How to Paint Holiday Wine Glasses

Plain wine glasses can become festive works of art with a few simple supplies.

Holiday entertaining is the highlight of the season for many people, and peppering your table with holiday-themed glassware will make the occasion all the more festive for everyone. The possibilities for wine glass designs are numerous, and incorporating personalization into your glasses is an option that will do away with the need for place cards. Hand-painted holiday wine glasses are not difficult to create; all that is required is time and a few paint supplies from your local craft store.

Things You'll Need

• Wine glasses
• Gold or silver glass paint, either air-dry or oven-cured
• Red, green or blue glass paint, either air-dry or oven-cured
• 1 fine-tipped paintbrush per each color
• Clear tape
• Oven (if paints are oven-cured)
• Surface conditioner paint (if paints are air-dry)
• Medium sized paintbrush (if paints are air-dry)
• Old holiday greeting cards (optional)

Instructions

Using Air-Dry Paint

1. Wash the wine glasses in hot, soapy water and allow them to dry overnight. It is important that the glasses be completely clean and dry before they are painted, or the paint will not adhere to the glass properly.

2. Cover the lip of the wine glasses with tape, about 3/4 inch down from the top. (This is to ensure that the area people drink from will not be painted on.)

3. Paint two or three of the wine glasses with surface conditioner. Brush the conditioner across the entire surface with the medium-sized paintbrush and allow to dry. You must decorate the glasses within four hours of applying the surface conditioner. If the glasses are left unpainted for more than four hours, apply another coat of the surface conditioner before painting your design.

4. Choose a festive shape or design from an old holiday card. Simple shapes are the easiest to paint and produce the best results. Dip one of the small paintbrushes in silver or gold paint and draw the outline of the shape on the wine glass, using the card for reference. Some ideas for designs include snowflakes, bells and holly, snowmen, a Christmas tree, and wrapped presents.

5. Allow the paint to dry for 20 to 30 minutes, then fill in the outline with the paint color(s) of your choice. Set the glasses aside in a dry area where they will not be disturbed and allow to dry for 10 days. Remove the tape and hand-wash the glasses.

Using Oven-Cured Paint

1. Wash the wine glasses thoroughly with soapy water and allow to dry for 24 hours.

2. Tape off the top 3/4 inches along the lip of the glass.

3. Paint the outline of you holiday design on the glasses using a small brush.

4. Fill in the design using paint colors of your choice.

5. Allow to air-dry for 24 hours.

6. Bake the wine glasses at 325 degrees for 40 minutes. Allow to cool, then wash with soapy water.

Tips & Warnings

• Suggested paints to use: PermEnamel air-dry paint, or Vitrea 160 oven-cured paints. Both are dishwasher-safe.

References

• Warm Glass: Non-Fired
• Pebeo: Vitrea 160
• Delta Creative: Permanent Paint for Glass & Glazed.
• Your Decorative Painting Resource: Hand Painted Wine Glasses