Ideas for Painted Glass Crafts
A few strokes of paint can turn trash into treasure and windows into works of art. Painting on glass is a low-budget, fuss-free way of decorating, be it for the holidays or year round. Whether you want to give your home some pizazz or make dazzling gift items, painting on glass always produces stunning effects no matter what your skill level.
Other People Are Reading
-
Types of Paint
-
Tempera paint is non-toxic and an excellent choice for temporary glass painting projects with kids. You can use liquid tempera paint straight out of the bottle, or mix powdered paint with a mild liquid dish detergent until creamy and use it on windows or mirrors. Older kids and adults can graduate to acrylic craft paints for temporary jobs, as they are less likely to melt or drip when exposed to heat, such as direct sunlight or a candle flame. Adding a flow medium (amounts vary; follow the manufacturer's instructions) can help the paint spread better and more evenly. For a permanent paint job, choose an enamel or water-based paint made specifically for permanent glass use.
Recycling Glass Items
-
Save any glass items that would otherwise go into the garbage and turn them into works of art. Old jelly jars and condiment jars can be turned into creative storage options, vases or candle holders. Paint light bulbs upside-down to use them as Christmas tree ornament bulbs, or collect old, plain glass ornament bulbs and give them new life with a coat of paint.
-
Glass Art
-
With a small investment, you can create glass works of art to display, give away or sell. For example, glass spheres, such as lamp globes or fish tanks, can be turned into gazing balls for the garden or centerpieces for your table. Paint the glass in a picture frame, glue it in the frame and discard the cardboard backing. Hang it from the ceiling or in a window for a stained glass art effect. Shop thrift shops and flea markets for inexpensive glass figurines and give them new life with a coat of paint.
Glass Tablewear
-
Custom design your own tablewear with plain glass plates and glasses. You can paint your design on them using permanent glass paint. Never paint on the surface that would come into contact with food or beverages. Paint on the underside of plates, or the outside of glasses. On glasses, make sure the paint is far enough down from the rim that it won't come into contact with lips when a sip is taken. You can free-hand paint, but if you need more guidance, try taping an image to the opposite side of the glass that you are painting so that you can see the image through the glass and use it as a guideline. Contact paper stencils are also an excellent option for getting a consistent pattern.
Window Painting
-
Paint your windows with temporary acrylic or tempera paints for holidays and events. You will have a beautiful scene in the day time, but at night, when the lights inside go on, the window paintings will seem to glow on the outside. If you want to make some extra money for the holidays and you think your talents are up to the task, offer to paint store windows.
-
References
- Photo Credit Christopher Robbins/Photodisc/Getty Images
