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!

Framed Monogram!

Yay!  I finally got these done :)  I started out needing something to cover up our fireplace because I am too lazy to clean out the ashes!  So I went to the local Goodwill and found this large picture for $14.00!  I made the monogram that you see in the white frame just in time for a ladies dessert I hosted at my house! Yay!

What you'll need:

*A picture frame with glass
*Burlap or fabric of choice
*Staple gun
*Pliers
*Spray paint for frame
*Ruler
*Dry Erase marker
*Sharpie brand paint pen
*Black acrylic paint
*Small paint brush
*Clear Finish Sealer

I wanted to make a few more of these so I went back to Goodwill.  I love buying frames there!  No matter what kind of picture is inside.  No matter what color they are.  I try to make sure it's wood or composite wood.  This time I took "before" pics of the not-so-pretty art!!

OK, first you start by removing whatever backing your art has on it.  This had some paper covering the whole back.  I just took the edge of my scissors and cut it off.  

 Next you want to remove any staples or pins that are holding in the art and glass.  I used a screwdriver to pry them up then took them out with pliers.

 Take out the cardboard and art, set it aside.  Take out the glass very carefully.  You will want to clean this well with glass cleaner or windex.  Set this aside.

Now it's time to paint the frame!  I chose black for these next 2 projects.  Just for something different but you use whatever color  you'd like!  You'll want a GLOSS finish, you'll see why later.

I like Krylon spray paint! Make sure you are outside where you can breathe!  Set this aside so it can dry well.  I used a blow dryer on mine because I was impatient!

 Ok, now you need a piece of burlap folded in half because you need a double thickness otherwise it's too see thru.  Once you have your 2-layer piece of burlap you will want to iron it.  Use the steam button.  Trust me, if you don't do this you will see the wrinkles even though it is in the frame!

 Lay your cardboard out on the burlap and cut around leaving 1 1/2 inches.  On the corners cut out a square piece to make the corner. Using a staple gun start tacking down the burlap.  Tack once on the right, then on left, then top and bottom.  This way it will line up straight.

 When you are done clip the extra burlap at the corner.  Place a staple on top to hold it down.

 Now go get your painted frame.  Insert the cardboard back into the frame.  This may be a bit snug, but it should fit.  Take your staple gun and go around the edges catching both the burlap and frame.  I was making 2 pictures at once so if these look different that's why.  On this one I cut the corners different,  not good.  I'd do the square corner like I stated above.  Anyway, you could also catch the fabric at an angle and tack to frame like on the right here.  Either way.

 Here you are!  You are ready to  put the monogram on!  Or whatever design you choose :)

I used a ruler, and a dry erase marker to center my design.  This is where your creativity comes in!  I found a design on the internet.  Then I freehanded it.  You could also trace a design using a stencil. It's up to you.  I used a Sharpie paint pen to draw the design.  

As I went I wiped off the red markings.  These Sharpie paint pens are great! 

 When wet you can easily wipe them off with a paper towel.  

When dry, you can scrape off with your fingernail or other tool.  

As shown above, I used craft paint to fill in the design.  I had to put 2-3 coats as you can see, because this is not glass paint.  But it worked.  And it's cheap!  

When your design is good and dry, take a paper towel and VERY gently make sure you get all the red (or whatever color) dry erase marker off. 

 Your art will now need to be sealed on or else it will just scrape off :(

So I used a Krylon Clear coat spray.  Outside again, I put on 3 or 4 coats, letting dry in between each. It took that many coats to get is shiny like glass and not dull.  This is why you need the black paint in gloss since this  clear coat will get all over it :)  

Let it dry for several hours and that's it!!  Here are both my pictures drying on my porch!  I just love how they turned out and I hope they will be well received :)

I hope you try this with an ugly picture that you come across!  

Glass etching!

OK so here is the glass etching project that I worked on last month for a wedding!  I wanted you share with you how EASY it was to do!  Did I mention it was also fairly inexpensive?  
You can use any glass item you wish.  Some ideas would be wine glasses, flower vases, plates, anything with a fairly flat surface.  Here I used some coffee mugs and root beer steins.

In addition to your clear glass, you will need a small bottle of Armor Etch or something similar, and a cheap brush like the one I have here.  You will also need your pattern or letters to be etched.  Do not use stencils from the store that are made for basic painting.  They won't work.  Take my word for it.  The etching cream will seep thru the edge of the stencil and ruin your design!  So, you want to either buy special "sticky" stencils specifically for etching or do what I did.  I used my cricut machine and used cheap contact paper instead of the vinyl sold for cricut.  It worked just fine and was only a few bucks!  You could also cut out your design using contact paper and an Exacto knife if you don't have a cricut machine.  Either way would work.  You just want your stencil to stick to the glass really well.  

Make sure your glass has been wiped clean, then apply your "sticky" stencil.  You want t make sure it is really on there well without any gaps or bubbles.  Press the edges down well. I cannot overstate this. If part of your edge comes up the cream will escape and well, you don't want that!  

If you have trouble getting the stencil to lay flat on a rounded glass, you can cut the edge of the stencil.  When it lays back down it will overlap itself and lay flatter.  Make sure it is pressed down well. 

You will need to tape off all around your stencil to make sure the cream does not get near the main glass area!  Trust me it will drip and it only takes a second to ruin the glass.  So tape it well!  Next you will take the cream and apply it THICK onto the  exposed area.  Thick thick thick!  With out dripping everywhere, but thick!  Notice the area on this "C" on the bottom left where I did not get it thick enough? You can still see the grayish glass show thru?  Well, you don't want this!  Trust me it will show up later!  You really need it to be globbed on thick :)

Here are 3 glasses that I did at the same time.  Notice they are really on thick!  OK, once you have the cream on set your timer.  7 minutes.  Some people leave it on more, some less.  For me 7 minutes was perfect!  

When your timer goes off it's time to get the cream off!  Now, you could just go rinse it off BUT this stuff can be used over and over!!  So take your brush and gently brush it off and back into the bottle!  Trust me, if you do this the bottle will last for many, many projects!  When you get all the cream back in the bottle it's time to rinse!

  Do not rinse in a porcelain sink!! It will ruin your finish!  Rinse in warm water.  It only takes a few seconds and it's clean!  Also, your stencil and tape should slide right off!  When it's well rinsed you can take a dry cloth and dry it well!  Tah dah!  That's it!  

Once you do this once you will be hooked!  Think of all the cool projects you could make for yourself or others as gifts!  Your friends will be so impressed with your new skill!

Here are all the attendant gifts I made for my friends wedding!  It really only took me a few hours to do all 24!!  The possibilities are endless!  Have fun giving this project a try and let me know how you like it!  

Here are some of my best girlfriends, along with my daughter (on far right)!  That's me in the middle back!  We got together and made these adorable candle holders with initials!