Window clings are an easy way to decorate for many different occasions but they come with their own set of problems: firstly, they’re expensive. Next, you’re limited to what ones are available – usually just ones for holidays. Also, once you store them you often find out later that they’re bent or otherwise unusable.
Forget all of that! Make your own for pennies and you’ll have unique window clings that are done in images which you select. Use images from catalogs, magazines, product boxes and other designs. They’re so easy and fun to make that you’ll want to make hundreds!
You only need a few things to make the window clings: white glue that dispenses from a squeeze bottle, pieces of clear plastic (any will do), the images, and some decorative touches. You can make the clings as simple or elaborate as you wish.
Start by selecting the image you want to make. It can be huge, small, detailed or simple. Use a piece of plastic or acetate to cover the image. Some ideas for the plastic include plastic sold on a roll at a fabric store, clear plastic shelf liner, or the clear acetate piece that you’ll find as a “window” to many boxed products.
Cover the image with the plastic making sure the plastic completely covers the design. Use the glue to outline the image then fill in the inner areas with the glue. Don’t use so much glue that it begins to run out of the outline, but use enough that, when dry, you’ll be able to pick it up.
Allow the image to dry completely – overnight or several hours. Remove the glue image from the plastic. You can then reuse the plastic. If the glue seems to be difficult to remove, allow to dry a little longer.
After you’ve removed the images you can paint them any way you want. Add glitter to one side (the side that DOES NOT stick to the window!). Glance at the original design to see what colors you need to paint each image. Or, just make them all one color. For example, if you were making Christmas bells, just spray paint them all gold.
The glue window clings are so simple to make and can be elaborately decorated or just shapes. If you’re making many images which will use the same color you can mix the glue with food coloring, then place in a small squirt bottle to dispense. You’ll find tiny squirt bottles at most craft stores or dollar-theme stores. These make it easy to mix several different colors of glue to use at one time.
When you’re ready to use the clings, just wipe the back of them with a damp washcloth and stick them to the window. They’re washable (don’t let them go through any type of drying cycle, though) and reusable.
These window clings are a lot of fun to make, especially for kids. They can lay the plastic over pictures from a coloring book and make all their favorite super heroes or other characters. Or, you can lay the plastic over pictures of hearts, bunnies, flags, turkeys, snowmen, phrases and other images to create clings for all occasions.
Reference:
- Purchase colored glue: www.joann.com
