Debbie's Open Window: Window Privacy with Style!

I was at the Country Living Fair in Columbus, OH last September and discovered Rustoleum Specialty Frosted Glass. If case you haven't discovered the many products offered by them, check out their website here: www.rustoleum.com.

I had been trying to decide what to do about my bathroom windows. I didn't want blinds and I didn't want curtains and I didn't want a valance and . . . well, you get the idea. But I needed something for privacy. When I saw this product at the Rustoleum vendor tent I was thrilled. I didn't want permanently etched glass and this would give me the look without the expense and commitment.

I decided to completely cover the bottom for privacy and cut out a stencil with a design for the top. This way, I could have the view from outside hidden and not block out the outside light. I decided to "etch" a dragonfly on the top.

I searched the internet for a design I liked. No luck there. What I did find, however, was two different designs that I could use to create my own. I enlarged the design on a copier in order to get it to the right size for the window. This took some measuring and trial and error, but I got the size I wanted.

Next, I took my Contact paper and taped it down on several layers of cardboard.   Then, I took the two copies of my dragonfly from the copier and taped one of them down over the Contact paper. I then took my exacto knife and began the process of cutting out the dragonfly. This took some patience and time. If you have a Silhouette Cameo machine you can use it to cut your stencil. I now have one and boy, I sure wish I had bought it BEFORE this project!!

Now came the yucky part of the project - cleaning the windows and masking them off. You want the windows clean so that the spray goes on well. A word of advice here - take extra care when masking off your windows. You don't want to have another project to do when you complete the windows - removing overspray from your walls, carpet, etc.  I was lucky in that my windows come out of the frame and I was able to take them down, clean them, and work on them in my workshop. If you aren't able to do this, take the extra time to cover all areas well before you begin spraying.

The windows turned out great! The best part is that if I decide to change the windows, all I need to do is remove the designs with some fingernail polish remover!

What do ya think?