The great Nathaniel Hawthorne once said, “Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.” With the passing of time we often find that the shadow of our past becomes faint. It becomes more and more difficult to remember when that shadow was first cast. It is then that we become thankful for the tangible items we have that represent those years. What better way to embrace and remember those times than by making a beautiful, decorative piece for your home.
Old windows are one of my favorite things…and hot dogs. I really love hot dogs. I digress!
I’m always in search of windows. I most frequently find them at yard sales or junk stores, but due to the recent increase in popularity they are often priced a little too rich for my blood. So when I find them for cheap, I snatch them up for future projects. One such project that will add to your wall decor is this beautiful and personalized memory window.
This particular project was done for a family friend and highlighted their children and grandchildren. In today’s times of social media, this is even a project you can do as a surprise by canvasing Facebook and other outlets to find great pictures of a friend’s family.
Simply begin by cleaning the glass of the window and deciding how many pictures you would like to showcase.
By cutting the pages out of a photo album found at almost any store, you can secure them to the glass with double sided tape allowing the opportunity for pictures to be changed out in the future.
The particular window used in this project was not your traditional, six paned window. With four column panes, the last name of the family was painted on the first pane with some decorative accents. By using slick paint that can be purchased at any craft store, you are able to add dimension to your design. A modified leaf and vine design was used on this window.
While the “name panel” was drying, the photo sleeves were placed onto window using double sided tape. Space out the photos as you see fit and allow room for any painted designs that you would like to add.
Once you have completed all your photo placement and painted accents you are ready to add your fixtures to hang your window.
Now you are ready to hang your beautiful wall decor! The weight of the window can possibly be an issue so make sure you use a fixture that is sturdy enough to support your Memory Window. I recommend something like a Hercules Hook. They are great for anchoring large items, but do not damage your wall.
Even though our minds fail us and the memories may fade, you can always remember the past with a beautiful item like this displayed in your home. Have confidence in your work and add your own style and flair to this piece and enjoy it for years to come. Your creativity and little DIY know-how is sometimes all you need to stay stylish!