Valentine’s Day is almost here. If you are looking for something special to give the love of your life there may be added pressure ensuring presents are sustainable. Holidays are slowly becoming a place to showcase skills and memories rather than your ability to run to a store to purchase ‘stuff’. With consumers asking questions of where products are manufactured and what they are made from, the chances of finding satisfying answers is tough for last-minute gifts. For those that want a story, feeling, or movement behind their Valentines gift this year, go with an up-cycle. Why? Every up-cycled gift will show effort and even if the original purchase was manufactured in a distant country made with not-so-earth friendly materials, when you go 2nd hand with gift giving, you are breathing new life into a gift and giving it your own story.

Here is your project with a beautiful story: barn window memory frame. Let me break down the symbolism for you and we’ll proceed with the project instructions. Barns exude the feel of haunting romance. A barn can be literally falling apart, but the more weathered it becomes, the more mystery surrounds it and that is romantic. If your project includes pictures, old cards, or poem, these will reflect the window of your heart. You might need to trust me with the symbol of how romantic a window pane is and the more weathered looking the better. If it can’t be from a barn, just a wooden window will be okay… but you might not be able to use the word ‘haunting’ in your gift presentation… and really, is there a better word?!

Our Prairie Home shows you how to take an existing window and cut squares of chicken wire to back each window. I love the chicken wire look because it creates a very special look and makes attaching cards, notes, pictures, or mementos super easy with little wooden clips. This could easily change from a note board to a special picture frame. Picture belongs to Our Prairie Home:

It’s actually easier than I thought to find windows to upcycle. With a quick search on my local Used.ca site, I found 2 windows in the building supplies section. If you like the look of glass rather than chicken wire, there are also very cute up-cycle options with windows that still have glass. Check out the below frame pinned to the UsedEverywhere Pinterest board.

Supplies needed:

Wooden window frame
Chicken wire
Printed photos
Tape measure
Hot glue
Picture hanging kit

There is still time to create magic for the love of your life and use some creativity that will be treasured and proudly displayed all year round. Think about incorporating up-cycling into your special Valentines this year and your efforts will be noticed. And you can use words like ‘hauntingly romantic’ in the description or something unique. When you upcycle, the story becomes yours to tell.

Useful links

Your local Used.ca site

Used and vintage windows