(DIY) Recycled Window Picture Frames

Hello hello! I know, it's been awhile. I'm still not so great at this whole blog thing. I am going to try to post more often, but bear with me! I'm here to show you project that took me WAY too long to finish (I'm seeing a trend here...)! When I first found a source for free, old windows, I knew some great crafts were in my future. My first project was a message board for my mom:

The full tutorial can be found here. My mom has it hung in her kitchen where she hangs pictures and drawings from her grandkids and students. I love how it turned out!

Next, I decided to see what the Krylon Looking Glass Spray craze was all about. I prepped the window the same way as the first, then covered the back with the spray paint. This one hangs in the guest room and I absolutely LOVE it! I followed this tutorial from Atta Girl Says. Super simple and stunning : )

After two window projects, you'd think I would have had enough, that I would have gotten it out of my system. To that I say, if you had nearly unlimited free windows, would you just let them sit there, sad and lonely? Me either. Those windows need a home!!! So I headed over to Richlands, Virginia, and picked up not one, not two, but THREE more windows! No, I'm not crazy. I had a huge wall behind our couch that needed to be filled, and tons of wedding pictures that I had been dying to hang on the walls. Throw some windows into that equation, and here's what you get:

Recycled Window Picture Frames!!!

Like I said, it took me entirely too long from start to finish, but they are finally up and I just LOVE them! I'll give you a super short mini tutorial. Again, I prepped the windows the same way as before, stripping, sanding, and sealing (be careful with lead paint!!!). I then took some cardboard and cut it to fit into each slot. I used linen (leftover from our wedding center pieces- woo!), cut it to size, and used spray adhesive to attach it to the cardboard. Finally, I ordered my photos (from Walmart- they turned out really nice) and used spray adhesive to carefully attach the photos to the linen covered cardboard. I used glaziers clips (from the hardware store) to hold the cardboard in the back of the windows.

I am so happy with how they turned out and it makes me so happy to see my wedding pictures every day!

I traced and painted the "B" design onto the linen, then glued some lace and a flower clip to another frame (the glass had broken out of both sections). I decided to glue the photos to the linen instead of making mats because A) it's WAY easier, and B) This way I can switch them out more easily, and I can put different sizes in if I choose to. 

I used D hooks and picture hanging wire on the backs of the windows, and hung them on drywall anchor screws because we couldn't hang them directly on studs. The anchor screws we used are rated for 30 lbs. and these windows weight in at just over 12 lbs., so I'd say we're good! 

Again, I'm thrilled with how they look, and it really was a simple (although time-consuming) project! Plus, it was very inexpensive: I just had to buy hanging hardware and the photos! Let me know if you plan on using this in your home- I'd love to see it!