A New Computer and Our Christmas Window

Yeah!! I have a new computer! My computer problems are finally (hopefully?) a thing of the past. The other day I started using the laptop that used to be my husband's. He now has a new computer, a desktop that will be the main one used for the business. I love that I can take the laptop out to the games/workshop/craft room to use while I'm working.

Last week we got our folders transferred. Thanks to our good friend George. But I was still having problems with some of them being empty. It's been a long, slow, frustrating, lonely road that isn't quite over. But I'm ready to write a new post. And I have a ton of projects I've been working on that I want to share...as soon as I get all the pictures edited!

And, now I am ready to show my first Christmas DIY.

A big part of Larry's business involves making electrical harnesses for a customer. He gets spools of rubber coated wire and while making them removes some of the coating.

 Pickle enjoying our company in the workshop. Pickle is the blob of black, he is so hard to get a good picture of. :)

The wires after rubber removed from the ends.

 Leaving a lot of these...

 Rubber pieces destined for the garbage, I had an epiphany...

I collected a large number of these pieces and started cutting to size. I had big plans for these little scraps of garbage.

Letters formed. Yup, I'm playing while Larry works hard. 

So I could store the letters and know which piece belonged to which letter, I used snack sized ziplock baggies, one for each letter. No way did I want to try to figure it out if they got mixed up!

I started painting the scraps of rubber with acrylic red paint but after 3 coats I switched gears. I'll know better next time..

After 3 coats of acrylic, I gave up & switched to spray paint, which worked like a charm! While they were still wet, I sprinkled gold glitter on. Oh, and spray paint melts the foam plates I used to keep the letters together...lesson learned.

And stored till it was time to assemble.

Now to find something big enough to display these words on. I had a piece of wood, but Christmas wouldn't fit, no matter how I tried to make it work. Then I had an 'AHA' moment!

Remember the old windows I received from our old farmer/butcher friend? One was a large heavy window he built ages ago for the walk in fridge in the butcher shop (which he closed a few years back). And I forgot to take a picture of the full before! But I think you'll get the idea with the ones I did remember to take.

 Larry is removing the back so we can get out the 3rd piece of glass. I only wanted to use 2 panes.

He needed to sharpen his tool part-way through this project, which took way longer than I anticipated

 Taking out the glass

 This old window was a mess. Lots of rot and mildew were found when the parts were removed.

I set about trying to clean it up as best as I could. Then we left it alone for a few days so it could dry out.

I worked on removing the rubber seal from the main frame.

 Removing the top pane of glass

I taped the bottom sides and covered in plastic.

I have been looking for Krylon Looking Glass spray paint for months, but I can't find it in Ontario. So when a friend was going for her annual Christmas shopping trip to the States, I asked her to keep a look out for it. She came home with 2 cans for me!! Yeah!!! Thanks so much Phyllis!

 And started spraying with Krylon Looking Glass spray paint. (Isn't Pepsy just the cutest?)

After several coats...

This is what the front looks like now. 

I taped the middle pane of glass...it's time to paint the sides and front of the frame. 

I mixed black acrylic paint with Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint trying to get a colour close to the mirror finish on the glass. Yes, I see my slip, fortunately the paint comes off glass easily. 

Then I painted the outside frame with the Old White...

...and Martha Stewart glitter paint in gold.

 I took a string of battery operated white mini lights and stapled them in place.

Looks neat lit up in the dark

The old frame had a separation at one corner, which is perfect for guiding the wire outside 

Then it was time to set the letters in place. 

I realized I needed to mirror the letters if I was gluing them to the inside of the glass. By this time I was tired and wanted to get on with it, so I decided to leave them on the outside. Since I was using battery lights it couldn't go outside anyway, so not a problem. I used my hot glue gun to secure them to the front pane of glass.

I used finishing nails to tack the window in place

The window is finished!

And with the lights turned on

Of course, I can't leave well enough alone. I had to decorate it more. I had lots of greens left over from when I made the wreath and front porch arrangements.

 So I started gluing on greens...being sure to leave lots of the glittery frame showing.

 I love the rusty colour of magnolia leaves!

And finally this sign is done!!

A close up of the letters showing in the mirror.

I know, the letters are a little crooked...one of the reasons the greens were needed...a bit of camouflage, but I still love this sign!

A couple of Larry's buddies were over the other day to make pickled beets with him and they kept telling me I should sell it. I don't know...the greenery isn't permanent, they will need to be removed and the frame repainted because of the glue. And the amount of time I spent on it...I would have to charge too much. Besides...it looks great right where it is, greeting guests as they come into the pool room, with a table-top arrangement sitting on an empty spool beside it.

 The first tabletop arrangement I made this year. 

It's too big for a table, but I think it looks fine beside the window. 

Merry Christmas!!

I'm sharing with:

                                           

               

                                           

                                     

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