Making a Window Family Frame
Hi Friends! I’m LOVIN’ this project that I get to share with you today.
Super cute, right!!
My brother works in construction and lately has been replacing lots of windows… yeah for me!
I had pinned this great tutorial by Sugar Bee Crafts on how to create a giant picture for cheap. While looking at the pile of windows it hit me… how cute to combine the two!
The window was in great shape and the perfect size for this project. So I scored the window for FREE!
Now to make the rest for cheap. The trick… I went to Staples and had a Engineering Print made for less than $4, with tax! Cool, right. Engineering prints are black and white (I already had the perfect black and white photo from our Christmas card) and they are printed on paper. I picked the 24” x 36” size to have printed ~ crazy big for less than $4! It was a little larger than the size of the window, so I figured that in my sizing when I uploaded the image. (You can stretch or shrink your image on Staples’ site)
Once I had my image printed (it was ready within hours) I trimmed it down to size. Sugar Bee Crafts used foam board on her mounting with spray adhesive. I used a piece of cardboard (we had just assembled some Ikea furniture). I adhered mine with mod podge.
I covered the cardboard with a thin even coat of the mod podge and then very carefully… making sure it was lined up… placed the photo on top of the cardboard. I started at the bottom edge (closest to me) and worked upward. I didn’t put a top coat on. I figured the window pane would protect it well.
I attached the cardboard to the back of the window frame with a staple gun and then attached the grooved nail hanger to the top center.
I think it’s going over in our kitchen nook area. (Not a fun area to photography something glass with all the windows.)
I’m lovin’ it ~ and for less than $5!
Thanks for stopping by friends!
Sharing at 504 Main
Tried this for my up coming wedding on 10/3/2020. Thank you!!
Can you tell me how you got your picture to the right size? When I go to Staples and go to the blueprint photos, the picture I selected is small and it won’t let me change the size to fit the size of the blueprint.
Looks like Staples has changed what you can do on their site. You have to increase the image size before you upload to Staples now. Canva.com would probably work to increase the image size if you don’t have photo editing software.
I love this we just cleaned up an old window and we’re going to frame a family portrait also! Where did you get the “Christ is the center of our home” message?? I love it!!
Hi! I have had this pinned for ages and my husband just scored some free windows! Did you have any trouble getting Staples to print it as an engineering print? Their website says not suitable for photos. Thanks and it looks just great!
I saw the site also says they can print color engineering prints
Any specific reason the staples site says they aren’t the best for photos? (Rather than them wanting to make some extra money)
Engineering prints are original made for blueprints. The paper is the thickness of standard paper so it’s not photo paper, that’s why they make these statements.
Awesome! I’ve been wanting to do that for some time but wasn’t sure where or how to get the big photo – THANKS so much for the info and tute, Maryann!
Beautiful…artful…meaningful. Love it!
Wow, this is really, really awesome!!! Now I just need an old frame. 🙂
Great idea, Maryann. I can’t believe how well the faces line up to avoid the wood parts of the frame. Perfect!
Love the frame and the photo inside is even better!
Thanks Mary Beth!
This is awesome–I love it!
Hi Maryann– What a gorgeous idea! I love your ingenuity and the photo of your family is beautiful.
Thanks Malia!
Your family picture fits in it perfectly!!! I shared a similar idea with a different pic in each pane here: https://www.kristendukephotography.com/how-to-turn-vintage-windows-into-picture-frames/
Thanks for your comments on the google hangout tonight!
Love it Kristen! I’ve got more window frames, so you know I’m totally going to be copying.
Oh my, I just Love this!
What a wonderful idea!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Sandi!
I love this too plus your saying above it 🙂
Me too Gwen!
Brilliant idea, I love it, will be doing this for sure”)
Thanks Dawn ~ Go for it!
I just saw this shared on google+. Love it! Pinned, and can’t wait to try it. What a clever idea.
Thanks Heidi!
LOVE this! I have some old windows in the garage! And how lucky that all of the faces are in a pane and not hidden by the any part of the window!
I know – I totally scored on that part. Having space on the sides of your image and having it a little bigger helps give you a little play room too.
Maryann, this is such a lovely project. Great job!
Lynn
Thank you bunches Lynn!
This is such a fun idea! I love it! I found 4 windows while out curb shopping one night and have been working on ideas with them. I mauy have to make one of these to keep! Thanks for the inspiration! Hugs, Leena
Score Leena! So many things you can do with windows. I’m thinking windows might be the trend to side-step pallets. 🙂
love it!
Thanks Jessica!
Very cute!! Stylish and full of character!
Jenna @ rainonatinroof.com
Thanks Jenna!