I love how detailed and precise these designs can be—from graceful trees to playful animals—each one ready to be incorporated into a fused glass piece.
Here are a few different art pieces I’ve created using some of my powder wafers—and I just love how they turned out. Each one has its own personality, from soft landscapes to playful underwater scenes and blooming trees. Powder wafers really allow for such fine detail and a beautiful, almost painted look in glass. I’m still deciding what these will become—maybe nightlights, candle shields, or standalone art pieces. That’s part of the fun with fused glass… sometimes the piece tells you what it wants to be. 😊
This piece started with other types of frit to build the base and texture, and then I layered in powder wafers along with millefiori and murrine to bring it all to life. I love how everything works together—the depth, the detail, and all the little elements that keep your eye moving across the piece. There’s so much to discover in this one, from the tree and landscape to the tiny accents tucked throughout. It’s one of those pieces that just makes me smile every time I look at it—I think it turned out so cool.
Here’s a piece I made a while back using powder wafers, decals, and medium frit. I love how these different elements come together to create so much depth and texture. The powder wafers add those crisp silhouettes, while the frit brings in movement and a bit of sparkle. This one has such a fun, fall feel to it—with the tree, pumpkins, and even a few bats flying overhead. I haven’t quite decided what it will become yet, but that’s part of the creative process. For now, I’m just enjoying it as a playful, seasonal piece full of personality.
Here are a few powder wafer pieces that I turned into nightlights and a candle shield. I love how easily these wafers can be incorporated into functional pieces—they really add beautiful detail and a soft, almost painted look to the glass. One thing to keep in mind is that while they’re fairly easy to use, they can be a bit fragile before firing, so a gentle touch is important when placing and working with them. But once fired, they become part of the glass and create such unique, eye-catching designs. It’s always fun to see how these delicate wafers can transform into something both practical and artistic.
Working with powder wafers has been such a fun and creative process. I love how something so delicate can add such incredible detail and personality to a piece. While they do require a gentle touch, the results are absolutely worth it—from simple designs to more detailed scenes, the possibilities are endless. Whether used in nightlights, dishes, panels, or candle shields, powder wafers bring a unique beauty that truly elevates fused glass art. I can’t wait to keep experimenting and see what new ideas come next as I have dozens of templates to tryout.
If you would like to see more of my fused glass work, please refer to my website Elegant Fused Glass by Karen. If you get a chance, check out all my site and my Elegant Fused Glass by Karen YouTube. If you would like to stay abreast of what I’m up-to and learn a little more about jewelry, check out our newsletter. It is published the last day of each month.
Keeping my Kiln warm,
Karen
