How to stencil on glass with a charming old window Pumpkin Pie sign
Well hello fall! Nice to see you in full-throttle mode!
Not only that, we just celebrated our Canadian Thanksgiving this past weekend. I even landed a homemade pumpkin pie made locally down the road from me! What a treat!
So as you can imagine, pumpkin pie was on my brain when I got this little fall decorating brainstorm … with a cool twist!
I love collecting wood framed vintage windows, especially those with no panes.
Why? Because they make pretty cool signs! That are easy to change out. True story.
Today’s window sign is actually from a past window sign… do you remember when it use to read LUNCH from THIS POST?
Yup… it’s the same old window! All I did was remove the old paint so I could start fresh again!
However this time, I’m sharing exactly how I stenciled on the glass, and also how to remove the paint too! Along with a helpful video at the bottom of this post.
Here’s how!
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Homemade Pumpkin Pie old window sign
Plus: how to stencil on glass / remove paint from glass
Find Homemade Pumpkin Pie stencil HERE
Supplies I used:
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Homemade Pumpkin Pie stencil from HERE – image measures within 10″ x 10″
Vintage wood framed window with no panes – mine measures 17″ x 24″
Fusion Mineral Paint’s Coal Black
How to stencil on glass
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1. Clean both sides of the window glass.
While the window is wet, I also like to run a razor blade scraper like THESE HERE across the glass to remove any old paint splatters, etc.
Stencil front or back of window
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2. Choose if you want your sign to be on the front or back of the window. (both ways turn out great!) Then position the stencil in the middle with masking tape.
Tip: Run tape along the entire top in case you wish to lift the stencil to check progress. This creates a door hinge and allows the stencil to remain in perfect position for a 2nd coat.
I chose to stencil on the front of the window to avoid glass glare for photography purposes.
How to decide
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- Front: the letters will stand out a little more due to no glass glare
- Back: your finished letters will appear glossy and your sign will be well protected for cleaning
View this LUNCH SIGN HERE which was stenciled from the back.
3. Load a mini foam roller like THIS HERE with paint (I used Fusion’s Coal Black), ensuring the roller is evenly covered and not too wet.
4. Gently roll over the stencil in random directions, attempting even coverage.
Light is the key! 3 light coats is much better than 1 heavy coat in order to avoid paint bleed. The video below this post shares the method I used to get great coverage.
5. Lift window to peek at the other side to inspect coverage.
- If too transparent, allow paint to set, then roll on another thin coat.
- A Little paint bleed: scrape off with a blade.
- Lots of paint bleed: you may wish to remove and try again.
How to remove paint from glass
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If you find your first attempt at stenciling glass didn’t go quite as expected, removing paint from glass is easy!
- Ensure there’s a strip of masking tape running along the entire top of the stencil. This creates a door hinge of sorts.
- Lift stencil while leaving the top attached.
- Lightly scrape the paint off the glass to try again.
Yup… it’s that easy!
How to remove cured paint from glass
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Cured paint on glass is a little tougher to remove, so using glass cleaner appears to help soften the paint and make the surface super slick so removal is nearly just as easy. Here’s how:
- Saturate the window with window cleaner.
- Allow to sit for a minute or two.
- Scrape the paint off.
Pretty cool, right?! So as you can see, you don’t have a thing to lose by stenciling glass. In fact… your skills will grow by trying different brushes and techniques. See what works best for you!
And with that… here’s the finished cutie-pie Homemade Pumpkin Pie old window sign results…
Finished Homemade Pumpkin Pie old window sign
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Isn’t it the cutest?! This stencil size fit this window so well!
And I love how the plain black paint pops against a white wall.
If you decide to hang your window sign on a dark wall, just be sure to select a paint colour that contrasts well.
Or paint the back of your window, and stencil the front!
An old vintage window offers you lots of choices!
What I personally love most about using old windows for signs is the fact that they don’t darken a space. They simply take on the colour of your wall. And look equally cool placed in front of a window too!
And of course, nothing quite beats an authentically chippy old window frame! Wouldn’t you agree?
Video
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Click the short video above to watch how to stencil on glass.
Music: Acoustic Breeze by Bensound.com
This little Homemade Pumpkin Pie old window sign is of course absolutely perfect for both fall and Thanksgiving decorating… or leave it out for Christmas, or even year around if it’s just flat out your favorite kind of pie, period!
Because it’s always a good time of year for a piece of pumpkin pie, don’t you think?
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Think you’ll make a little window sign of your own after seeing how easy and cute it is?
Click HERE to be emailed our newest projects!
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Other related projects you may enjoy:
Reclaimed wood Homemade Pie sign
Interchangeable farmhouse kitchen sign shown 3 ways
View many other creative sign projects HERE
Visit many other creative fall decorating projects HERE
Great tips Donna! This turned out awesome. Can’t wait to try stencilling on glass!
I love the old window project, Donna! And I still have the lunch window that I copied from you!
This is adorable. I love it.
You just answered a kitchen decor debate Mr. Frugalista and I have been having for weeks! After seeing your sweet pumpkin pie sign, I realized I have everything we need to make our own version that will be perfect for this space! Thank you…thank you…thank you. LOL
Love, Love, Love this window! Thank you for the tips
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if the window pane has no glass, where do you get the glass and how do you install it?
Hi Donna! You may want to try calling a local shop that fixes windows. I’ve had them even make table tops with the right kind of glass before.