Framed {Part 2}: Window Pane Photo Project

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Meet my friend, Bette. 

Bette will kill me for putting her picture on my blog.

Bette is wildly creative and resourceful. She should have a blog because she does so many projects you would all just have a fit over. Yesterday Bette came over to my place to show me (and a few of my neighbors) how to make this fantastic project using an old window, fabric, photo mats, and photos. This project cost me $2.50.

My friends who came over got their windows at local thrift stores for a few dollars. Habitat for Humanity thrift stores often have these.

Window: Free {Dragged home from the dump from my neighbor for me. You know you are pathetic when people see trash and think of you.}

Fabric: Burlap {Left over from an old project but at only $2 a yard, crazy cheap.}

Photo Mats: I had 2 and I purchased a set of 2 for $2.50 at Wal-Mart

Photos: I used ones I already had.

First, clean your window {especially if it came from the dump.}

Second, staple your fabric to the window only at the top of the frame.

Third, lay the window flat on the fabric and position your photos (already in the mats) on top of the fabric, making sure it's centered in its pane.

Fourth, glue (with regular glue or hot glue) the mat in place on the fabric. {Note: I think this is a 2-person job. One person lifts up the frame enough for the other person to position and glue down the mats. I will not lie, this was rather tedious.}

I apologize for not taking more photos of this part...our hands were tied up.

Fifth, staple the rest of the fabric in place along the back of the pane.

Finally, attach hardware to the back of the window and hang. You can use those metal mounting brackets with the teeth on the bottom or use those hooks that you screw in to attach a length of twisty twine across the back. It would also look great leaned against the wall on a mantle or shelf.

Here's the finished product again. Would you believe I already had those white frames on either side of the window? This is my home's entry way and I feel it sort of sets the tone for what we're all about: Family.

Variations: 

You could get a window without glass, staple the fabric on the back, and insert your photo mats right through the pane. Much easier! 

You could also turn this into more of a memo board if you remove the glass. This would make it easier to change out photos and memorabilia.

Make it beachy. This project is perfect for black and white beach photos. You could add some shells in there or prop a starfish on the bottom of a pane.

For more "framed" inspiration, see Framed {Part 1.}

Oh, and I decided to link up with Kimba at A Soft Place to Land for DIY Day. Go check out her blog for some fun DIY inspiration.