Latest Attempt at Being Crafty

Wanted to share my latest attempt at being crafty. It started almost a year ago when I was finally able to drag convince my sweet husband to go to this cool architectural salvage place in downtown Memphis. It is South Front Antiques. This place is a DIYer's dream! Their website says it is the largest architectural antique store in Memphis. I would believe it. This place has three floors filled to the brim with all doors, windows, doorknobs, mantels, etc.

I just wanted to check it out because I have never been to an architectural salvage place before. I knew maybe I would want to eventually do something neat with an interesting old window. I dug through all the windows and didn't find one. Well in front of some of the column's there she was.

I wanted to take her home then, but Patrick said I should think about it. So fast forward a week when I convinced my mother in law that she would love it and we needed to go. So since my pretty window was out in the open and not covered up with other discarded one's I thought she would be gone. We walk in and I try to give my MIL time to look around, but I really wanted to run down to the basement where I last saw my pretty. We finally get down there and there she was! She was purchased with a few other treasures I will show you later!

So then I brought her home, and started the sanding process the next day. She was pretty bad off. Then we got busy with different things ,and she kind of got shoved in a corner where I forgot about her.. sad huh. Finally I got her out to spray her my lovely Rustoleum American Accents Heirloom White. Of course after a hefty application of newspaper and painters tape to safe the lovely panes.

Once again I had to put her up while we went out of town. So she had to sit for a few months (notice a trend here). Finally I got heavily bit by the DIY bug and drug her out two weeks ago to finish her. I sanded her in a few places which was followed by some walnut stain in a few key places. Then she got another one of my loves applied- Ralph Lauren Smoke Glaze.

I knew I wanted to put pictures in the eight small panes, but I was not sure what to do with the four long ones. Finally it hit me I would finally use my Cricut to cut vinyl. I had a two sets of wall hangings from Willow House that I wanted to use with the window so I found some scrapbook paper to mount the pictures on that closely matched their colors. I then cut out some fun scrolls that worked with everything and cut those out.

I really liked the final product, and I am proud of my first big (at least so far) DIY project. I naturally wanted to hang it in the center of my wall with my two sets of wall hangings on either side. But we all know how smooth plans run. The studs dictated where she would hang so we could only use one set. Oh well I really like it and it looks a whole lot better than the blank wall I had for so long. You be the judge. Also sorry for such a long post, but I got a little excited!