First, a short tutorial on enlarging a pattern. I can't paint freehand. I wanted to do a Fleur-de-lis , but didn't want to try to do it without a pattern. I found an image online using google images. I printed it on card stock, and cut it out.
In this photo, you can see that I have the negative image suspended on a yardstick. I dug in the basement and found my mom's old movie projector. I set it on a table and used the projection to display the image on the wall. I didn't have any poster board, so I repurposed a large gift box as a stencil. I simply traced the image and cut it out.
I placed the cut out image on my window, taped around it and put some newspaper around it.
I spray painted the stencil and got this sort of lopsided Fleur-de-lis. 🙂 I touched up the original stencil and painted it again. I wanted to add a word at the bottom, and I decided to do Bienvenue. (welcome)
And THIS my friends is what happens when you spray paint outdoors on a windy day! I spray paint in an old carport where there is no wind. But being my impatient self, I set the window up against the garage so that it would dry quicker. I received a phone call and had to dash off to run an errand.
This is what I found when I got home! A VERY shattered and broken window! I was very, very sad! I worked oh so hard on this project. I did learn a lot about making a stencil, and cutting out the word, etc. The part that makes me the saddest is, this is the only window I had like this. (no divided panes) It was perfectly chippy too! All I can say is, I think I see a chalkboard in my future.
edited to add—you can see what I did with this window in my post Chicken Wire Memo Center
Hi, there! Iām Gail, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. Iām obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful againāmyself included! I hope youāll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the wayā¦ literally!
Dori
This happened to me too - except my husband did it. I was trying to give my friend one of our window panes. She happened to be our mail lady. Well, I had asked my husband to watch for her to come. He decided instead of watching, he'd lean it up on the mailbox. One gust of wind late - Voila!
Anyway, I just wanted to mention that you might measure your windown and call your local glass company to get a price. I talked to a lady who does windows for craft fairs, and she said it's really cheap to replace. I didn't totally believe her until we replaced a small window in our Vintage Airstream - it cost us $3.53 including tax! I know you're probably not wanting a redo anytime soon with the cute project, but at least you can salvage the window, yet!
MotherhoodFilm
I really enjoyed looking around your blog! What great ideas!!
*Elizaās blog*
Jill
I'm so sorry!!! That kind of thing has happened to me too and you just have to say "oh well" but for a few moments---uuuuuhhhhggg!!
Diann
Oh your window looked so beautiful. i would have been crushed to find it broken.
Diane@A Picture is Worth....
Sorry about your window!
Thanks so much for linking to 2nd Time Around!
Christina
Great how to. Sorry the breaking happened-how disappointing. I loved it though.
Kimm at Reinvented
Oh no, I'm so sorry that your project didn't turn out how you'd hoped, but we all sure appreciate the tutorial! š Thanks for linking up!
Jody
Aww...that would break my heart too! Gorgeous idea though...thanks fo sharing the how to, and visiting my blog! I appreciate it!
Proper Prim
I am so sad for you... I have the same kind of luck as you... I can just feel your disappointment... it was looking so good too... chalk it up to a really good experience...
Jessica
How sad! I bet it would have turned out so good! Better luck next time š
Sheri
Oh no! I hope you can find another window in one piece so you can create your design. It was lovely.
I have a linky party going you may want to link up: http://theshadesofpink.blogspot.com/2009/10/room-month-great-pumpkin.html
Anne~fiona and twig
This is great and very timely...I have some burlap I've been wanting to stencil a fleur-de-lis pattern on.
Thanks!
Anne
Barb
that's great!!
thanks for sharing the idea. and how-to's.
barbara jean
Vintage Dutch Girl
Looks GORG!
Delightful Dwelling
Wow, it looks gorgeous! What a neat idea, thanks for sharing.