DIY Network

Window Headboard Art Create art that doubles as a headboard. From "From Junky to Funky" episode DFJF-113

The wall above the homeowner's bed is dressed up with a unique art piece that doubles as a headboard.

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This headboard art piece was created using old windows, beans and embroidery hoops.

Materials:

sandpaper
painter's tape
tag board
Super glue
seeds and beans
felt
screw gun

Note: If using frames with broken glass, or if having real glass concerns you, replace with Plexiglas™ from your local home center. Measure the inner frame on the back, make your cuts on the table saw, and then glue together with an adhesive caulk.

1. Clean and sand the windows to a shabby chic look with a power sander.

2. Tape off the windows and apply a mixture of acrylic metallic gold and a gloss polyacrylic. Allow to dry, and then loosely wipe and blot off excess. After it's dry, go over with an ebony stain. Let that soak in for 15 minutes, and then wipe off the excess.

3. Seal with a spray polyurethane and allow it to dry.

4. Cut two pieces of luan to the outside measurement of the windows. This will be the backer pieces. Paint them black or a similar color to the beans being used. When dry, measure and draw where the frame ends and the window glass begins.

5. Cut pieces of 1/2" MDF to act as a temporary window frame. Screw it down to the luan, and then into the wooden workbench. Use painters tape to tape onto the luan, into the crack and up and over the temporary frame. This will keep the polyurethane from seeping into the cracks and leaking everywhere.

6. Draw in the design onto the luan.

7. Measure the depth of the window well (from the glass to the back of the window frame where the luan will be attached).

8. Cut strips of a heavy cardstock or non-corrugated cardboard to that dimension to act as separators for the beans and as an outline for the design. Wooden embroidery hoops were used in this project, which happened to be the exact dimension.

9. Draw the design onto the luan.

Figure A

10. Cut and bend the cardstock into the shape of the chosen design (figure A). We used a bandsaw for the wooden embroidery hoops.

11. Apply primer, and then paint all pieces to a desired color of the "outline".

12. Glue the painted outline to the luan and press down with a book or scrap lumber for 30 minutes.

13. Fill in the spaces with seeds and beans, and then level to the top of the outline.

14. Using a rubber mallet, tap on the workbench and the top of the temporary frame to gently settle the beans. Add more if necessary.

15. Using a straight edge, level the beans to the top of the outline using a back and forth "sawing" motion while pulling the straight edge toward you and leveling to the top of the outline.

Figure B

16. Slowly pour a water based polyacrylic onto the beans (figure B). Completely soak the entire project. Let dry at least 24 hours

Note: Poking holes in the bottom of a plastic cup helps disperse the polyacrylic onto the beans without splattering it everywhere.

17. Remove the temporary frames. If necessary, cut the tape with a utility knife.

18. Lift up the art work and check for any hidden dry pockets. If any remain, add more beans and repeat the polyacrylic process.

19. Once you're satisfied with the results, lay the windows face down on the workbench and lay the artwork face down into the frames. Attach luan to the window frames using 1/2" wood screws.

Project Expense:

Windows: Free
Beans, lentils, peas: $38
Embroidery hoops, wood: $14
Materials: $16

Total: $68