Old Window Makeover!

Hello again!  I have been keeping my eye out for some old windows!  Not sure what I was going to do with one once I got it, I just knew I wanted one!  Well, I ran across a man getting rid of a whole mess of them for cheap!  So I grabbed several and took them home.  The first thing that came to mind was something patriotic, so here is what I made!

As you can see I have an old wooden window.  It was white but the edges were not painted because of how it was mounted in the frame.  You can either leave this or fill it in.  I chose to fill it in with matching paint below. You can also paint the frame a different altogether.  Your choice.   I used acrylic craft paint.  I also took Oops! and a paper towel to clean any old paint off the glass.  

I then decided to do a patriotic theme for this window.  A flag of sorts.  So I needed a star pattern.  I am not good at drawing stars so I printed one out on my computer.  Cut the shape out and you are ready to go.  I used a Sharpie paint pen to trace around the shape onto the BACK SIDE of your window.  Decide which will be the front and back.  PAINT ON BACK :)

I used a small paintbrush to fill in the stars.  Also I painted stripes down the middle of the panes.  I had to paint 3 coats, letting dry real well in between each coat.  I always work at my kitchen table so pardon the grey and white tablecloth haha!  I also used an old dish rack to prop up the window for painting.  Whatever works for you!  

Here it is after all the white is painted.  Allow to dry really well before starting the next color. 

Using a 1/2 or 1" brush you can start to paint the stripes.  Same craft paint as the white.  I think I ended up with 2 coats of the red.  Whatever it takes to make it good and solid.  Then I moved on to the navy.  Using a smaller brush I carefully went around the stars.  I did 2 coats on this as well. 

                                              Once you've gone around the stars with a small detail brush you can fill in with a wider brush as shown.  2 or 3 coats again, letting dry between.  

When all the paint is dry you will need to seal it with an acrylic sealer.  I used a matt finish.  But it does not matter, since you are spraying the back.  When you turn it around this is what it looks like thru the glass panes!  I love how it turned out!  My daughter thought it looked like Captain America!  Sure, sure, either way, I think it's rather cute!

I used one of these type hooks in each top corner and some chain.  I then put a nail on my porch to hang it!  Just in time for 4th of July!!

Ok, so since I am also redo-ing our back deck I needed a BEACH window!  This is what I came up with for that.  While the above stars etc. were drying I started on the waves and clouds.  

Again sorry for the tablecloth showing thru!  So,  you first start with painting the "accents" or "top layer" of your painting.  Usually you would do these last after the background, but remember we are painting on the reverse side.  I did the white clouds (2 coats) and some little seagulls.  I also made some whitecap waves that I forgot to take a pic of.  You can see them thru in the final product.  You can add anything you'd like, a palm tree, boat etc.  After all your details are very dry,  you will paint the background.  I used a sand color for the bottom 1/3 of the panes.  Painting in a horizontal brush stroke.  I then painted the navy water.  Using a wave brushstroke.  I tell you this because when you turn it over and look at it from the other side you can see the brush strokes and I thought it would look more like water haha!  It's not that important. You do what you want! 

 I then used a turquoise color for the sky.  As you can see you just paint directly over the hole surface, covering up all your previous details.  Make sure they are dry first!  After all 3 sections are painted.  The sand, water and sky.  This is what it looks like from the back.  Then when you turn it over VOILA!! A lovely beach scene complete with happy seagulls!  You will want to spray the back with acrylic sealer like the flag picture.

 I have started my "Beach Theme" deck.  Not sure where I will put this window yet but it looks awful cute so far!  Britta and Brooklyn seem to like it!  I hope you find an old window and add your own special touch!