Sunday, December 4, 2011

Mercury Glass Holiday Inspirations

Okay, I know it has been a while but I've been horribly busy and have been trying things away from crafting.  BUT
....check these out!!!  Faux Mercury Glass inspirational bottles.

Here is the step by step.........

First collect your supplies - you need a clean empty wine bottle and Krylon Looking Glass spray paint.  It can be very difficult to find the spray paint.  I found my can at Hobby Lobby.  I've heard it is hit or miss finding it at Michael's or Joann's.  I have yet to find it at my local hardware store.  As tempting as it is, the metallic spray paints you can get most anywhere won't work for this project.  The best way to describe it is the metallic paint doesn't seem to 'flow' as well as the looking glass spray paint.  As a result you don't get the 'mirror' finish unless you use the right paint.

Make sure your wine bottle is clean and dry before you start, you will be spraying the paint INSIDE the bottle.  I soaked mine in hot soapy water and bleach then rinsed and drained well.





Step 2.  Shake the paint can WELL.  Aim the nozzle into the neck of the wine bottle and give a good spray.  The paint is VERY thin and WILL run down the sides of the bottle.


It is hard to see, but there is a pool of paint at the bottom of the bottle.  See the neck area where the paint has dried has begun to become shiny.  Swirl the bottle allowing the paint to coat the sides of the bottle and flow down.  It will create a sheeting action allowing the paint to stick a little more each time you swirl.  Let the bottle sit a minute or so between 'swirling'.  Above is after the first coat of paint is applied and drying.  Be careful that you don't drip the paint out the opening of the bottle.  If you spill or drip wipe it up with a damp cloth quickly before it dries.  If it begins to set you can use a little vinegar to help clean it up.


Step 3. Continue spraying and swirling until you get the amount of coverage on the inside of the bottle you desire.  The more paint you add the more opaque the bottle will become.  At this point I've also used my craft heater to speed the process along a little.  Just be aware that this paint REALLY STINKS so if you can spray outside!!!  The following is after about 3 different coats (spray then swirl) of the paint.
The 'dull' looking areas are still wet.  You will be able to watch as the paint dries.  It reminds me of watching embossing powder melt.  Really quite neat.

Finally, I tied a ribbon around the neck of the bottle and used acrylic paint to paint on the words.  This is only the beginning of what is possible with this paint.....More playtime coming soon!!!!