Faux Frosted Windows
The windows over my tub used to feature mini blinds which were a pain constantly open and close. It required having to step in and out of the tub. Also, I wanted to take advantage of the abundant natural light - light which was being blocked by the blinds. So, one weekend, I headed to Lowe's to purchase a product I had seen earlier called Krylon's Faux Frosting. It comes available in a spray can. I brought it home, and sampled it on a piece of plain glass saved from a craft project. After deciding it would work, I went to work. It took me a whole weekend - working here and there (more here than there), and the results speak for themselves. Anyone can do this! This idea can easily be applied to sidelights by your front door, basement windows, plain shower doors, plain mirrors, and anywhere where privacy is an issue, or just for decorative purposes.
Here's What You'll Need....
1-2 cans of Faux Frosting or Etching *(I used Krylon but have seen other brands.)
Stencil of choice
Clear contact paper
Sharp, pointed craft or utiility knife with extra blades
Painter's Tape in width desired to create clear borders
Pencil
Window cleaner
Here's How...
1) Start by cleaning windows well. Make sure all smudges are removed.
2)Create your design on graph paper or by drawing a rough sketch to get an idea of how you want the final project to look. I used a border stencil, taping off the parts I wanted to use.
3)Cut out pieces of clear contact paper the same size as your designs. In my case, I cut out squares the size of the corner designs, and a square for the center design. The clear, glass borders were created with painter's tape, which I will explain later.
4) Peel the backing from the contact paper and apply to the areas where a design will be. Make sure it is smoothly in place without bubbles and wrinkles. Pull away and replace if too large of a bubble is present.
5) Using a piece of painter's tape, tape the stencil on top of the contact paper. Use a pencil to trace around the design.
6) Using the utilty or craft knife with a fresh, new blade - start cutting the penciled tracings. This step takes patience. It is very hard to get exact precision when cutting. Don't worry that your curves are not exact, etc. Just get it as close as possible. Change the blade often to have a sharp utensil to work with. This makes it easier. Make sure your cutting lines meet each other.