Portray glass is less complicated than you suppose! Learn to put together and paint glass in your craft initiatives – that is the entire information. Try my 4 step course of, plus what you are able to do if you happen to make any errors.


Glass portray is HOT! Not solely is it enjoyable, it’s straightforward for inexperienced persons. Portray glassware might be intimidating, so I’m going to indicate you the right way to do it in 4 straightforward steps. I’ll provide you with preparation ideas, portray concepts (on the backside), and curing + care directions.
Let’s get began!
The right way to Paint on Glass
As you possibly can most likely guess since you’re studying this publish: YES, you possibly can paint on glass. Listed here are the 4 steps you’ll undergo to realize venture success:
- Put together the Floor
- Tape off the Space or Sample
- Paint the Glass
- Remedy In line with Directions
Should you’re portray your entire floor, you won’t even want step 2, so this doubtlessly might be a 3 step course of! Earlier than you start, you’ll want to assemble your provides.
Provides You’ll Want
Glassware is offered in craft shops and low cost shops in all kinds of sizes and styles (I like getting it from the Greenback Tree!). Clearly that’s the very first thing you might want to get – one thing to color! You’ll additionally want:
- Rubbing alcohol or white vinegar
- Glass paint – I’ll focus on within the part under
- Paintbrushes – smooth bristled
- Water bin
- Paint tray
- Foam daubers or spouncers (non-obligatory)
- Stencil tape (non-obligatory)
- Stylus (non-obligatory)
All the pieces on the checklist above is fairly easy, however I need to focus on the brushes and paint a bit bit extra so what you’re coping with.


Varieties of Brushes
There are a number of sorts of brushes and instruments that accomplish completely different functions.
Gentle Bristled Brushes
These are common paint brushes, nevertheless the bristles are softer than regular brushes. The explanation for the “smooth bristles” is to cut back brush strokes if you paint.
When you begin portray on glass you’ll see that this specific floor tends to *actually* present brush strokes. A softer brush may help with this.
Should you can’t discover something that claims “smooth bristles”, learn the package deal and see if it says the brushes work for glass. I’ll be trustworthy; the costlier brushes appear to work greatest and these are those I take nice care of.
I exploit these brushes to use a basecoat of Enamel paint, chalk paint, or add particulars (with smaller brushes).
Spouncers
Spouncers are mainly a sponge on the finish of a stick. They’re nice for making use of paint in a fair utility throughout a floor. I have a tendency to make use of these for translucent or frosted paints, like FolkArt Frosted Glass.
Whenever you spounce glass paint on, it dries with a little bit of texture (you’ll see what I imply if you happen to use them). That’s why I like utilizing spouncers with the thinner paints. They even out greater than acrylics.
Daubers
Daublers resemble spouncers, however they’re a extra dense foam and never as lengthy. I LOVE daubers for making use of polka dots with comparatively crisp ages. They’re additionally nice for small areas like wine glass stems.
Stylus
Nice for including small dots! Merely dip right into a “contemporary” puddle of paint and contact the floor. Reload for same-sized dots. Paint descending sized dots with one load; merely proceed dotting till all paint has been eliminated.
NOTE: Make sure when portray dots that you just rigorously set your software down straight and raise straight up. If lifted at an angle, painted dots will smear.
Do this: as soon as your software is loaded, contact the floor, rigorously twist in a round movement, then raise to take away. The additional twist will guarantee a full even circle.


Varieties of Glass Paint
Enamel Paint
There’s a particular sort of acrylic paint formulated for glass portray and it’ll clearly say on the label. There must also be curing directions.
There are a number of manufacturers, however the one I sometimes use is FolkArt Enamels. It’s out there in craft shops and store.plaidonline.com in lots of colours. When cured, it’s top-shelf dishwasher protected.
Chalk Paint
I LOVE the end of chalk paint! It’s a no-shine, easy end that adheres very well to glass.
Spray Paint
There are a selection of spray paints appropriate for glass, and you may get them in clear, stone, metallic, strong, and lots of different sorts of finishes.
Simply ensure that to learn the can and spray in a number of mild coats. You possibly can sometimes paint on prime with both chalk or enamel paint if you wish to add to the design.
Paint Pens and Markers
There are many paint pens and markers in the marketplace; for instance, Sharpie oil primarily based. You’ll draw with a paint marker as you’ll with a daily marker, so there aren’t actually any directions right here. You can even draw over different painted designs – simply let the paint dry first.
Meals Coloring
A closing approach to colour glass – meals coloring and Mod Podge. Nonetheless, these aren’t as everlasting as the opposite sorts of paint above. Learn to Mod Podge on glass right here.
Now that you just’ve chosen your provides, it’s time to undergo the steps of portray on glass! You’re going to begin with floor preparation and go from there. Right here’s the way you do it.


Floor Preparation
This step is essential in order for you the paint to stay. You’re eradicating oils from fingers – oils that repel paint. That’s the reason you’re cleansing the jars on this method.
Totally wash in heat, soapy water to take away filth, mud, and grease movie. Then rinse in heat water and let it dry.
Subsequent, dampen a paper towel with rubbing alcohol or white vinegar and wipe the stemware to make sure it’s clear of any remaining cleaning soap movie. Put aside for quarter-hour to air dry.
Taping Off the Space or Sample
Should you aren’t portray your entire jar one strong colour, you would possibly need to use stencil tape to tape off an space (like a sq. or different form). Different choices are adhesive stencils or stencils minimize with a Cricut machine.
In all these conditions, you’ll need to easy your tape or stencil down completely on the glass floor.
Stripes: Portray stripes is simple and create fascinating backgrounds. Paint freehand stripes utilizing your flat brush. Or you might also use stencil tape to masks an space to be striped. Apply paint utilizing a flat brush, dauber, or spouncer.


Whereas moist, rigorously take away tape. Warning: do NOT enable the paint to dry with tape in place; paint could raise when tape is eliminated later. Trace: if you might want to clear an edge after eradicating the tape, scrape utilizing your craft knife when paint is dry.
So far as patterns, you’ll need to tape these to the within of the glass as an alternative of transferring them such as you would on wooden.
Simply place your sample contained in the glassware and tape in place. If a sample is repeated across the glass, safe a number of patterns. Voila, now you can see the sample via the glass!


Portray Your Design
The way in which you paint your design is usually decided by your brush or software, which I’ll go over under.
Usually you’ll begin with a basecoat of Enamel or chalk paint in your glass.
Chalk paint tends to indicate the least quantity of brush strokes for my part. You possibly can see what chalk paint appears to be like like on mason jars in my publish “the right way to paint mason jars.” It gives a extremely easy end.
Right here’s the method I’m going via:
- Dip the tip of the comb into your paint. Don’t overload the comb – maintain it on the underside 1/3 to 1/2.
- Begin brushing on the glass. Anticipate to do a skinny layer in your first layer. Enamel and multisurface paint will look skinny when utilized, however you’re going to construct up layers.
- Don’t maintain brushing over the identical areas when moist. You’ll find yourself eradicating what you simply painted.
- Paint in layers, letting dry between layers. It might take 3 – 4 coats to cowl the glass.
- Add particulars with smaller brushes, a stylus, or daubers. You possibly can layer the paint but it surely have to be dry earlier than you accomplish that.
Portray on glass is similar to portray on wooden, however I discover that it exhibits extra brush strokes. There’s nothing that may be completed to take away the comb strokes, nevertheless if you happen to proceed to layer the paint thinly, that can assist cut back them. I additionally discover they cut back because the glass cures, particularly within the oven.
A spouncer can be utilized too! This helps with brush strokes (there aren’t any!). Nonetheless, it does present a distinct look on the glass, so I counsel giving it a attempt to see what look you want greatest.
Bear in mind – high quality of brushes issues. I discover that increased high quality brushes give increased high quality outcomes.
Different Suggestions
- Take away any stencil or portray tape out of your glass earlier than paint dries.
- Experiment with the instruments. For instance, you should use daubers or small spouncers to color wine stems, typically extra simply than a brush.
When you’re completed portray, you’re able to remedy your venture!


Curing Glass Paint
ALWAYS learn the bottle to get the directions in your particular paint. Having stated that, listed below are some normal tips:
Drying Instances: Glassware needs to be completely dry earlier than dealing with, at the very least 24 hours.
Curing Directions: FolkArt Enamels needs to be cured previous to utilizing; there are two really helpful strategies:
- Air Dry Technique: Air dry the venture for 21 days earlier than utilizing.
- Bake Technique: Place your painted glassware in a cool oven. Set the oven temperature to 350ºF and bake for half-hour. Word: Glass should warmth step by step with the oven to keep away from breakage. After half-hour, flip the oven off; let the glass cool fully within the oven. Put aside for 72 hours.
Care Directions: As soon as your painted stemware has been cured, it may be hand washed in gentle cleaning soap and water or dishwasher cleaned on the highest shelf.
NOTE ABOUT CHALK PAINT: it’s not washable on glass and there are not any curing directions. Simply don’t wash it – it’s used for ornamental functions solely.


Troubleshooting
What if my paint doesn’t stick?
Ensure you have cleaned the glass with rubbing alcohol and that you’re utilizing the proper of paint.
You possibly can at all times spray a transparent layer of acrylic spray sealer down on the floor earlier than portray. Some sorts of glass are cussed and this spray helps. In any other case, get a brand new piece of glassware and name it a day.
How do I take away paint from glass?
Earlier than it has cured, you possibly can take away it by washing it off within the sink. If it has dried securely to the glass, use a razor blade, craft knife, or different sort of scraper to take away it. That is additionally how you’ll take away extra paint earlier than you remedy your glassware.
Let me know when you’ve got any questions within the feedback! Don’t neglect to take a look at the video earlier than you allow.