Painting is a great activity to express your thoughts when you can’t do so with words. It’s relaxing and nurtures your creativity, not to mention, it’s so much fun to do.
There are plenty of mediums you can use for painting, and one of them is glass. In this post, we’ll talk about some glass painting ideas kids and adults alike can try, including making easy suncatchers.
Painting Suncatchers
If you’ve never heard of a suncatcher before, it’s one of the most popular glass painting ideas out there. Both kids and adults can try this, but be careful letting kids handle glass. Adults can do the glass cutting part, but it’s better for kids to just work on unpainted glass suncatchers.
Start by gathering all the material needed, which are:
- An unpainted suncatcher
- Colored pencils
- Various colors of glass paints
- Paintbrushes
- Paper
- Cotton swabs
Once you’ve gathered all the materials, you can paint the glass following these steps:
1. Make your design by tracing the edge of the suncatcher on paper.
2. Create your color scheme using colored pencils to color the design you traced. When you’re done, set it aside to use as a guide later on.
3. Get your suncatcher and your glass paints. *Note: Be sure to use non-toxic paints for kids, such as acrylic paint. It would be best to supervise younger children who tend to put paint in their mouths.
4. Paint the suncatcher using the guide you made before. Paint the corresponding colors to the correct sections of the suncatcher. Use a brush for the big parts and a cotton swab for the tight areas. You can also use the cotton swab to remove the extra paint before drying.
5. Let the paint dry completely before moving on to the next step.
6. Paint the reverse side next. Remember to use the same designs and colors as the first side. Just like before, let the paint dry thoroughly once you are done.
7. Now that the suncatcher is dry, you can hang it by the window to catch the light. At this time, you may be able to see some spots you missed. You can repaint those and let them dry again.
Painting a Wine Glass
Another of the simplest glass painting ideas you can try is designing a wine glass. This is also a glass painting activity that kids and adults can do. However, remind kids to be careful in handling the wine glass as it might break and they could get hurt. Perhaps working down on the floor will help avoid accidents.
For designs, you can easily find inspiration online. If you search just a bit, you can find artistic wine glass painting ideas, from nautical designs to snowflakes or letterings – practically anything. There are plenty of motifs, themes, and designs you can try, so it really just depends on what you would like to paint.
If you already have a design, then all you need to do is follow these simple steps:
1. Clean the wine glass using a paper towel and rubbing alcohol.
2. Use masking tape that’s about 3/4” or 2cm to keep the rim paint-free.
3. Sketch your designs on paper first to make it easier to draw on the glass.
4. Secure the sketch you made inside the wine glass using tape.
5. Use the sketch to draw the design you made onto the glass.
6. You can start painting now. You have many glass paint options but remember to use non-toxic ones when working with kids. If not paint, it’s probably best to use glass paint markers.
7. The most important part is the setting, which you can do by either air drying or heat drying. You can even do both to ensure the paint adheres to the glass.
You can embellish the wine glass once you are done setting it. You can fill it up with confetti, candies, chocolates, etc. Anyone you give it to will find a painted wine glass such a lovely gift.
Painting Glass Jars
Do you have empty glass jars just sitting around waiting to be recycled? How about upcycling them by painting them with simple designs? Glass jars are great decorative containers and easy to design using acrylic paint, glass markers, sponges and brushes, and other office supplies. Painted glass jars are among the best glass painting ideas anyone can try, perfect for making impressive gifts.
Kids can use them as a pen holder or canisters for candies and cookies. Meanwhile, adults can use them as vases, drinking glasses, and the like. You can start simple, like drawing geometric designs. Later, you can go for more complex designs like flowers, butterflies, and other details. How do you paint a glass jar, though? The steps are almost identical to painting a suncatcher and a wine glass.
However, below are some pointers to keep in mind when painting your old glass jars:
- You don’t need to prime the jars, but primer does help to make the paint stick better. Moreover, primer helps you not to use lots of coats of paint. With that said, we recommend using a white primer if you want to use one for your project.
- You can make the paint stick to the glass jars by cleaning the outside surface with cotton balls soaked in rubbing alcohol. Or, wash the jars with warm or hot water and mild soap, then dry. In doing either of these, you’ve successfully removed the oils left on the jar that keep paint from sticking.
- We recommend using acrylic paint when painting glass jars. Similarly, you can use chalk paint, chalkboard paint, or glitter paint. Whatever type of paint you use, remember to use a non-toxic one if you’re painting with kids.
- If you use acrylic paint, you can simply air-dry the jars. However, you will need to cure them if you use multi-surface or glass paint. Curing involves drying the painted glass jars inside an oven, heating them gradually to avoid breakage.
Painting Glass Vases
Painting glass vases is an activity that’s just as fun as painting suncatchers, wine glasses, or glass jars. The process is also the same, with only slight variations. Like the other glass painting ideas, painting a glass vase is an excellent craft to make decorative pieces. It’s an easy DIY craft if you have clear vases, old drinking glasses, or bottles.
Like always, you start by thinking about what kind of design you want. You can search online or browse Pinterest for inspiration if you are short on ideas. You can go simple by painting the vase with a solid color, like bright orange, to make it eye-catching. Or, you can paint flowers, geometric designs, or even cartoons — all of which improve the look of your glass vase.
Conclusion
The above glass painting ideas are just a few of the many things you can do with glass. Any glass — mirrors, pendants, ornaments, windows, and bottles — can be painted to make them look so much better. You can even try other embellishments like stickers or stamps. Whether painted or not, glass makes an excellent material for unleashing your creativity.