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Kids love window clings but we tend to just get them
during the holidays. We then put them away for a year
just to find that the next year they are ruined. Why not
make your own and keep them up all the time? You can
make them simple or elegant. You choose the design. All
you need is a picture to follow. There are alternate
directions at the end for younger kids.
You will need
Plastic page protector
Picture
Toothpick
Q tips
Paints - You can use any craft paint that comes in a
squeeze bottle. Some brands make tips that you can
screw on. You can use fabric paints if you do not want
the sun to come through. For a sun catcher or stained
glass look they make paints just for this purpose. It all
depends on how much you want to spend.
Instructions
1. First you need to find a picture. The easiest to start with are
coloring book pages. Usually you can easily find your kid's
favorite characters in coloring books. You can also find printable
pages online.
2. Place your picture inside of the page protector and tape it
down to your surface. You do not want it to move around while
you work.
3. Start with just outlining the picture in paint. Usually this is
done with a black or a "leading paint". Leading paint is made to
look like the lead that is in stained glass windows. Make sure
you have a good outline because these are used to hold all the
liquid when you fill in the colors. Let the outline dry for at least 2
hours. I prefer to let it dry overnight.
4. Now you are ready to fill in the colors of your window cling.
Completely fill in the areas with paint. It should look like it is
about to overflow. Make sure the colors go completely up
against the outline. You can use the toothpicks to make sure of
this.
5. When your window cling is all filled in completely you can set
it aside to dry for 24 hours. During this time clean your window
with vinegar and let it dry.
6. You can now carefully peel your window cling off of the page
protector and place it on a window.
Tips
Blending Colors - If you want to blend colors just put your
two colors next to each other and mix where they join with a
toothpick. You can also just create little lines of color by sticking
a toothpick into one color and dragging it into the next color.
Bubbles - Try not to shake your paints. It will create bubbles.
If you really have to shake the paints you can break bubbles by
poking a toothpick into them.
Ideas
Mirrors - Window clings do not have to just be used on
windows. They would look great on mirrors too. You could even
put window clings on your bathroom mirror.
Vases & Jars - Why not add a little color to a decorative jar or
vase with a window cling. It is much easier than painting
freehand on glass.
Tiles - Window clings will stick to most tiles. You just have to
wash then with vinegar and let them dry first. You can make
your old tiles have new life again.
Alternative Methods
If you would rather make window clings that stay on a
plastic that is simple too. You can find at the craft store a
plastic that will either be called Vinyl Cling Sheet or Static
Cling Plastic. You can make your window cling right on
top of the plastic and then cut close to the outline and put
the plastic right up on your window. For younger children
you can buy the plastic and outline the picture in a black
permanent marker and then let the child color it in with
washable markers. This way the child can wash their
window cling and recolor it as often as they want.
during the holidays. We then put them away for a year
just to find that the next year they are ruined. Why not
make your own and keep them up all the time? You can
make them simple or elegant. You choose the design. All
you need is a picture to follow. There are alternate
directions at the end for younger kids.
You will need
Plastic page protector
Picture
Toothpick
Q tips
Paints - You can use any craft paint that comes in a
squeeze bottle. Some brands make tips that you can
screw on. You can use fabric paints if you do not want
the sun to come through. For a sun catcher or stained
glass look they make paints just for this purpose. It all
depends on how much you want to spend.
Instructions
1. First you need to find a picture. The easiest to start with are
coloring book pages. Usually you can easily find your kid's
favorite characters in coloring books. You can also find printable
pages online.
2. Place your picture inside of the page protector and tape it
down to your surface. You do not want it to move around while
you work.
3. Start with just outlining the picture in paint. Usually this is
done with a black or a "leading paint". Leading paint is made to
look like the lead that is in stained glass windows. Make sure
you have a good outline because these are used to hold all the
liquid when you fill in the colors. Let the outline dry for at least 2
hours. I prefer to let it dry overnight.
4. Now you are ready to fill in the colors of your window cling.
Completely fill in the areas with paint. It should look like it is
about to overflow. Make sure the colors go completely up
against the outline. You can use the toothpicks to make sure of
this.
5. When your window cling is all filled in completely you can set
it aside to dry for 24 hours. During this time clean your window
with vinegar and let it dry.
6. You can now carefully peel your window cling off of the page
protector and place it on a window.
Tips
Blending Colors - If you want to blend colors just put your
two colors next to each other and mix where they join with a
toothpick. You can also just create little lines of color by sticking
a toothpick into one color and dragging it into the next color.
Bubbles - Try not to shake your paints. It will create bubbles.
If you really have to shake the paints you can break bubbles by
poking a toothpick into them.
Ideas
Mirrors - Window clings do not have to just be used on
windows. They would look great on mirrors too. You could even
put window clings on your bathroom mirror.
Vases & Jars - Why not add a little color to a decorative jar or
vase with a window cling. It is much easier than painting
freehand on glass.
Tiles - Window clings will stick to most tiles. You just have to
wash then with vinegar and let them dry first. You can make
your old tiles have new life again.
Alternative Methods
If you would rather make window clings that stay on a
plastic that is simple too. You can find at the craft store a
plastic that will either be called Vinyl Cling Sheet or Static
Cling Plastic. You can make your window cling right on
top of the plastic and then cut close to the outline and put
the plastic right up on your window. For younger children
you can buy the plastic and outline the picture in a black
permanent marker and then let the child color it in with
washable markers. This way the child can wash their
window cling and recolor it as often as they want.