Transform Old Glass

September 1, 2011


Transform Old Glass: Milk Glass & Raised Details
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    Tired of those glass containers you’ve had forever? Don’t toss them! Vase, carafe, jar or bottle, we’ll teach you two techniques that take them from lackluster to lovely. So go ahead—spend less time scouring the stores for glassware in that perfect shade, and more time making accents that fit the décor in every room of your home.

Glass Painting Techniques: Milk Glass 
When you coat the inside with white or pastel paint, glassware takes on the look of the coveted, creamy-colored milk glass we’re all hoping to find for a steal at the thrift store. But pale hues aren’t the only option! For a pop of color anywhere, tint your glass in bright shades like turquoise or tangerine.

Materials
Assorted clear glassware*
Gain with Bleach Alternative dishwashing liquid
Tray, to catch drips (Aluminum baking tins and cardboard box lids work great!)
Acrylic or latex paint, color(s) of your choice

*Tip: Both of these techniques work on just about any type of glassware—old jars, empty soda and olive oil bottles and vintage bud vases are just the beginning! Just be sure they’re transparent and stripped of labels.

Instructions
  1. transform old glass inset1Clean glassware with dish soap. Let dry completely.
  2. Working over a drip tray, pour paint down the inside walls of the vessel and swirl to coat, adding more as needed. Once it’s completely coated, hold upside down and let the excess drain off.
  3. Set vessels upside down in the tray to dry. After 30 minutes, lift and wipe up excess paint. Repeat until no excess paint remains, then flip upright and let dry 24
    hours before using.
Tip: A series of homemade milk glass gives instant style to the mantel, and they’re the perfect holders for faux florals, paper pinwheels and crafting or office supplies. Just don’t fill them with water or serve food from them, as the paint may wear away.

Transform Old Glass

Glass Painting Techniques: Raised Details
With puffy paint, you can create raised designs like lettering and beading. Finish with high gloss or matte paint, and suddenly glassware goes from plain to pretty (and personalized)! Go modern with matte black glassware—filled with fresh flowers—or excite eyes with a rainbow of high gloss color.

Materials 
Assorted clear glassware
Gain with Bleach Alternative dishwashing liquid
White grease pencil
Puffy paint
Spray paint, color(s) of your choice

Instructions
  1. transform old glass inset2Clean glassware with Gain with Bleach Alternative dishwashing liquid and let dry completely.
  2. Sketch designs onto the glass with a white grease pencil—think dots, geometric shapes, spirals, stripes, monograms, words or phrases.
  3. Using puffy paint, carefully trace your sketches. Let dry completely.
  4. Outdoors or over a newspaper-lined work surface, spray paint over the raised designs. Let dry completely, then use as desired.

Tip: Look for a design online—our paper butterfly templates are a great place to start—then print, slide inside the glassware so it faces out and copy the lines with a grease pencil. Or tape a stencil around the glassware and trace.

Quick Tip

Dawn When it's time to clean up, go beyond dishwashing with Dawn® Hand Renewal with Olay® Beauty. It helps improve the look and feel of hands in 5 uses while also giving you the grease-fighting power you've come to trust with Dawn.

How would you put a decorative spin on plain glass accents? Share your tricks in the comments section below.

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