DIY Dry Erase Window {tutorial}

I saw something similar to this window project on Pinterest but wanted to use it in a little bit different way {as a dry erase board}. The problem was, there was no "how-to" for the window I saw so I had to think it through and make it on my own. 

Supplies:

• One window
• Fabric a little longer and a little wider than the panes of glass on the window.
• Sand paper {if you're painting the window}
• Paint {again...if you're painting}
• Painter's tape {do I need to say it?}
• Hot Glue Gun w/ glue sticks
• Portrait hanging hardware
  
  {supplies for the banner are midway through the post}

Isn't this window ugly? Yes, it is.

BUT

This window cost only one dollar or two when my mom was shopping at a garage sale last year and it's loaded with potential.

First things first, I taped off the inside of the window panes with my painter's tape. I made sure to cover the glass and not any part of the wood so that I would end up with a nice, clean job when I was done.

Next. I grabbed my sand paper {I'm not sure what grit this was} and I sanded the window down to remove the finish on it. Use your "elbow grease" if you're doing it by hand like I was. In retrospect, this part would have moved along a lot quicker if I had borrowed my Dad's power sander. {Insert a sad attempt at a manly grunt here.}

Once the window is sanded, wipe it down with a damp cloth to get the dust off. Once it's clean, go ahead an paint it. I chose this robin's egg blue to go with the pink and blue theme I had for Mikayla.

Let the window dry.

{tick, tock, tick, tock}

And once it's dry, flip the window over and get ready to attach the fabric.

I wanted to make sure that my finished window wouldn't have fabric showing around the edge so I chose to attach it as close as I could to the inside of the frame without it touching the glass.

It's important to stretch the fabric until it's taut so it's best to start on one end and work over from there. I started on the right hand side with a line of hot glue from the top of the window to the bottom and then pressed down that end of the fabric. After letting the glue dry, I could tug on the fabric to make sure it wasn't sagging down. I pulled the fabric tight across the back of the window and then a bit at a time, I glued down the fabric on the top and bottom of the frame.

Three words...Keep It Taut.

It's not hard to do, it's just important to be mindful of that.

that fabric needs a good steaming...

 Technically, the window could be done at this point. Just grab a dry erase marker, write something on the it, and hang it up. :)

I, however, wanted to add a cute banner to give it a finishing touch.

Supplies for the banner:

• scrapbook paper cut into triangles
• sewing machine
• 2 push pins

The amount of triangles needed depends on how big they're made and how close you would like them together. I chose 2 different patterns of paper so I stacked up my pieces, every other pattern at a time, and kept it nearby me at the sewing machine.

On my new Brother Innovis sewing machine, I selected a standard, straight stitch and started sewing.

I counted to 12 between each piece of paper to make sure the distance between pieces was equal.

On either side of the window, toward the front, push in the push pin. Then, wind the stitched thread around the pin, pushing the pin down as far as it will go to hold it in place. 

If you're pleased with the outcome, you're done! Otherwise, try winding different lengths of your banner to help it drape higher or lower until you're satisfied.

Write the message and attach the hanging hardware you've selected. We used hooks on either end of the window. {See below}

And...you're done!! 

PS: Click these links to hop over to the tutorials for the Tissue Paper Pom-Poms and/or the Mobile.