Do you have an old window lying around? Make a dry-erase memo board from an old window!
I needed a calendar for my office/desk area, but I didn’t want to buy another dry erase calendar/memo board.
I still have a pile of old windows in my garage from a curbside rescue, and I realized that glass is the perfect dry-erase surface!
I would need a background for the board, though. The walls in my office (the guest room) are gray, so I wanted something colorful for a backing. What did I have on hand? No scrapbook paper or fancy paper. I didn’t want to paint it.
Wrapping paper! I had plenty of that!
Let’s get started…
How to Make a Memo Board from an Old Window
First, clean the window.
Once both sides of the window are clean and while they are drying, get your supplies together. You need: wrapping paper (or you could use scrapbook or other paper – use what you have on hand), tape, and (as you will see in a bit) poster board is helpful.
As you can see, Hank was supervising. A dog supervisor is also helpful.
Anyway, pick the papers you want to use and cut them to size. I just laid it over the window pane and then cut it. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
I attached the paper with duct tape.
NOTE: Attaching the paper with duct tape worked, and it was relatively easy and painless to do. But then I ran out of duct tape (GASP!).
I tried using packing tape, but it didn’t work as well. The tape just wasn’t as flexible. I needed a different way.
Instead, I started cutting poster board to the size of the pane and then wrapped – like a present (duh!) – the poster board with the wrapping paper. Then I could just attach the poster board piece in place with tape, which was much, much easier to do.
Once all the paper is attached, well, to be honest, it looks ugly. Don’t despair! The back won’t show!
The moment of truth is next…flip it over.
Voila!
Next, attach rings to hang it. I love the Ook hangers (no, they did not pay me to say that. I really do love them).
Then hang it up. I put mine right over my desk.
Ready to go! I wrote in the days of the week and it’s done!
The whole project took me a little more than an hour and cost me nothing, because I had all the supplies on hand.
To see how I updated this memo board, click HERE.
A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.
Super cute project!!
So fun and easy!!
Have a blessed and wonderful day!!
Thank you, KariAnne! Have a great day, too!
Hi Karen.
I found you through Hometalk. I love this project but have a different question. You have some window shades featured on your site. Do you have a “How To” post for those?
Thanks.
Hi Cheryl – I used this tutorial to make the faux Roman shades: http://www.impartinggrace.com/2011/05/faux-roman-shade-tutorial.html. Thank you for pointing out that I didn’t have that on my kitchen post (I made them later on); I will add it now. Good luck! I’d love to see how they turn out if you try it.
Oh i love this idea and have a window just sitting around 🙂
Pinned.
xo
kristin
Perfect! Let me know if you do the project – would love to see pictures! Thanks, Kristin!
That is SO cool! We have all sorts of stuff around the house into which we just moved that will be excellent fodder for repurposing. I cannot WAIT to get into it!
Perfect! Thanks, LuAnn! I’d love to see some of your repurposing projects.
What a great idea and it looks super cute too with the pretty pattered paper you’ve picked out (that’s a lot of P’s…)!
Thanks, Heather! Love me some alliteration!
This turned out so cute, Karen!! How fun! I love the wrapping paper idea too. Pinning!
xoxo
Thanks, Claire! You could also use scrapbooking paper, construction paper, posterboard – the ideas are endless! xoxo
I love this. Do you use regular dry erase markers or something else to write with?
Yep, just regular dry erase markers. And they wipe right off with a dry-erase eraser or paper towel. Thanks, Vickie!
You know how I feel about old windows! Love the fun colors!!
Kelly
Thanks, friend! I have a thing for windows, too! I can’t resist.
Hi Karen! I just wanted to stop by and thank you for sharing this great project at Best of the Weekend and let you know this is one of my favorite picks and will be featured tomorrow night. Hope you can come over and party with us! Have a happy Friday!
Thank you, Cindy! Par-tay! I’ll be there. Thank you again, and thank you for hosting the party!