DIY Repurpose Thrifted Glass
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Simple thrift store glassware turned into something you love! See how easy it is to recycle glassware into something to hang in a window.
I have been wanting to hang a stained glass window in my lanai for some time now but couldn’t find one that was small enough for that area.
I was inspired by Pinterest to take old glassware I could find while thrifting and turning it into the perfect item to hang up.
I had a small old window Mr. G found for me many years ago to use for a project and it has been out in the garage waiting for me to rescue it. I couldn’t wait to see how the sun would dance off all the glassware after it was hung up.
what you need
- Old non paned window
- Window cleaner or vinegar
- Thrifted glassware plates of any kind
- GE GE500 Silicone
- Glass Gems
- Chain or Heavy Duty Wire
- 2 S Hooks
The Window
The window to use must be very sturdy and fit the area you want to hang it in. Using a window with no panes is the best choice.
The window I had was a bit in bad shape, so Mr. G put a couple of screws in the sides to make sure it was strong enough to hold all the glassware I will be putting on it. He also added the S hooks at the top of the window for hanging.
I didn’t paint it at all because black would work best on my lanai. I love that chippy look. don’t you?
Clean the window very well with either window cleaner or vinegar on both sides so that the glassware and glue will have a good grip on the glass surface.
If you need to do any reglazing to the window, do that at this time. There are a ton of videos out there on how to reglaze a window.
Finding the Right Glass
This is the fun part!
I looked at several thrifting stores for flat glassware and found several for a really good price. I had a couple of plates I wanted to use that belonged to Mr. G’s mother to add to the collection. I found several small round plates and a couple of heart-shaped plates.
Look for plates that aren’t chipped or cracked. Most importantly, use plates that have rounded edges and not jagged ones. Pressed glass is lighter and has rounded edges. Cut glass has jagged edges and is heavier glass which shouldn’t be used for this project. Not only because the glass is heavier but because the jagged edges won’t hold onto the glue as well as rounded edges. You will see in the picture above that all the glassware has rounded edges.
Colored glassware would also make a wonderful window too! Especially for the seasons. All orange colors for fall or red and green glassware for Christmas time. Oh, and pastel glassware for spring!
I ran all the glassware through the dishwasher to make sure they were sparkling clean before the process began.
Layout Your Design
Take your window and decide which side you want the glassware to lay on. The other side will be what is facing you when looking at it hanging up.
I then laid out all the glass to where I wanted it to be facing down. This view will be the back of your window. I did this process several times until I had it just right. The picture above was my first attempt. The chandelier teardrop glass from my grandmother’s chandelier, I decided this wasn’t a good place for it.
As you can see, there were gaps between the glass pieces and that’s why I used the glass gem pieces to fill in those spaces. They worked perfectly for that.
let the gluing begin
Take one more look at the layout of your pieces of glass before you start gluing them. There is no turning back after that. Trust me with this part of the project.
Take each piece of glass and put a good amount of silicone glue around the edge of the piece. Carefully lay it back in its designated place. I started with the largest pieces first and went down to the glass gems last to glue. The glue dries clear and you won’t see it after the window is hung up.
The glue holds pretty quickly so make sure you lay it down where you want it. If for some reason you have glue somewhere you don’t want it, Goo Gone will get rid of it.
Allow the glue to dry for a couple of days before attempting to hang it.
time to hang the window
After the window sat for a couple of days, I leaned it up against the wall for a few more days to make sure that all the glassware was firmly against the window and none of it was falling off.
How you hang the window from the area where the window will be, will help you to decide what hooks to use in that area. We hung ours from a masonry wall and used mason hooks. Once you have the hooks in the wall, place your chain or wire to the desired length. Use the S hooks to connect the chain to the window and you are done!
The process above will be entirely done to your situation.
I cannot tell you how much we enjoy this project on the lanai. Mr. G talks about it all the time. At first, he couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do and it was a pain hanging from a mason wall, but it was so worth it.
The way the sun shines through it in the morning is just stunning!!
shop & sources
- GE GE500 Silicone (this glue is the best for this project)
- Glass Gems
- 2 S Hooks
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I’m just a country girl loving my geeky life with my wonderful husband, always taking pictures, getting my hands dirty in the garden, being crafty, exploring with travels and enjoying all this on a budget. But above all, living my faith as a child of God!
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I have not seen this before but what a lovely idea and would make lovely gift ideas
I’m a huge fan of upcycling. It’s such a great way to add your own touch to a space and a bit of a story, too`
I looooooove these ideas…I am new to DIY but so excited about it…I can’t wait to do it, can’t wait.
Thank you for giving me a guide to a perfect start!! I’ve been wanting to upcyle for a while now.
That is such a pretty DIY, I’d have never known that it was homemade. You chose some really pretty shapes and patterns x
Sounds like a good idea to use thrifted glassware. I imagine that you can’t wait to see the sunlight sparkle on the finished product.
What a creative and resourceful idea! Turning thrifted glassware into a stained glass window for your lanai is such a unique and personal touch. It’s inspiring to see how you’ve repurposed materials to create something beautiful and meaningful for your space. I can only imagine how stunning the sunlight will be as it dances through the colorful glass. Can’t wait to see the final result!
Wow, what a cool and creative idea! It’s really inspiring to see how you’ve turned everyday items into something beautiful and special for your space.
Love the tips on turning glassware into a stained glass window. Thanks for the ideas and will try it for my window area as well!
OMG!… This project should go in your “Best Of The Best” category! Absolutely love this idea & filing it away in the recesses of my mind as I look for ways to repurpose little treasures in my own home…
… Denise ✨😎✨
Thank you Denise!! I love how this turned out and was able to show off some vintage family glass pieces I had in storage.
I am so loving your creation and I love crafting and DIY’ing and am working on a small cabinet for my dining room area. It is so satisfying!
I have never thought of re-using glass like this! It’s such a neat thing to look at, especially with all the different textures.