Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Window Frosting

My friend Ariel just moved into an apartment with a big window in the shower. Not only is there a window in the shower, but there are also very nearby neighbors who could most definitely peek right through said window. We decided this was not OK. :)

Ariel had seen people use clear contact paper to create a frosted glass look, so we decided to use this concept to cover the window. This technique is perfect because it doesn't let people see in, but it still lets the sunshine through.  

This was a very cheap project - all you need is a roll of clear contact paper (about $3 a roll) and some scissors.  

I took my cue from her shower curtain and began to cut ivy and leaf shapes. I filled the rest of the glass in with leaf-shaped pieces. I created a stained-glass look by leaving small spaces in between the shapes. 

It took a few hours, but I think it was worth the time and effort.  I may try this technique on the windows in my little bathroom cabinet to cover the toiletries which are currently in plain view. I'll keep you posted...  

You can't really see the window in this picture, but I wanted to show you the shower curtain - my inspiration.


(I'm participating in DIY Day @ A Soft Place)

20 comments:

  1. WOW! That looks awesome! You are a great friend to help her out and obviously you have tremendous patience! I really love it!

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  2. You are a wonderful friend - and very handy cutting! I have a similar window IN the shower even LOWER, and we continue to struggle with what to do with it. This is a GREAT idea!!!

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  3. What a great idea! You did a fabulous job on the window. I think it looks so lovely~!

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  4. I'm off to get some contact paper this morning - brilliant!

    Our window in our bathroom looks onto our porch sunroom/addition...also known as kids playroom. I haven't wanted to mess with the wet frosted stuff for fear of completely screwing it up and wasting $25 - but I can do $3!!

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  5. What a great solution and I love the pattern you chose. Who makes it?

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  6. How beautiful. We did something similar on our front door and I love it. I'm sure it was worth all of the effort.

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  7. What an AWESOME idea! I would've never thought to do anything other than a straight strip of contact paper. Good on ya!

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  8. This is so amazing! I need to do this on the window in my bathroom. Much cheaper than buying the window film!

    I do have a question though...will the contact paper STAY on with all the humidity from the shower?

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  9. THAT...IS...GORGEOUS!!! That looks like a very custom (read: expensive) piece of etched glass. Amazing what you can do with a bit of out-of-the-box creativity (and a few bucks and a pair of scissors).

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  10. Thanks everyone! Glad you liked it and glad that some of you will try it!

    Heidi- I was nervous about the same thing. So far so good! I keep asking my friend how it's doing and she said it's staying up quite nicely.

    Becolorful - I didn't have a pattern, I just free-cut it. Not sure where you could get patterns, but it would be a lot quicker if I knew! :)

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  11. I wish I had a window that I could do this with! It's beautiful. Does it just peel back off when you're done/moving?

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  12. Yes, Audra. It comes off very easily!

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  13. really good idea and from window frosting, we can make our privacy as well as its look nice with design.....

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  14. I can't believe you cut this pattern by hand!! I came across it looking for window frosting for my own bathroom window. It's really lovely but there is no way I could manage to replicate this!! I'll have to see if I can find some artistically talented friends... :)

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  15. I can't believe you cut this pattern by hand!! I came across it looking for window frosting for my own bathroom window. It's really lovely but there is no way I could manage to replicate this!! I'll have to see if I can find some artistically talented friends... :)

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