When my Restoration Hardware catalog came last week, I was interested in the mercury glass prisms and small picture frames on pages 26 and 27. Here are three of my favorites:
Then, I remembered the glass paint that I used several years ago and wondered if I could duplicate the “look” by painting clear glass prisms with the glass paint. Why not?
First, I looked and looked for the paint. It is made by Krylon and is called, “Looking Glass Mirror-Like Paint.” I can tell you that you cannot find it at Michael’s, Home Depot, Walmart, or Lowes. You can find it at Hobby Lobby or on line. It is $11.00 at Hobby Lobby and maybe $9.00 at stores on line, but you would have to factor in the shipping. The can is 6 oz…smaller that what you think of as a regular spray paint can. If you have many projects in mind, buy two.
I ordered my prisms on line from a lighting supply company. They came quickly and were $2.29 each: www.Gallery803.com You can also find prisms at lighting stores and antique malls.
Once I had the paint and the prisms and a nice day to use the paint outdoors, it was time to see what would happen. I gave the prisms a light spray and blotted lightly with a paper towel to remove some of the paint. Then, I did the same process maybe four more times. I painted both sides of the prism and really could not tell a difference from front to back. Finally, I took black craft acrylic paint and with an almost dry brush, I put some black on the edges and here and there on the face of the prisms and then blotted with my finger or a paper towel to remove the paint and give the impression that paint had worn away over time. The tutorials on line told me to spray the dried mirror paint with a solution of one half vinegar and one half water, but I just blotted the paint with my finger.
You can go on line and see tutorials from people who have done glass bowls or vases. The techniques vary, but in this one the blogger sprayed the surface of the outside of the glass receptacle with a light mist of one half vinegar and one half water and then blotted the paint away. This tutorial is very clear and easy to follow.
Here are photos http://www.ALittleClaireification.com:
Look at Claire’s site to get really good directions.
Here is a final photo of the pages from Restoration Hardware catalog with my prism attempt lying on the page.
What will I do with them? The possibilities are endless. I may hang them from a small velvet ribbon from the Christmas tree, hang them from a candle sconce, put them in a silver bowl and set them on a side table. When I find a home, I will let you know.
Create and be happy!
deborahwoodmurphy 