We brought a bit of the garden inside a few days ago, making another flower stained glass window—this time for the kitchen door. As before we used flower petals and contact paper. Super easy! And flowery beautiful, of course.
Sometimes we like our bouquets two dimensional.
I also like how it provides a level of privacy yet lets in more light than a curtain to our otherwise windowless kitchen.
I had this set up as a simple after school project to do with Maia and Daphne.
Normally, I would let Maia and Daphne run around the garden picking flowers for something like this. They both love taking a basket and scissors and gathering flowers.
This time, though, I was in the mood to wander the garden and pick and choose myself and so had everything set up by the time Daphne woke up from her nap and Maia was home from school: vases with a variety of flowers and leaves as well as contact paper cut to size.
While last time I had cut the contact paper into small sections for the individual panes of glass we have on the front door, this time we used two large sheets of contact paper. The window on the kitchen door looks like it has individual panes, but the visual dividers are actually sandwiched between two pieces of glass, providing one large expanse of glass to cover.
As before, we used individual flower petals and leaves rather than full flowers. This allows the stained glass to lie flat and also (usually) preserves the flowers better. While they dry and fade in color over time, they are less likely to grow moldy than if the bulkier, full flowers were used.
Here’s the contact paper with the flower petals and leaves just before I attached it to the window. And yes, I stuck the contact paper directly to the window. (It comes off easily when it’s time to remove it.)
I love our new kitchen door.
I dream of a kitchen that looks out over a backyard so I can cook while watching the kids play outside or pause while washing dishes to gaze out at flowers and birds and butterflies.
For now, my flower stained glass window will have to do.
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25 Comments
Lindy Saunders
May 14, 2012 at 7:26 amLooks beautiful and so simple too! – I’m wondering how long it lasts looking like that?? I’m guessing the flowers may go a bit moldy after a bit? And is it easy to clean the contact adhesive off glass? – I’m going to try it soon none-the-less !
MaryAnn F. Kohl, art book author and educator
May 14, 2012 at 10:06 amOne of the prettiest projects from a lovely blogger. :)
Kimara
May 14, 2012 at 11:04 amThank you for sharing this today. I can’t think of anything lovelier :) I’ll be linking on Facebook.
Eddie - The Usual Mayhem
May 14, 2012 at 11:20 amWow! That’s just lovely! I’ve done placemats in this style but never a whole window cover – guess what our next craft will be?! Thanks for sharing.
Jean Van't Hul
May 14, 2012 at 9:40 amLindy – the flowers keep their color for about a week then fade. They are still beautiful once faded, but more subtle and different. The contact paper pulls off of the glass easily. I haven’t had it leave adhesive residue. If it does though (as tape does sometimes), it would be easily scraped off with a razor or knife and/or cleaned off with rubbing alcohol.
Glad you’re going to try it!
Miquela
May 14, 2012 at 2:44 pmI would love to do this! Wonder where I can get contact paper in France. Wonder what contact paper is called in French. :P Hmmm, for once, neither Wikipedia nor Google is any help…
molly
May 14, 2012 at 7:52 pmJean, I love how the colors and shapes sort of flow along the contact paper — it looks so composed. This is another nice way that they can work together on a larger scale project, like the wood sculptures. Love it when my guys can do things together. :)
Dena
May 14, 2012 at 9:01 pmJean, this is beautiful, I would love to catch a glimpse of your garden, I am sure it is beautiful too!!
I have my contact paper ready, thanks!!
Terri
May 14, 2012 at 10:17 pmThis is such a pretty project! I love this idea!! We may have to try something similar when my kitchen herbs start growing…
Jean Van't Hul
May 14, 2012 at 9:54 pmMiquela – Contact paper is an adhesive shelf and drawer lining paper. Here it comes in colors and patterns as well as a transparent version (which is what we used for this project). The contact paper is sold in grocery stores, drug stores, and other general purpose stores. Hope this helps!
Jean Van't Hul
May 14, 2012 at 9:55 pmYay!
Jean Van't Hul
May 14, 2012 at 9:56 pmYes, it’s great when everyone can work on a project like this together. :)
Jean Van't Hul
May 14, 2012 at 9:56 pmEnjoy! :)
By the way, we’ve never made placemats. Perhaps that will be our next craft…
Jean Van't Hul
May 14, 2012 at 9:57 pmThank you, my dear.
Jean Van't Hul
May 14, 2012 at 9:57 pmThanks!
Anastasia Ricks
May 15, 2012 at 3:16 amHi there, this is so lovely! It really inspired me and I am even sharing this on my Blog. I hope that’s ok. I’ve linked all to you, so you get credit. I just had to share!! Thanks!!
Rashmie @ Mommy Labs
May 15, 2012 at 9:18 amThis is breathtaking, Jean. The last picture looks like an under-water scene!
PS: I hope this comment goes through. I’ve had problems submitting comment the last few times :-)
Megan
May 22, 2012 at 9:30 pmI love this idea! Seeing through flowers. I enjoy pressing flowers to preserve them. This would also be a fun project for pressed flowers which would last longer. If you don’t have a flower press, you can simply close flowers between pages of a book, put weights on top of it, and check them in a week or two.
Thanks so much for my next project.
Heather
June 6, 2012 at 9:41 amMiquela, We’re in Germany and I found contact paper at the hardware store in the wallpaper section. It was actually being sold as window privacy covers and came in all different kinds with shapes, as well as clear. I’ve bought white there as well, but they’ve since reorganized the whole store and I forget which section it was in. We went flower picking in the rain this morning and are going to try this as soon as the flowers dry off!
Kip Whitehead
June 15, 2012 at 7:07 pmStunning! Your window is not just a part of your home, it is also serves as a wonderful ornament for your home. Your daughters Maia and Daphne were able to create a masterpiece! Looking at this flower stained glass window, nobody would think that it was done by children. It could be mistaken as a project of a window glass expert. Decorating homes can be a perfect bonding time with the children. Even simple objects can be transformed into a beautiful masterpiece if cooperation and creativity prevail.
Maiz
July 2, 2012 at 11:52 pmI tried something like this with bougainvillea flowers, and they kept their color for a few months. Mine weren’t in direct sun, but they looked so pretty for ages. I’m sure some flowers keep there colors longer than others. Your arrangement looks so lovely!
online florist
July 20, 2012 at 5:34 amWhat a information on this topic. You have highlited all the essential factors. I think this is a better place for this flower stained glass information.
Monica Stein
May 10, 2013 at 4:06 pmLOVE this
Marcia Lessard
May 20, 2013 at 6:42 pmIam very interested in you projects the stain glass and also the flowered window .Is the sticky paper you use come off and just leaves the flowers on the window and how long does it last for. The stain glass one is so interesting I went out and bought some crystal beads will this work they are a little larger and I need to know if they will work. Do I just place them in the pan and let the oven do its thing and for how long do the stay in the oven for Please get back to me Thank you
maureen
June 21, 2013 at 1:36 amIt would be cute to arrange the single petals into flowers.