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Miy Eco-Memo Design Decor
Re-cycle, Re-Vamp, Re-invent & Re-decorate
"f o r   t h e   p u r e   j o y   o f   m a k i n g   t h i n g s"

               
Miycreations Project article and photographs
by  MaddyLane (Madeleine M Langlois)

MIY Eco-Friendly Design Decor: Re-cycled & Re-vamped
Window Memo Board

Hands-on time: Weekend project.
Total time: Plus drying time for the paint and topcoat
(2 hours for each coat).
Skill: Moderate
Project cost: Under $25.00 for the supplies

Materials & tools:

•  An old window frame with at least one broken pane (available at flea
markets, antique dealers, or garage sales)
• Sandpaper, sanding block, steel wool, and paint scraper
• 1-inch (2.5cm) bristle brush (for varnish), 1-inch synthetic brush (for    latex
paint)
•  Lint-free cloths
•  Latex paints in black, apple green, light blue and dark turquoise
•  Minwax Polycrylics Satin-finish water-based varnish (I like using Minwax
Polycrylic because its water based and has no odor)  
•  Painter's tape
•  Rigid cardboard
•  Craft knife
•  Quilting batting
•  Scissors
•  Decorator fabric with leaf patterns to co-ordinate with the paint colours
•  Glue gun or double-faced tape
•  One 1/4-inch (5-mm) decorative ribbon
•  Decorative upholstery tacks (available at hardware stores)
•  Low odor adhesive
•  Picture-hanging wire, finishing nails and hook

(Materials for this project are available at craft and hardware stores).

It's easy to incorporate eco-friendly designs into your office or home living
spaces. Environmentally friendly decorating is all about re-cycling, re-
vamping, and re-using items that can be incorporated into your everyday
living. Plus when you go eco-friendly décor, you also save money, have fun
doing it, and the creative results are always so original. You don’t have to
start with large projects, start with something small and something you need.

I found this old window at a garage sale, it had a broken pane ($2.00) . Not a
problem, for I had the inspiration to turn it into an “Inspirational Memo Board”
for my office. I replaced the broken pane section with a decorative upholstery
fabric insert. My favorite part of projects like this one is the expedition for the
finds at garage sales and flea markets, my fun is getting inspired right away in
seeing the object in its transformed creation.

Start by cleaning your frame and window thoroughly. With a scraper, remove
any old paint from the window's surface. If your frame has several coats of old
paint, you can sand its edges down with sandpaper or steel wool to make the
colors of the underneath layers visible. You can also achieve the vintage look
by painting on 3 to 4 layers of assorted colors, letting dry between each coat.
Then, with the sandpaper or steel wool, sand the frame until parts of all the
colored layers are visible. Use a scrapper in a few areas to give an extra-
weathered look.

With a bristle brush, varnish the window frame with a satin-finish varnish
avoiding the glass panes by using painter's tape to protect them. Then, peel
off the tape once the varnish is completely dried.

Using the craft knife; cut out the cardboard to fit in the broken pane space
area. Trace the outline of the cardboard on to the quilting batting and cut out.
Trace the outline of the cardboard on to the fabric, including a 3/4-inch
border, and cut. Using the glue gun or double face-tape, make an "X" shape
on the cardboard and fasten the quilting batting on top. Place the fabric over
the batting and secure it at the back of the cardboard with the glue gun; pull
the fabric to make sure that is tightly in place.















Position the decorative ribbon on top of the fabric at a diagonal angle and
secure with hot glue at the back. Make an "X" pattern with the ribbon (or
several if space allows), gluing at the back to secure where the ribbons
intersect. Add the decorative upholstery tacks by pushing them into the areas
where the ribbons cross over in the front.

Place your covered board in the pane opening and fix firmly in place with
small finishing nails or tape. Cut out the leaves or desired accent design from
the decorative fabric. Apply adhesive to the surface of the design, place it
directly to the inside of the panes and pat down to position into place.

Affix a hanging hook and wire at the back of the frame. Always measure the
placements of the wires for best hanging results. All you need to do now is
add your inspirations, from various business cards, to images or quotes that
inspire you.

Variations:
•   Larger windows also work well for this project and they are perfect for a
wide office or workshop wall. You can even make a screen room divider with a
few old doors, perfect for a garden for a little extra privacy from your
neighbors.
•   Old shutters can be transformed into magazine racks or CD holders.
•   For more creative ideas on how to transform garage sale and flea market    
findings visit these MIY projects; Flea-Market finds 1 & Flea-Market finds 2.
• You can give an old
window frame or picture
frame a colorful and yet
vintage look even if it
plain in color. Paint
painting on 3 to 4 layers
of assorted colors, letting
dry between each coat.
Then, with the sandpaper
or steel wool, sand the
frame until parts of all the
colored layers are visible.
Use a scrapper in a few
areas to give an extra-
weathered look.
...................................................................
© All Rights Reserved 2008
Photos and miycreations projects are copyrighted
~by MaddyLane Designs~
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The ribbons intersects are
fastened into place with
decorative upholstery tacks
simply by pushing them into
the areas where the ribbons
cross over in the front.
Finnegan's Market
Hudson, Québec
ALL NEW
Photo Book
* Finnegan's
Market
Coffee table
Photo Book