Windows - Seeing Double!

Let the transformations begin!  I have begun the window makeovers and am very pleased with the way the first one turned out.  The windows will be required to pull double duty for this project.  It will be like buy one, get one free  (BOGO!).

First I cleaned each with ammonia water.  These did not have loose paint and most of the hardware had been removed.

The first one is ready for its treatment.

The first supply needed is Krylon Looking Glass Spray.  It is pricy at Hobby Lobby ($9.95), but use your 40% off coupon.

I did not tape off the wood sections because I planned to paint the area later.  It is up to you.  Decide after you read this.

I applied three light coats with a drying time of one hour between coats.  It was early morning with low humidity.  I attempted this on the next window with high humidity and later in the day.  I will be doing that window again!

I did not want full coverage.  I wanted to have a color show through on the mirror side.  

Oh, I better tell you to spray the BACK of the glass.  The reflective surface will show through on the front of the window.  That is very important because the finish is easily scratched.

Here is the FRONT of the window showing the mirror-like finish.  I say mirror-like so you will not get your hopes up with just how reflective this is.  It has an aged look.  To be honest, I have never applied more than three coats of this stuff so if you continue to add coats you may achieve mirror-ness.  It probably tells that in the directions, but I have not yet read them!

This is the BACK of the window where I sprayed the mirror finish.  I painted over everything on the back with Folk Art Sea Mist craft paint.  I painted three coats.  This serves two purposes:  one, it covers the voids in the mirror finish and two, it protects it from scratches.

So, as long as I had to paint the back, I might as well do something back here!

These are the leftover images from the Graphics Fairy that were used for the flower cones project.

There are six panes in the window, but only three different Palmer's images.

I just mixed them up and Mod Podged them on the panes.  

Wait a minute - I left out a step.  I varnished over the paint three times with satin craft varnish.

Now Mod Podge those images on.  Thin coat on the back.  Carefully place on each pane. Lay a piece of waxed paper over them and gently burnish with a paper towel (or your finger -just do not rub too hard.  You will "starve" the glue by pushing it out from under the image.)

 

I used three coats of Mod Podge over the top  with a long drying time between to give it a chance to dry really well.

How pretty is this?  Now, don't look too closely or you will notice each flower was used twice!

Back to the front of the window.

I was lucky that when I began to sand, the white paint came off easily and revealed a soft yellow.  I left some white and in other areas I went all the way to the wood.

You can see the aged look of the mirror finish with some of the sea mist paint peeking through.

Here is an up close and personal look at the way the mirror turned out.  I left the sides raw wood.

Next I brought out my Howard's Citrus Shield dark oak wax.  I waxed both sides and all around the edges.  Since it was 104 degrees, applying the wax was super-easy.  Getting it to dry enough to buff was almost impossible.  I had to move inside and just hope clumsy me didn't drop dark wax on the rug for me and the dogs to track through the house! (Yeah, I didn't!)

For the final step I screwed two cup hooks to the top edge and attached a wire for hanging.

This is the front side - a distressed yellow window mirror.

This is the back side - a beautiful window decorated with flowers.

All you have to do when you get tired of one side is turn it around.

It is doing double duty!

Yes, I am not fooling you.  This is one window with two decorative sides!

Guess what?  I am planning another one with two sides.  Of course, it will be different.  I am tired of doing multiples of projects.  

On the house cleaning progress - Leia has a place to sit and work on arts and crafts projects.  She also has one-half of a twin bed to sleep on.  (Still working on that!)  Hope my other niece will come for a visit while the house is clean.  (Hint, hint, if you are reading this, O!)  Let me go back to work.

See y'all!


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