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Hometalk is where people share and help with everything home & garden

15K
Leslie D
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV on Oct 01, 2012
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Make Your Own Mercury Glass

Simple method of taking any cheap glass vase and making it into a faux antique mercury glass piece. I used two standard glass vases that I picked up at a discount store for less than $10 each. I'm now on the lookout for more pieces at thrift stores to make sparkly Christmas vignettes. Get a can of Krylon "Looking Glass" spray paint (available at Ace Hardware/K-Mart/Craft Stores, according to the Krylon website, but I couldn't find any in Las Vegas, so I ordered the small can online to give it a try). Paint is about $11/can. Step 1. Clean glass well. For the larger piece, I sprayed the inside, for the narrower piece, I sprayed the outside, with identical results. Step 2. Spray, using several light coats, being careful not to overspray to avoid runs. The paint is slightly cloudy when sprayed, but dries VERY quickly to a mirror-like finish. Step 3. After about 3 light coats, mix a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and mist the painted surface enough to create beads. Step 4. Let sit about a minute, then dampen a paper towel with the vinegar/water mixture and firmly "pat" the beaded moisture that sits on the paint. You can actually rub a little in places, removing some of the paint as you go. Keep dabbing/wiping until you create the antique/worn look you desire. Step 5. After the piece completely dries, spray one very light coat of the looking ...»
glass paint over the already painted surface. This fills in the wiped away spots, adding dimension. You can repeat steps 3-5 until you get the look you want, although I only did it once.

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58 Comments Displaying 25 of 58 comments | See Previous
  • Becky Blair, NE
    Ha! That's funny. Lucky though, I'm sure.
    on Oct 31, 2012 · Like 0
  • Tina Lambert Las Vegas, NV
    Here is my finished product. As your vase was my inspiration. Total cost was $13. Cheaper than buying a new entry way light!!!!!
    • This photo is not ideal. As the light was on. The chain and hardware was all brass. And the glass panels were tinted brown.
    • The finished product is all silver with the glass panels painted as you suggested and using the vinegar spray to age worked flawlessly.
    • This is a close up of the glass panels.
    on Nov 06, 2012 · Like 3
  • Becky Blair, NE
    Wow Tina! That turned out awesome!
    on Nov 06, 2012 · Like 1
  • Leslie D Las Vegas, NV
    Instant Update! Love it!
    on Nov 06, 2012 · Like 1
  • Tina Lambert Las Vegas, NV
    Thanks Becky and Leslie. I can't wait for my next home project. I should post before and afters on this site of all the things we have done so far. Houses are the best ongoing projects! Doing it on a shoestring budget is a fun challenge.
    on Nov 06, 2012 · Like 4
  • Becky Blair, NE
    You're welcome Tina. I would love to see your other DIY projects. I love before and afters of anything home related.
    on Nov 06, 2012 · Like 0
  • Tina Lambert Las Vegas, NV
    Hey guys I added a few photos to my page. Will add more next week.
    on Nov 15, 2012 · Like 0
  • Donna M Everett, WA
    Is there a bronze paint instead of silver that would work. I like the brownish red look of a couple of pieces that I have that look like mercury glass but are the different color.
    on Nov 19, 2012 · Like 0
  • Leslie D Las Vegas, NV
    I saw a gold reflective spray at Michael's...maybe you could do this technique with the gold inside a piece, wipe back and then layer on a little black, then a little deep red, wiping back those, as well. That may achieve the "bronze" look? Good news is that the vinegar and water mixture is great for completing stripping the paint off of the glass (along with a scrub sponge), so experiment away because you can strip and start over! Let us know how it turns out!
    on Nov 19, 2012 · Like 2
  • Shawn Johnson Mayville, MI
    Wow, I love this idea because I love the look of mercury glass so much!! Thank you for the step by step instructions Leslie!!! :)
    on Jan 11, 2013 · Like 0
  • Mary I. Pittsburgh, PA
    Shawn, you'll LOVE it. I was just putting all my mercury glass back out after putting all the holiday decorations away. I love the simplicity yet classy look of mercury glass. I've been intermingling my "homemade" pieces with the low price pieces I've found at TJ Maxx and Marshalls recently.
    on Jan 11, 2013 · Like 0
  • Kelly S Bremerton, WA
    Tina Lambert, your light fixture looks amazing.
    on Jan 11, 2013 · Like 0
  • Kathleen M Ocean Gate, NJ
    Tina- I wouldn't have given that fixture a second look- it would have gone straight out the door! Amazing vision you have!
    on Jan 15, 2013 · Like 1
  • Tina Lambert Las Vegas, NV
    Thank you Kelly. Now that Christmas is packed up and put away I am onto my next house projects.
    on Jan 21, 2013 · Like 0
  • Phylis Angus Auburn, NY
    so glad to find this page,Love to see the unique things others have thought up.will try a few eventually Im sure.Going to try the flowers from plates I saw here today.
    on Feb 09, 2013 · Like 0
  • Barbara Higgins Bixby, OK
    I've seached everywhere for this spray paint; but don't believe I'd called it the "looking glass" paint. Couldn't find, but will sure try again. Thanks for showing what they look like, finished.
    on Feb 10, 2013 · Like 0
  • Leslie D Las Vegas, NV
    I couldn't find the paint anywhere locally. I ordered from amazon.com.
    on Feb 10, 2013 · Like 0
  • Carol P Fort Scott, KS
    What about using this paint for a bowllng ball? Do you think it would look like a gazing garden globe?
    on Feb 12, 2013 · Like 2
  • Julie Hastings, MN
    The mirror image is on the opposite side you spray. I did two french doors with 10 panes of glass each. The smell is atrocious even done outside. The only place to buy it is on line, and they are planning on discontinuing it something to do with the properties in making it. I order to cases for my doors because I didn't know how much it would take, and I wanted to practice b4 hand.
    on Feb 13, 2013 · Like 0
  • Shannon Brydon Canada
    Does the spray finish let any light through? I'd like to copy what you did with the entry way light but my hall is so dark I'm not sure if it would work
    on Feb 15, 2013 · Like 0
  • Leslie D Las Vegas, NV
    I've seen glass shades done with this, but they're always the "bell shaped" shades, with an exposed bulb that shines down, so it doesn't affect the light. I wouldn't use it on a fixture that has a "bowl" under the bulbs because it will block the light. Maybe Tina Lambert can shed some light on the subject since she did it on her light fixture *pun intended*.
    on Feb 15, 2013 · Like 1
  • Shannon Brydon Canada
    Thanks for the tip. My hall fixtures are from the 70's and look it. I need to change them somehow
    on Feb 15, 2013 · Like 0
  • Tina Lambert Las Vegas, NV
    The light bulbs on mine are behind the glass panels. The light illuminates the glass panels a bit but definantly does not shine through. I have found this paint both on amazon and Wal Mart. But Wal Mart sells out quickly as it is hit or miss if they have it. I just painted to top of my glass coffee table with this paint. I will post pic when I complete the tables paint job.
    on Feb 19, 2013 · Like 0
  • Phyllis W Saint Pauls, NC
    I love this idea. Thanks so much for sharing.

    I have a '71 Fleetwood Limo for sale if you know of anyone looking for a project car.

    on Mar 16, 2013 · Like 0
  • Pamela Jordan Jones, OK
    DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO MAKE A MIRRORED SURFACE OUT OF AN UNBREAKABLE SURFACE, AS I AM LOOKING TO MAKE AN UNBREAKABLE MIRROR FOR MY 18th MONTH OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WHO LIKES TO DRESS UP & SEE HERSELF!
    on Apr 16, 2013 · Like 0

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