Window

So I bought and moved into an old house, that belonged to my husbands family. In the shed was a plethora of odds and ends from generational family living there and a plethora of odds and ends from years of house repairs, and car repairs. As we were cleaning out to make our home. I found an old window out of the garage and liked it’s history so much I just had to find a way to keep it and reuse it.
First step clean, clean and clean again. Nothing sticks to wood or glass that isn’t cleaned of years of use. I sanded the wood, and cleaned with Murphy’s oil soap. Then cleaned both glass and wood with vinegar and CLEAN coffee filters( they leave no lint/residue).
Second tape off window and seal wood with zinnzer primer( I had already used this practically all over the house and didn’t need to buy any extra for this small amount needed for the window frame). Make sure to take off tape before frame paint dries! Once dry check for paint on glass( scrape off if necessary). Re-tape. Again I already had painters tape on hand due to volume of painting an old older home requires when moving in. 2nd coat of primer(making sure to get in crevices and wood is fully covered). Tape removed and let dry.
3rd step prepare the window for film.( I had extra sheets of this leftover from doing my kitchen windows. This stuff is expensive and when I had all the extra I decided to keep it back for any reason since I didn’t want to buy it again!!!) follow instructions on sheets/bottle. It’s small amount of soap and water( I suggest baby formula water) sprayed on the window have your sheets precut your size( give yourself some extra on all sides). Squeegee film on the FRONT SIDE of window with design facing the front of your window. I used two sheets on the sides of my window to leave middle open for my “center focus”. Use NEW razor blade TO CUT away extra film.
Let completely dry. These sheet will move and it’s a pain to fix them.
Next work on what is going to be seen through the window. I cut a piece of foam poster board to size. Put my print with my grandfathers(one from each side of the family) sayings written on my banners. At the time we recently lost both patriarchs within a year of each other and they were a central part of both my husband and I lives. I wanted to pay tribute to them and let their wisdom live on in a seen everyday way. I used old fake flowers and crafting gems/metal push pins I had on hand. I also used paint I already had. I color coordinated with color from kitchen/living room area since this was going to be seen from those areas but hanging in a hallway we all pass through everyday. I suggest before even starting picking where to hang it and what you want visible. You’ll be happy you gave it some thought because it’s large, heavy, and well looks like a window from most directions.
I put picture in center, put DRIED window over foam board to ensure it was in the right position I wanted. The glued center picture to foam. Then I filled in radomly with paint( sponge technique) then filled in flowers. I also cut up some of the fake leaves to fill in “holes” areas overlooked in the “whole scene” I tried to put some of them together like they would be in nature.added my metal studds in the flowers with hot glue pushed some into foam in Radom places. Metals are very strong in my overall decor. I have a metal railing and circlular stairway in my living room so I’ve incorporated a lot of silver, gold, bronze, and copper into my chosen color/decor scheme to blend in that staircase/railing. Hence some of my choosing for this “window”. I wanted to tie two areas together but be different.
Put window over foam make sure you like it’s appearance. Glue foam to window. I used gorilla liquid glue as hot glue can be touchy and not bond two surfaces.
Next step find trinkets and scraps to glue to your window(again used gorilla glue). I used old car parts, washers, metal connector anything “shiny” so that when I painted and sanded it( it would show through). Textured items will also show.
Next I painted it with White House paint 2 coats and full drying in between( again leftovers from ceiling paint). I sanded with tiny bits of hand sand paper until I was satisfied.
Next step hanging. ( this is the step that I didn’t think through until after finishing it! Don’t u hate that!)
So I decided I needed some type of bracket( metal of course). I had an old bakers rack/wine rack( I don’t even drink or bake) I used as a microwave stand that went into hiding because I didn’t have a home for it upon moving. So I took it apart. Figured I could use the parts somewhere in the future. I used one of wine rack holders and bracketed it to the window after all it was the prefect length and I didn’t even consider that although I should have!!
Ok so now I have a hanger of sorts but upon attempting to figure out how I was going to do so became obvious that my window would stick out of the wall if I used the bracket as my “hanger”. So I dug through my shed and found some chain still in a container! Nice and shiny. Bingo! it was never returned and purchased for something never done, either way thank goodness or this piece may have stayed in the basement for awhile and I would’ve thought it a waste of time. Someone may be thinking it should have as they are reading this and that’s ok. Art is fully subjective and I appreciate that not everyone likes it and they don’t have to. It’s fun to do even if it never sees the light of day or everyone thinks it’s ugly as hell. Lol.
So put my chain on and now I’m left with how to hang this heavy and I do mean heavy piece on a freshly drywalled( we really put our time here including my paint job!) wall. This is why I say plan, plan, and plan again. I needed something that stuck out of wall so the window would hang flat..omg what would stick out to hang the chain on. Back to rummaging through my own house, garage, and sheds. Found some dresser knobs( extra leftover from a package I used for my daughters dresser makeover). Great! Now how do I secure these to studs! Lucky for me I measured and wrote down where the studs were before we put up drywall. I had already went through the guessing game of sorts with the rest of the house and since it was built in the 50s not everything was exactly where it should be.
Well I turned up these screws in the junk drawers of the shed tool box. They had threads on both sides. I don’t even know what they are called. I was praying they would work! I put my dresser knobs on them they fit!!!! Ok, now get these babys in the studs and I’m in business! This turned out to be a bit harder.
So I pre-drilled my screw holes also make sure they are level! Easier said than done as well. Mine turned out a bit off..don’t know how considering I used a level.. but the chain will allow you to straighten the window despite the knobs being not exactly level to a T. I used a pair of pliers to screw these odd screws into the wall. I don’t have pictures as I completed the process and I’m sorry for that. I just discovered instructables. So after I get them into the studs as far as my hand strength would let me. MAKE SURE YOU USE THE CORRECT SIZE DRILL BIT COMPARED TO YOUR “odd screws” I would post of picture but I have no more of them and haven’t seen them in the store to know what they are called..
Otherwise your window will be on the floor for sure. And your drywall trashed. My husband isn’t a handyman type and my grandfathers deceased I didn’t really have anyone pointing the way. I’ve learned all of these things by trial and error myself trying to work on my home and fix it up. Size matters!!
I put my knobs on and then…the window hanging. And held my breath for it to hit the floor. It didn’t. I gave it some taps and slight tugs, after all I have dogs, and two busy teenagers running through the house with their bags, and laundry and you name it to knock this thing off the wall. It held. However the “odd screws” were showing since the knobs only screwed on so far and I only got them so far into studs. I knew we had leftover spacers from tv hangers. I grabbed some and took the window off, and the knobs. Put the spacers on, then knobs and re-hung the window. It’s been hanging for 3 plus years now and hasn’t slid, moved, cracked or otherwise broken. Some people have asked where I’ve got it, and seemed shocked when I told them I did it myself. I’m not sure if I should be insulted or not. I didn’t think it too hard or all that beautiful overall. I could’ve really done a better job on everything. It means something to me and that’s all that matters. Thanks for the read, and hopefully someone is inspired and thinks they can do way better because someone can and it will turn out absolutely stunning!!

Supplies

Old garage window, old house window, it doesn’t matter! Just pick the size u want to hang and remember your hanger will have to be very sturdy and keep that in mind when picking your window out it adds to the overall size of your piece. Old card stock photo, spare fake/dried flowers, leftover paint of your color choosing, extra window film, piece of foam/or poster board from kids project. Spare bits and junk in interesting shapes, or colors(metals) from the shed junk, or garage junk tool box. Chain, brackets, dresser knobs, and these funny looking screws that are flat on each end and just look like tiny pieces of rebar with threading.