DIY Window Shelves for Plants

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Roeshel

I recently shared my craft room tour. And as a little reward for cleaning up that chaos and getting organized, I treated myself to a little DIY project. I love one of the windows in this room. Here’s how it looked in the past:

The window shown above nearly reaches from floor to ceiling and with the two different sized windows in the room (one tall window with trim original to the house/one high small window with no trim), window treatments always felt tricky or lopsided.

So why cover that beautiful trimmed tall window at all? It faces the back of the house, it’s a second story window and it’s not a room for dressing or a need for privacy. I’ve always wanted to put shelves on a window for plants. Plenty of sunshine should assist in changing my luck with plants, right?

Here’s what I did…

Materials:

(3) 1 x 4″ pine boards for shelves
(6) shelf brackets
Minwax Polyshades (Ebony)

I decided where I would attach the brackets to the window trim to calculate the measurement of my shelves.

Then cut my shelves.

Sanded the rough edges and wiped them clean.

Then brushed on the Polyshades using a foam brush. I let it sit for a few minutes then wiped the stain away and let dry. I did all sides. (I may apply a wax finish to the wood shelves for further water-proofing but I was on a bit of a deadline.)

Next I marked the holes for the brackets and drilled a pilot hole.

Then I just screwed the brackets into the window trim/pilot hole (can always be patched with wood filler in the future). *Use a level to be sure they’re ‘level’.

Attach the wood shelves to the brackets with screws (be sure these screws are smaller than the shelf thickness so the screw doesn’t poke up from the bottom).

It adds a bit of privacy without a long drapy curtain panel but still lets natural light into the room.

It’ll take some maneuvering/removing plants to open the window but the shelves don’t interfere with the function.

before

after

DIY Window Vinyl Decal

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Roeshel

I recently revealed our bathroom makeover…

and you may have noticed that the window is bare.

Problem: I haven’t been able to decide on curtains…the length would be awkward with placement of the toilet. I like the natural light during the day since I use this space to get ready in the mornings. But I don’t like the lack of privacy even if it is on the second floor. Pictures of the window in the day time are tricky…but here goes!

Solution: I applied a lace contact paper {affiliate link} to the bottom window which is where someone from the outside looking up from a distance would be able to see someone standing in the bathroom with the light on at night. Then I created a fun decorative vinyl decal for the top window.

Materials:

White adhesive vinyl from Happy Crafters
Transfer paper

Tools:

Silhouette Cameo and Silhouette Studio Designer Software
Scissors
Credit/gift card for rubbing

What I did:

Using the Silhouette Studio Designer software, I created my design. I purchased a tree shape from the online Silhouette store and surrounded it with curved “Hotel & Spa” text since my new bathroom has a relaxing spa feel.

How to curve text: Click the circle shape on the left. Drag to size, shape and center on design. Next click the font button on the left and create your text. While the text box is surrounded with a green window, click the circle with a cross. Drag text to the inner or outer circle border. (You can also change the character spacing in the font tool.)

Next, select the circle again by clicking on it. Then click the scissors button in the right hand corner. Choose “no cut”. Now the text in the design will be cut but the circle won’t. (As you can see, I played around with rearranging my text too.)

Load vinyl into the machine color/vinyl side up. Change blade and settings for adhesive vinyl cutting. Send design to cut.

Remove vinyl from the machine and trim to a more manageable size around the design.

Weed away the unused part of the vinyl design.

Cover vinyl decal with transfer paper. Rub with a credit card.

Clean window.

Peel away paper backing, transferring the vinyl decal to the sticky transfer paper.

Place design on window. Rub with a credit card and peel away transfer paper.

Ta-da! Now my window has some decorative type detail without curtains or a blind. I have privacy and natural light. What do you think?

day time

{It’s difficult to capture in a photo of a window in day light but it’s very visible in real life.}

night time

*This post is sponsored by Happy Crafters. Tutorial, experience and opinion is my own. I really love working with this vinyl. Check out all the supplies at Happy Crafters for inspiration for your next project.

DIY: Removable Decorative Window Frame

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Roeshel

DIY MAGIC WINDOW ART TUTORIAL

As a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas network, I’m participating in the September “window treatment” challenge. I was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to complete my project…addressing this bathroom window:

Our main floor bathroom has a window that sits high up (no one can see in and the view out is of the treetops). The window is not framed. I’ve tried a curtain on this window, but with it sitting so high above the toilet tank, it just doesn’t look right.

This project would be great for window privacy too!

Materials I used:

1×3 pine boards to create a frame
Flat corner brackets
Gorilla Wood Glue
Wood filler
White paint (leftover Valspar Signature in satin finish)
Picture frame hanging hardware
Screen (36″ wide)
FrogTape
Staples
Stencil
Craft paint
White vinyl table cloth
Vinyl decals

Removable decorative window frame:

I started with creating a frame for my window using the 1×3 boards, corner brackets, Gorilla Glue, wood filler and paint. It’s best to miter the joints, add glue to the joints and brackets (be sure that screws are not longer than depth of frame). Fill joint lines with wood filler and lightly sand once dry. Prime/paint frame.

Cut screen to fit inside the wooden frame with enough room to fold under borders and to staple to the back side of the frame.

Stencil a design on the screen and let dry. I used Cutting Edge Stencil’s Allium Gladiator Flower Stencil (it sort of looks like dandelions and butterflies). FrogTape was essential in working with the screen by holding it flat and in place. Once paint is dry, staple screen to back of frame.

You may think to stop here but when I hung the frame (in the daylight), the stenciled design wasn’t visible. It simply looked as if I only framed the window.

So I cut a piece of white vinyl table cloth to size (a bit bigger than the inner space of my frame with an extra inch around the borders to staple it into place) then I added vinyl decals to the white tablecloth. (I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out a bike and quote.) You could also try a light colored/patterned fabric or paint your own design on canvas…just remember that your stenciled screen will show when it’s dark outside.

I stapled the white tablecloth into place.

Simply hang on nails using the sawtooth picture hangers. Easily removable – as simple as taking a picture off the wall.

Before…

During the day, the bike and quote show up…

and at night, the stenciled screen shows up as well…

It’s easily removable for when I want to open/access the window and lets in a lot of light during the day. Yay! Love the result…window dressing, window frame and art. What do you think?

See more fun DIY ideas at Lowe’s Creative Ideas, follow Lowe’s on Instagram, Pinterest and sign up for the Creative Ideas magazine and app!

*Disclaimer: As a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Creators and Influencers network, I received a Lowe’s gift card to complete this project for a mini outdoor makeover challenge, however the tutorial images, instructions and opinions are my own.

DIY Show Off ™ – DIY Decorating and Home Improvement Blog

DIYShowOff – Budget Friendly Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement and Decorating blog

Tag Archives: window

DIY Window Shelves for Plants

DIY Window Vinyl Decal

DIY: Removable Decorative Window Frame

DIY MAGIC WINDOW ART TUTORIAL