Our DIY “Stained Glass” Window

We had a completely totally different put up deliberate for right this moment, however then an excellent enjoyable/random venture fell into our laps on Monday night time. We weren’t positive how issues would prove (we had been kinda making up a DIY approach as we went alongside), however to say that we’re pleasantly stunned is a big understatement. This may be my favourite beneath $10 venture within the historical past of my life. And it may simply be repeated with any window you discover at a thrift retailer, architectural salvage store, and even at your native Habitat for Humanity ReStore. SAVE ALL THE GORGEOUS OLD WINDOWS, GUYS!

Or you can simply wander the streets hoping to be in the appropriate place on the proper time – as a result of that’s really how my story of inheriting this window begins. Should you observe me on Instagram Tales, you will have heard me gleefully inform The Fateful Story Of The Outdated Diamond Window, whereby I randomly took an extended route on my night stroll and it resulted in me coming down our road about 10 minutes later than I often do, and at that actual second I ran into our neighbors as they had been loading an previous diamond-paned window into their truck to take it to the dump. They appeared up as I walked by and mentioned “Hey Sherry! Would you like this previous window? It’s tremendous rotten so we had been going to take it to the dump, however perhaps you are able to do one thing enjoyable with it?!”

I hope you know the way insane my face was once I primarily screamed into their faces “YES I WANT IT SO BAD THANK YOU VERY MUCH!” and ran away clutching it and whispering “my valuable.”

It’s white on the opposite facet, and the purple facet above was the road dealing with facet of the window, which is, actually, extraordinarily brittle and water broken (a number of the trim was lacking and simply crammed with caulk, the precise sides of the window trim had been splintered and even lacking, and so forth). So my first thought was that perhaps I may paint it with exterior paint and use it within the again backyard – perhaps as some kind of cool trellis-alternative for one thing leafy to develop up.

Effectively, inside a couple of minutes of excitedly chatting about some different prospects yesterday, John & I concocted one other plan (PIVOT!) which might imply it wouldn’t proceed to get moist & rot outdoors… and, nicely, all the footage you’re about to see had been really taken THIS MORNING. That’s proper, we began (and completed!) this venture right this moment. As in, simply hours in the past. And I used to be too excited to share my different already-written put up right this moment, so I whipped up this one for ya.

As for our supplies, all we used was our free secondhand window, two D-rings to hold it, about $9 in tissue paper, and a sprig bottle stuffed with water that we already had available. And inside about two hours (by about 1pm right this moment) we had turned this previous window into one thing we’re loopy about. I KNOW THIS PICTURE MAKES YOU WORRIED. All of it labored out, despite the fact that this seems to be like a preschool venture gone unsuitable.

This complete factor began as a result of I wished to discover a approach to make use of the diamond window INSIDE of the seaside home, someplace that we may see it greater than having it tucked away within the yard and someplace that it might be protected against the weather so it wouldn’t finally simply disintegrate fully. And this spot throughout from the island ended up being excellent. You might keep in mind that we had this massive beachy print there earlier than. We LOVE this print – it’s the right colours and is fairly inexpensive for a framed artwork piece this massive, however I discovered a greater spot for it AND it opened up that space proper beneath the sconce for my piece de resistance: The Diamond Window Of My Desires.

As a result of I do know you want closure, right here’s an image of the place we moved that framed print. Seems so good over by the eating desk. The colours go so nicely with the previous chippy blue door to the laundry room.

Heading again over to the sconce that now highlights The Window That I Would Marry If That Had been Authorized – we predict it’s the right spot as a result of the window is thick and sticks off the wall a good quantity, so having a sconce that stands out above it and shines down on it feels actually proportional and balanced. As quickly as John held the window up in that spot yesterday I knew it might add some good steadiness to the room. WINDOW DESTINY IS A REAL THING, GUYS.

We had been each proud of the thought of simply hanging the window because it was and calling it a day (nicely, sealing it with some clear Safecoat Acrylacq since that safely encapsulates previous paint that may include lead). Buuuuuut we each agreed that it may be enjoyable to see if there was a approach to herald some shade simply because it was feeling kinda white on white (white partitions, white window, white cupboards & countertop in entrance of it, and so forth). That’s when the thought to attempt to give it a DIY stained glass look emerged. I KNOW. UH OH. That sounds prefer it may go SPECTACULARLY WRONG. However we have already got FIVE colourful actual stained glass home windows on this home (two going up the steps, and three within the attic on the entrance and sides of the home), so it simply felt like one other one would match proper in… if we may make it look good and never tacky… (which was an enormous IF).

In the end we knew we had nothing to lose since glass will be scraped should you paint it or cowl it with one thing you later hate. In actual fact we knew issues like glass paint exist for a majority of these tasks… however the craft retailer scene out right here close to the seaside home is bleak. As in, the closest factor is about an hour’s drive away with an $18 toll. So we determined to improvise utilizing a preferred children craft medium: tissue paper. I KNOW I CAN HEAR YOUR FEAR THROUGH THE COMPUTER BUT HAVE FAITH. Bear in mind: nothing to lose. Tissue paper can go on… and it could peel proper off if it seems to be like one thing a toddler made on the library and subsequently glued their hair to the paper.

We really already had some blue and mint tissue paper available for reward wrapping – and we darted out to the small native drugstore and grocery retailer after breakfast (THIS MORNING!) to seize no matter else we may discover that thought may be enjoyable… which ended up being some pink, violet, yellow, pink, and white.

However earlier than we may begin messing round with the paper, we needed to prep the window for hanging.

Prepping Your Window

John ended up having some heavy-duty D-rings that we screwed into the again of the window to make it simple to hold. Should you don’t have them, they’re only a few bucks at any ironmongery store. Be sure to’re hanging them equidistant from the highest of your body, since it will make it simpler to get it degree in your wall. We additionally subbed out the screws that got here with the D-rings with barely longer ones for a stronger maintain (simply be certain that they gained’t poke by the entrance of your window).

We hung it utilizing these drywall anchors, which have gotten our go-to anchors since you don’t need to pre-drill a gap. You’ll clearly wish to use a degree and a measuring tape/yardstick to get it precisely the place you need it in your wall. We made positive ours was centered on our sconce and the entire hanging half took beneath 10 minutes.

As soon as we “take a look at hung” it to verify we favored it, I spent about half-hour “tidying up” the glass. This meant scraping off a number of the crusty paint across the edges that overlapped the glass. I like utilizing a flat glass scraper like this after which I vacuumed up the flakes with our store vac to get rid of it. I DID NOT SAND as a result of there might be lead paint beneath the newer paint that might aerate and be breathed in (scraping may even fire up lead mud in some circumstances – mine had been simply huge paint flakes that remained on the glass – however we closely encourage tons of care with lead).

After scraping each side clear, I used white vinegar in a sprig bottle to scrub the glass itself (that’s really how I like to scrub glass and mirrors everywhere in the home – so low cost and it really works!).

If we wished it to look much less rustic and previous we may’ve finished much more (scraping extra, patching the wooden with Bondo, repainting…) however we favored the way it appeared previous and fascinating. So at this level we had been just about able to get to tissue papering!

Oh, and I ought to level out that our chihuahua Burger was very excited about posing all through this venture. Scroll by this put up while you’re finished studying and depend the cameos. He undoubtedly thought he was supervising.

Making use of Your Tissue Paper

We tried a couple of totally different software methods utilizing what we had available, however I’ll simply share what ended up working the perfect for us.

First, reduce your tissue paper roughly to dimension. It doesn’t have to be excellent and also you undoubtedly need some overlap so it’s not too small for every window pane. You can too maintain your tissue paper folded if you wish to reduce a number of items without delay.

Subsequent, spray the glass floor generously with water utilizing a sprig bottle. You don’t need a puddle of water, however typically we discovered extra water was higher than much less.

Subsequent, place your tissue sheet on the glass, beginning within the center and gently smoothing it in direction of the sides. You should utilize your fingers to press it into the creases, however moist tissue paper is delicate, so take it sluggish. We tried pushing it into the nook with a straight edge (like a bank card) but it surely usually tore the paper, so we discovered that simply utilizing our fingers was greatest.

We experimented with a number of layers of tissue paper too (generally of various colours) to create totally different hues and ranging opacities (the extra sheets = the bolder the colour). So as to add a second or third sheet, repeat the steps above. Spray over the present tissue paper and press down your subsequent sheet – first with a finger within the middle, after which faucet it down throughout the remainder of the pane.

You possibly can see that our papers hung over the sides rather a lot, however so long as there’s not an excessive amount of extra – it’s under no circumstances seen from the entrance facet.

Although it appeared kinda loopy from the again…

Oh and while you end along with your spraying & sticking approach – let it absolutely dry in that horizontal place. I feel if we hung it whereas it was nonetheless moist it might have caught to the wall and made an enormous mess. Solely dangle it as soon as it has all dried and molded to the glass firmly.

NOTE: Clearly this methodology solely works should you dangle the window on the wall so that you simply see the entrance as a result of the again is butt ugly. Additionally, this venture is lower than 12 hours previous, so we’ll replace you on how nicely this water solely approach holds up. Our tissue paper fully dried and molded itself into place with out something effervescent or shifting or coming unfastened. If issues in some way change over time and unstick, my subsequent try can be to combine Elmer’s Glue or Mod Podge with water and stick them on from behind with that concoction, which I’ve heard works however would possibly end in extra creases and apparent “that is tissue paper” proof, therefore the water-only first try.

Choosing Your Colours & Sample

Not solely had been we winging this system, we had been additionally making up the sample and colours as we went alongside. So it’s value taking a while to simply take a look at out what colours you’ll be able to create utilizing no matter tissue paper colours you might have available. The photograph under is of our “take a look at board” the place we had been simply seeing what would occur once we mixed totally different layers of various colours (the water spray methodology meant something we didn’t like may very simply be peeled off with out a lot effort earlier than it dried).

You possibly can see a couple of of the decrease colours we examined had been extra daring and first than we most popular, and we seen that the brighter colours appeared much more veiny and uneven – particularly once we layered white beneath them to attempt to mute them a bit from the entrance (FAIL!). So we very fortunately peeled off the too-bold main colours we didn’t love, in addition to the white + main ones that appeared all veiny and wrinkled within the backside left. Then we rejoiced that the colours we favored probably the most tended to look probably the most like precise stained glass (the highest ones).

All of that experimenting additionally taught us that layering the royal blue behind a couple of layers of lighter colours (like two mint sheets or two pink sheets) or placing a fireplace engine pink sq. behind two sheets of the violet paper gave us fascinating variations, which helped to create a extra various last look.

As for the sample, we contemplated an excellent symmetrical/conventional stained glass take a look at first. However no matter I doodled on my telephone ended up trying extra conventional than we wished. So we ended up simply kinda making a random/natural sample. Principally placing a couple of down, holding the window up, and making judgement calls about the place to place the following one and what shade to make it.

We realized afterwards that the entire thing ended up trying very Matt Crump-y. I really like this pocket book of his so I’m fully enamored to have a window model to name my very own.

I’m glad we determined to go away a number of the pane completely empty, as a result of I feel the reflective glass floor itself is an enormous motive why it seems to be so fairly hanging on this room. It’s consistently catching reflections from the assorted home windows and doorways within the house, which means it virtually glimmers as you stroll by the room. And it’s previous wavy glass. MY FAVORITE.

Footage can’t do it justice. Want you can all come wash dishes at my sink and stare at it with coronary heart eyes.

So once more, I’ll maintain you posted on how this DIY stained glass approach holds up over time, however for now we’re feeling fairly plucky about what we had been capable of pull collectively in a couple of hours.

Oh and should you’d prefer to see another inexpensive tasks that we’ve tackled over time, this Crafting & Artwork class has numerous concepts for ya. The massive dwelling renos are enjoyable, however nothing makes you’re feeling all giddy and excited like a fast & simple venture that really goes your approach! They do exist!!!

P.S. Talking of artwork, our candy good friend Jenny Komenda is now carrying two pictures that we took & framed on the duplex in her print store (Juniper Print Store). They’re obtainable as digital downloads which you can print & body your self or as prints which you can order that come proper to your door. We’re so excited to see Love and Station amongst all of her pretty prints!

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