Peel-off window stickers
Autumn leaves made of coloured glue that stick to windows and peel off without leaving a mark.
Age : age 7+ on their own, younger with a grown-up
Materials
- White PVA school glue (liquid) : Or clear liquid glue. Not a glue stick.
- Washing-up liquid : Clear if possible.
- Liquid or gel food colouring : More see-through than poster paint or acrylic.
- Plastic document sleeves : Or a laminated sheet. Not baking paper: it soaks up the glue.
- Simple colouring pages to slide into the sleeves : Leaves, pumpkin, mushroom: big areas.
- A small pot and a spoon per colour
- Stiff-bristle brushes
- Black permanent marker : For the outlines, once dry.
- A toothpick : To pop bubbles.
- Tape, apron, tablecloth : The colouring stains.
Steps
Session 1 · paint
- Protect the table and tape the sleeve down flat, with the colouring page inside.
- Make one pot per colour and let it rest 2 to 3 minutes: the mixture should stay thick.
- Paint the edge of each area first, then fill in the middle.
- Aim for an even layer with no gaps. Too thin and it tears; too thick and it won't dry.
- For a blend, put two colours side by side while they're still wet.
- Pop the bubbles with the toothpick.
- Leave to dry flat, out of the way: at least overnight, up to 48 h if the layer is thick.
Session 2 · finish and stick
- Check it's dry: the piece should be see-through everywhere, with no white patches.
- Go over the outlines with black marker, straight onto the piece.
- Let the marker dry for a few minutes.
- Peel off slowly, starting from a corner.
- Clean and dry the window, then press the piece on, pushing the air out from the middle to the edges.
For little ones: fill a cookie cutter placed on the plastic, then lift it off after a few minutes.
If it goes wrong
- Tears when peeling : Wait, peel more slowly, or paint another layer on top.
- White in the middle : Leave another 24 h.
- Colours run everywhere : Less mixture, outlines first.
- Won't stick to the window : Clean, dry well, press on again.
- Too sticky, leaves marks : Use less in the next pot.
- Dull colours : Switch to food colouring.
Safety
- School glue and food colouring are fine for children, but not for eating.
- Permanent marker is for a grown-up or a confident child, with the window open.
- To store the pieces, stick them back onto a plastic sleeve.
- If a piece sticks: a blast of hairdryer to soften it, or a plastic scraper.
- Marks on the glass come off with hot water.