With up-cycling quickly gaining popularity in the blog world, I wanted to jump on the bandwagon and show you guys a project I completed recently. While I love cruising the DIY websites and blogs and replicating the great projects I have come by, I would like to boast that I came up with my own little plan recently to up-cycle an old window pane my dad and I salvaged from a construction site. Fitting with the theme of my blog, take a look at my Starry Skies Window....
Converting old window panes into light boxes quickly added a whimsical feel and magical glow to my living room. Its not terribly easy to show you just how lovely they glow using a cell phone camera as flash drowns out the light and no flash is really too dark, but hopefully you get the idea. If you want to make your own, it really is quite simple, and of course I will share the tutorial with you. Here it is...
What I am working with...
What you need to be working with...
 | |||
| 1. Window Pane 2. Card stock or Poster board (in desired color) 3. Hole Punch 4. Screw Driver 5. Nail 6. Stickers (optional) 7. String of Christmas Lights (in desired color) 8. Staple Gun |
Step 1. Create your background.
Cut out the necessary amount of squares to fill in each section of your window pane using a sturdy paper such as card stock or poster board. I needed six squares for my window and used a metallic silver poster board for my background. Since I was going for a star theme, I used a hole punch to make holes around the edges where the most light would come through. Hole punches can only reach so far so I also used a screw driver to punch slightly smaller holes into the center parts of my squares and a nail to create pin sized holes to fill in the space around the larger holes (I placed a foam pad underneath the squares while punching holes so as not to puncture my legs or my craft table with the screwdriver and nail. Try to come up with your own solution to do this part safely at home). I also added some shiny start stickers on the front of my paper to add a little shine from the front. These show up in daylight only, so they are optional. I just happen to have star stickers available at all times, that's just me though. Then I placed each square in its respective section of the window and secured with a little scotch tape or whatever type of tape you have lying around.
I used stars as my theme, but this is a very versatile project and you can do this in any theme you choose. Pick a different color paper, or use fabric. Instead of circular holes meant to represent stars, cut out flowers. I will be using white twinkle lights, use another color or multicolored lights. Do whatever suits your style or decor of your room.
Step 2. Add Light.
Using your staple gun, attach your lights to the back of your window pane, making sure to staple into the wooden frame. Make sure to turn the window as you go so you are stapling downward for easier application. I simply traced the edges of each section with the lights. As you can tell, it doesn't look very neat, but it doesn't matter so much as this is the back and will be hidden against your wall. Try to make the lights lay as flat against the panes as possible though for easy hanging later. Make sure to leave the plug for your light along the bottom edge so that you can easily plug them in when you are ready.
Step 3. Hang and Enjoy!
Here's my finished project hanging in my living room.
And here is what they look like turned on.
Like I mentioned before, pictures don't do the lighting justice, but you get the idea. The light shows up through the holes as well as along the edges of each section and from behind the entire pane itself. The silver paper and soft yellow light go with the weather worn window to give off a vintage feel and the impression of a starry sky beyond the window. Romantic, no?
The living room revamp to be continued...
Until next time...
Keep your eyes on the sky...
<3 ray
Igot-it@: Window, salvaged. Poster board, Joann Fabrics. Christmas Lights, Target. Tools, previously acquired.
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