DIY Glow in the Dark Window Gel Clings

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Nothing says Halloween quite like glow in the dark window gel clings. They make the ideal decoration for parties and they are really easy to make yourself!

I found some glow in the dark window gel clings on Amazon, but with a little bit of research and a whole lot of experimentation I have discovered how to make them myself for a fraction of the cost. I am so excited to pass along this project to my readers! You only need two ingredients: glue and glow in the dark gel.

Materials Needed:

Glue (can be white or clear)

Glow in the dark gel

Baking sheet

Cookie cutters

Plastic sheet protectors

Directions to Make Glow in the Dark Window Gel Clings

• Mix your glue and glow in the dark gel in a ratio of about 2:1. If you have 4 ounces of glue, add about 2 ounces of gel. This doesn’t have to be exact at all. I just squirted the gel directly into the glue bottle and shook it up! Check to see if your glue mixture is bright enough by simply turning off the lights.
• Arrange the plastic sheet protectors on a baking sheet.
• Place the cookie cutters on top of the sheet protectors.
• Squirt your glue/gel mixture into your cookie cutter shapes. Make sure it is good and thick!

• Place the baking sheet in a place where it won’t be disturbed. The glow in the dark window gel clings need to dry for at least 24-48 hours, depending on how thick you make them.
• Once the gel clings are dry, simply pop them out of the cookie cutter molds. Be gentle so they don’t rip!
• Place your spooky glow in the dark window gel clings on a window, mirror, or white board, turn off the light, and watch them glow! Reposition them again and again. If they lose their stickiness, simply dampen one side with water. This will make them stick easily again, though they will leave behind a thin washable film.

Note: Placing these glow in the dark window gel clings on a window may prove difficult to see them actually glow in the dark at night if you have a lot of street lights outside. They need to be in complete darkness to see them well. Since we live in the heart of the city, I put them on our mirrors and hallway white board where it actually gets dark. They work beautifully there for us.

The Science Behind Glow in the Dark Window Gel Clings

Everything that glows in the dark contains phosphors, or chemicals that radiate visible light after being energized, or “charged up”. The phosphors in glow in the dark gel get energized by the lights in the house. When those lights go off the phosphors emit energy they have stored up in the form of faint green glowing light. Most of the time the effect only lasts a few minutes, but it is easy enough to charge them up again!

Last year we made squishy Halloween window gel clings from nontoxic, edible materials. Give them a try as well and see how they compare to this glow in the dark version!