We had a very completely different submit deliberate for at present, however then an excellent enjoyable/random undertaking fell into our laps on Monday evening. We weren’t certain how issues would end up (we have been kinda making up a DIY method as we went alongside), however to say that we’re pleasantly stunned is a big understatement. This is perhaps my favourite beneath $10 undertaking within the historical past of my life. And it might 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 could possibly simply wander the streets hoping to be in the precise place on the proper time – as a result of that’s really how my story of inheriting this window begins. In the event you observe me on Instagram Tales, you might have heard me gleefully inform The Fateful Story Of The Previous Diamond Window, whereby I randomly took an extended route on my night stroll and it resulted in me coming down our avenue about 10 minutes later than I often do, and at that precise second I ran into our neighbors as they have been loading an outdated diamond-paned window into their truck to take it to the dump. They regarded up as I walked by and stated “Hey Sherry! Would you like this outdated window? It’s tremendous rotten so we have been going to take it to the dump, however perhaps you are able to do one thing enjoyable with it?!”
I hope you understand how insane my face was after I basically screamed into their faces “YES I WANT IT SO BAD THANK YOU VERY MUCH!” and ran away clutching it and whispering “my treasured.”
It’s white on the opposite aspect, and the purple aspect above was the road going through aspect of the window, which is, in reality, extraordinarily brittle and water broken (a number of the trim was lacking and simply full of caulk, the precise sides of the window trim have been splintered and even lacking, and so on). So my first thought was that perhaps I might paint it with exterior paint and use it within the again backyard – perhaps as some form of cool trellis-alternative for one thing leafy to develop up.
Properly, 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 exterior… and, effectively, the entire footage you’re about to see have been really taken THIS MORNING. That’s proper, we began (and completed!) this undertaking at present. As in, simply hours in the past. And I used to be too excited to share my different already-written submit at present, 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 at present) we had turned this outdated window into one thing we’re loopy about. I KNOW THIS PICTURE MAKES YOU WORRIED. All of it labored out, regardless that this seems to be like a preschool undertaking gone mistaken.
This entire factor began as a result of I wished to discover a method to make use of the diamond window INSIDE of the seaside home, someplace that we might see it greater than having it tucked away within the yard and someplace that it could be protected against the weather so it wouldn’t finally simply crumble utterly. And this spot throughout from the island ended up being good. Chances are you’ll keep in mind that we had this large beachy print there earlier than. We LOVE this print – it’s the right colours and is fairly reasonably priced 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. Appears so good over by the eating desk. The colours go so effectively with the outdated 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 proud 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 could add some good stability to the room. WINDOW DESTINY IS A REAL THING, GUYS.
We have been each proud of the thought of simply hanging the window because it was and calling it a day (effectively, sealing it with some clear Safecoat Acrylacq since that safely encapsulates outdated paint that may include lead). Buuuuuut we each agreed that it is perhaps enjoyable to see if there was a method to herald some coloration simply because it was feeling kinda white on white (white partitions, white window, white cupboards & countertop in entrance of it, and so on). That’s when the thought to attempt to give it a DIY stained glass look emerged. I KNOW. UH OH. That sounds prefer it might 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 might make it look good and never tacky… (which was a giant IF).
Finally we knew we had nothing to lose since glass could 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 well-liked 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 may possibly 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 present wrapping – and we darted out to the small native drugstore and grocery retailer after breakfast (THIS MORNING!) to seize no matter else we might discover that thought is perhaps enjoyable… which ended up being some pink, violet, yellow, pink, and white.
However earlier than we might 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 straightforward to hold. In the event 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 this can make it simpler to get it stage 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 sure that they received’t poke by means of the entrance of your window).
We hung it utilizing these drywall anchors, which have gotten our go-to anchors since you don’t should pre-drill a gap. You’ll clearly wish to use a stage and a measuring tape/yardstick to get it precisely the place you need it in your wall. We made certain 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 preferred 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 may very well be lead paint beneath the newer paint that might aerate and be breathed in (scraping might even fire up lead mud in some circumstances – mine have been simply huge paint flakes that remained on the glass – however we closely encourage tons of care with lead).
After scraping either side clear, I used white vinegar in a sprig bottle to wash the glass itself (that’s really how I like to wash glass and mirrors all around the home – so low cost and it really works!).
If we wished it to look much less rustic and outdated we might’ve carried out much more (scraping extra, patching the wooden with Bondo, repainting…) however we preferred the way it regarded outdated and attention-grabbing. So at this level we have 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 undertaking. Scroll by means of this submit whenever you’re carried out studying and depend the cameos. He positively thought he was supervising.
Making use of Your Tissue Paper
We tried a couple of completely different software methods utilizing what we had available, however I’ll simply share what ended up working one of the best for us.
First, reduce your tissue paper roughly to dimension. It doesn’t must be good and also you positively need some overlap so it’s not too small for every window pane. It’s also possible to preserve 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 desire 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 the direction of the sides. You should use 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) however it 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 completely 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 may 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 in no way seen from the entrance aspect.
Although it regarded kinda loopy from the again…
Oh and whenever you end along with your spraying & sticking method – let it absolutely dry in that horizontal place. I feel if we hung it whereas it was nonetheless moist it could have caught to the wall and made an enormous mess. Solely grasp it as soon as it has all dried and molded to the glass firmly.
NOTE: Clearly this methodology solely works should you grasp the window on the wall so that you simply see the entrance as a result of the again is butt ugly. Additionally, this undertaking is lower than 12 hours outdated, so we’ll replace you on how effectively this water solely method holds up. Our tissue paper utterly dried and molded itself into place with out something effervescent or shifting or coming unfastened. If issues one way or the other 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 may lead to extra creases and apparent “that is tissue paper” proof, therefore the water-only first try.
Choosing Your Colours & Sample
Not solely have been we winging this system, we have been additionally making up the sample and colours as we went alongside. So it’s price taking a while to only take a look at out what colours you may create utilizing no matter tissue paper colours you’ve available. The photograph beneath is of our “take a look at board” the place we have been simply seeing what would occur once we mixed completely different layers of various colours (the water spray methodology meant something we didn’t like might very simply be peeled off with out a lot effort earlier than it dried).
You may see a couple of of the decrease colours we examined have been extra daring and first than we most popular, and we observed that the brighter colours regarded 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 regarded all veiny and wrinkled within the backside left. Then we rejoiced that the colours we preferred 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 hearth engine pink sq. behind two sheets of the violet paper gave us attention-grabbing variations, which helped to create a extra diversified 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 wanting 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 subsequent one and what coloration to make it.
We realized afterwards that the entire thing ended up wanting very Matt Crump-y. I like this notebook of his so I’m utterly 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 a giant purpose why it seems to be so fairly hanging on this room. It’s consistently catching reflections from the varied home windows and doorways within the house, which means it nearly glimmers as you stroll by means of the room. And it’s outdated wavy glass. MY FAVORITE.
Photos can’t do it justice. Want you could possibly all come wash dishes at my sink and stare at it with coronary heart eyes.
So once more, I’ll preserve you posted on how this DIY stained glass method holds up over time, however for now we’re feeling fairly plucky about what we have been capable of pull collectively in a couple of hours.
Oh and should you’d prefer to see another reasonably priced tasks that we’ve tackled through the years, this Crafting & Art category has lots of concepts for ya. The massive residence renos are enjoyable, however nothing makes you’re feeling all giddy and excited like a fast & straightforward undertaking that really goes your method! They do exist!!!
P.S. Talking of artwork, our candy pal Jenny Komenda is now carrying two images that we took & framed on the duplex in her print store (Juniper Print Shop). They’re accessible as digital downloads that you could print & body your self or as prints that you could order that come proper to your door. We’re so excited to see Love and Station amongst all of her beautiful prints!
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