Glass painting is often tricky business. Drippy paint, uneven lines and smearing are just a few of the problems that interfere with achieving a stained glass look. An easy way to control glass paint is to use custom stencils made with hand punches and adhesive vinyl, which minimzes paint seepage. Try bringing mismatched cups and glasses together into a set by painting the same design on all of them.

Materials
glass bottle
glass paint
adhesive vinyl
hand punch
sponge brush
soft round or flat brush

Starting out
Both heat-set and air-dry glass paints can be used for this project, but be sure to use heat-set paint for a durable finish if painting glassware that will need to be washed or handled often. Also, try accrylic enamel paints for an opaque high-gloss finish.

1 Make the stencil. Cut out squares of adhesive vinyl and punch out patterns in the centers. A frog-patterned punch is used here. Then place them around a clean, dry glass. The punch-outs can be used too, as shown with the cylindrical jar. Stick punch-outs around the glass in a row, then apply the strips of adhesive vinyl on both sides of the row.

2 Paint the glass. Use a round or flat brush to paint inside the square stencils. Brush from the edges towards the center, pressing as lightly as possible. For the reverse-stencil stripes, use a sponge brush that is the same width of the stripes to paint a smooth, even line in one stroke. Carefully remove the vinyl before the paint is dry. Otherwise, it may peel up with thte stencil.

3 Heat-set the paint. If necessary, heat-set the paint following the manufacturer's directions. Sometimes a twenty-four hour drying perid is called for to prevent the paint from bubbling as it is heated. To dry the paint quicker, place the glass in a cool oven and heat it for ten minutes at 150 degrees Fahrenheit [65 celsius]. Then, turn up the heat to the temperature called for by the manufacturer and continue to set. Let the glass cool completely before removing it from the oven.

Shortcut/variation
Try combining glass etching and painting. Add details to etched designs, such as flowers or leaves.

Quick tips
Press the vinyl firmly to the glass, making sure there are no air bubbles. Use a damp cotton swab to remove any paint seepage after removing the stencil.

Load the brush only half way with paint, so that it doesn't pool up inside the stencil.

 

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Excerpted from Quick Crafts: 30 Fast and Fun Projects by Livia McRee. Copyright 2001 by Rockport Publishers. Excerpted with permission by Rockport Publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.