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CreeepyCathy
10-11-2011, 08:45 AM
This is how I made my foam window boards and broken glass window.
I'm a tutorial virgin, so please go easy on me. LOL

The end result:

http://www.hauntforum.com/picture.php?albumid=1033&pictureid=11938

http://www.hauntforum.com/picture.php?albumid=1033&pictureid=11939

Supplies/ tools needed:


-1" foam/ foamular (at least one 4' x 8' sheet); found at Home Depot and some Lowe's.

-latex exterior paint; black, gray, tan/ light brown, & white. And, of course, a paint brush is needed. lol

-hot glue w/ glue gun.

-black sheet/ other black material; enough to cover the width and length of each window you're making. I found mine cheap at a thrift store.

-Transparencies (found at Staples Office Supply; comes in a pack of 100 for around $25- $30).
Sidenote: I've heard that some people have used frosted contact paper instead of the transparencies; found at hardware stores/ Walmart, but I've never been able to find it. I'm sure it would be alot cheaper than transparencies. lol
Sidenote #2- the transparencies were actually shorter than the faux window pane. Boards were used to cover this problem.

-frosted glass spray. Found at Ace Hardware/ Hobby Lobby for around $7- $8.

-faux window frame/ pane. Terra's tutorial explains how to make a faux window frame: http://www.halloweenforum.com/members/terra-albums-tutorial-broken-factory-window.html
btw- Thank you, Terra, for that. :)
But, I cheated and used a faux window pane thingy that I found free at a thrift store. These thingys:
http://www.hauntforum.com/picture.php?albumid=897&pictureid=11955

-fishing line

-velcro. Found at Walmart in craft dept.; 20' for around $18. Sidenote: when using velcro: Please only use it on your real window frame if it's going to be above 75 degrees when it's time to take it off. The glue does not come off easily (or in my case.. at all) when it's chilly outside.

-Gorilla Glue.

------------------------

For the Boards:
1. I cut the 1" sheet of foam into boards. I measured them 5" x the width of my window frame.
2. I used Spooky Blue's tutorial to paint them to look like wood.
btw- thank you, spookyblue, for that.
Here's the site: http://www.spookyblue.com/halloween/spookywood/fake-wood.htm

For the Broken Glass:
1. Spray the transparencies with the frosted glass spray. I only sprayed one side.
2. After spray is dry, cut the transparencies to appear broken. I goggled some images of broken glass to get a better idea of what they look like.
3. I hot glued the faux broken glass onto the back of my faux window pane thingy. I put the shiny, non- sprayed side facing the outside.
4. Then I tied some fishing line around the corners of the top & bottom of the window pane thingy.
5. Hang the black cloth on the back of the window pane thingy. Hot glue/ velcro it to secure it on.

Place the faux boards on the front of the faux window pane thingy. I used velcro to secure the boards on. In my particular case, I was unsure where the boards needed to be to hide certain flaws, so I used velcro to temporarily put the boards up. After it was all hung, it was easy to make adjustments. I was, also, thinking that if I needed to re-paint the boards it would be easier to pop them on/ off by using velcro. But, who am I kidding... I'll never re-paint those boards again. lol
When I take it all down I will use Gorilla Glue to permanently put the boards on the faux window pane thingys. (I would do it now, but if I get any more glue/ glue residue on those window frames my hubby will absolutely kill me.)

Using the fishing line that was tied around the top corners of the faux window pane thingy, hang it over your real window frame. Using the fishing line that was tied around the bottom corners, secure it around the bottom of the real window frame.
I used velcro on the back of a couple of faux boards to secure it to my real window frame, but just to keep it from blowing around. I'm not really sure I needed to; I'm just a little anal about those things.: )

ta- da... you're done... it is very light- weight. The best part about it is, once it's all done, it'll be easy to put on and take off (hopefully) for years. lol

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I ain't too good at explaining stuff, but I'll do the best I can. : )

Thanks for looking/ reading. :)

CreeepyCathy
10-11-2011, 08:47 AM
btw- shutters were found at a thrift store. :)

HalloweenZombie
10-11-2011, 08:56 AM
That looks really cool! Great way to dress down the front of the house.

Manon
10-11-2011, 09:31 AM
That looks absolutely stunning. If only I had more time this year....

IMU
10-11-2011, 10:09 AM
Very nice, thanks for posting this wonderful how-to! :)

Spooky1
10-11-2011, 10:27 AM
I love this effect. One more thing to add to my list of Halloween projects for the future. Thanks for the post.

RoxyBlue
10-11-2011, 11:23 AM
Thanks for taking the time to write this up for us, Cathy:)

kiki
10-11-2011, 11:36 AM
very creative indeed.. gives it the overall... many more will hesitate before approaching ..lol

SpankyBaby
10-11-2011, 01:05 PM
Awesome job!!...great tut also....tyvm!!

Dixie
10-11-2011, 01:20 PM
Glad to see that you put this tut together, and we can now have it all in one place. And a very good tut at that, clear, easy to follow, thanks so much!!!

CreeepyCathy
10-11-2011, 02:03 PM
thank you everyone. :)

I forgot to mention that I have some LED spotlights that I place on the ground below the window; pointing upwards. At night, the lights throw a nice shadow of the boards onto the window. Pretty creepy, imo. :)

Haunthunter
10-11-2011, 02:18 PM
Oh please stop! I thought I was done !Now I am going to have to start a new project. This is freaking awesome!!!!!!!! Thanks for the tutorial!

SPOOKY J
10-11-2011, 04:40 PM
This is very inspiring. Thank you for writing this up. I like your Corbels too!

DeathTouch
10-11-2011, 07:32 PM
Thank you very much. Was wondering how you did it.

Necronomus
11-08-2011, 11:20 AM
Awsome! Gotta have that for next halloween!

Vlad
11-10-2011, 05:00 AM
This is the best boarded window treatment I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing

scaryjak
11-10-2011, 07:36 AM
it's allready on my to do list for next year. But cathy has said she would pop over and do it for me. she's a star, well I have yet to ask her...but I can see me doing it myself. she will use the old."you live to far away" card. lol. ;)

ouizul1
11-10-2011, 08:34 AM
Woohoo!! I was just thinking about how I could go about doing something like this for next year. Excellent!!

Thanks, Cathy!

Oh...and after you get finished over at scaryjak's, you're coming to my house, yes?

Creep Cringle
11-10-2011, 11:01 AM
Great job! This is going on the list for next year! Thank you!

Demon Dog
11-13-2011, 10:49 PM
You are the queen of faux, Cathy! great job and thanks for the tutorial!

Lunatic
11-14-2011, 08:22 AM
I love those props CC! I would love to do that to my house but gosh darn it I'm just about out of storage room for anything else.

Daphne
11-15-2011, 01:40 PM
Those look fantastic! I would have never dreamed of attaching them through the window with fishing line. I wouldn't have thought it was strong enough. We are having the house painted soon so if I glue anything to the house, I will be a new prop.

There is no room to store what I have now (am I the only one with a giant pumpkin sentinel head on permanent display in their office?) but I have to have a few of these. They look so good and you did a spectacular job with your tutorial! It never occurred to me they were foam. Well duh....

Thanks for sharing with us!

Thanks so much!

CreeepyCathy
11-23-2011, 07:43 AM
Thank you everyone for all the great compliments. :)

@ Scaryjak & Ouizul1- I'll be glad to help you... as long as you pay my air fare. :) And for unlimited drinks on the flight over. LOL j/k

BTW- Changing themes to a hospital for the crminally insane next year, so I won't be using the boards. Will be making faux broken safety glass windows with bars. :) ... Pretty excited about it. :)

Thanks, again, y'all!! :)

Bobbywan
01-06-2012, 09:21 AM
Love the boards! They look great!

Chickenwire
01-06-2012, 03:11 PM
Awesome!