How to Paint a Birthday Greeting in a Window

Instead of putting the birthday greeting over the window, paint it on the window.

Surprise someone celebrating a birthday with a painted greeting in his window. Just as birthdays are fleeting, so too should be the greeting. Temporary designs painted onto the window will allow the honoree to scrape off the paint after the special day has passed. Vinyl appliques attached in addition to the paint offer more intricate designs that can be easily removed.

Things You'll Need

• Clear vinyl
• Scissors
• Birthday cake or balloons stencil
• Permanent markers
• Rubbing alcohol
• Paper towels
• Tempra or water-based paint
• Sponge paintbrush, 1-inch

Instructions

1. Cut the clear vinyl into a shape no larger than 5 inches by 7 inches as larger pieces will not adhere to the window properly.

2. Place the stencil on top of the vinyl and use the permanent marker to trace the inside of the stencil to create the outline of the image.

3. Fill in the birthday cake or balloons outline with the permanent markers. Allow the vinyl to dry completely before attaching it to the window.

4. Wipe the window with rubbing alcohol and dry it thoroughly with paper towels to remove any grease or residue.

5. Press the vinyl image onto the inside of the window. It should stay in place due to the static cling from the window.

6. Apply tempra or water-based paint onto the window using a 1-inch sponge brush. Paint "Happy Birthday!" or "It's Your Birthday!" on the outside of the window.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint the birthday greeting on the inside of the window, after some practice. Write the words and letters backward from the inside of the window. Practice writing the message backward on a piece of paper. Check it in a mirror before applying paint to the window.

• Remove the paint by washing the windows with window cleaner and gently scraping any remaining paint off of the glass with a paint scraper.

References

• "More Splash Than Cash Window Treatments"; Donna Babylon, et al.; 2002
• "101 Great Gifts from Kids: Fabulous Gifts Every Child Can Make"; Stephanie Mueller, et al.; 2002