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Mercury Glass Tutorial
... just in time for Halloween decor!
Mercury glass is such a classic and spooky look, it's just perfect for Halloween! When I decided to start this project, I had no idea it would be so simple and fun (and messy)... but a little bit of a challenge to find materials. It took me awhile to track down the Krylon Looking Glass Spray paint, but I finally found some on Amazon.com (after two trips to Hobby Lobby and Michaels, plus calling to Lowe's and Home Depot and Ace Hardware).
You will need:
Krylon® Looking Glass® Mirror-Like paint
Flat black spray paint
A spray bottle with vinegar
To Start
1. Shake the Krylon® Looking Glass® Mirror-Like paint vigorously for 3 to 5 minutes.
One thing to note is that the Krylon® Looking Glass® Mirror-Like paint behaves differently than regular spray paint. Instead of applying it to the outside of the glass object, you get the "mercury glass " look by painting the inside. 
It's a bit thin, so it's best to apply in quick, short bursts inside the glass, then swirl the paint around until it's almost dry (just a few minutes).
2. Continue
adding coats, (from 1 to 5), letting each one dry for about a minute (continuously swirling) before applying the next. Remember to continue to shake the can intermittently while you work (this is the part that I thought was messy - some of the paint got "slung" around a bit). As the paint dries, it quickly changes from dull and cloudy into a bright, reflective sheen.
3.
Real mercury glass has a finish that looks cracked and damaged. To mimic that effect with the paint, you can use the vinegar in a spray bottle. Lightly spray the vinegar directly onto the semi-wet paint and let it sit for a bit. You'll want to do this AFTER several coats of paint have been applied as it will "eat" through most of those layers. { I sprayed a lot of vinegar so you could see the effect a little better}
{see how cool that looks - on the right? Apparently, the vinegar affects the paint by allowing it to "break" when you rub it.}
4. Distress
the glass as much or as little as you like. To add another layer of depth, I used a light coat of flat black paint (to make the "distressed" areas even more dramatic)
I found this particular technique great for using leftover glass vases I had lying around, as well as candle and wine glasses for a tablescape. I think they're going to help make a spectacular Halloween centerpiece when filled with white or orange flowers and greenery!
Mercury glass is such a classic and spooky look, it's just perfect for Halloween! When I decided to start this project, I had no idea it would be so simple and fun (and messy)... but a little bit of a challenge to find materials. It took me awhile to track down the Krylon Looking Glass Spray paint, but I finally found some on Amazon.com (after two trips to Hobby Lobby and Michaels, plus calling to Lowe's and Home Depot and Ace Hardware).
You will need:
Krylon® Looking Glass® Mirror-Like paint
Flat black spray paint
A spray bottle with vinegar
To Start
1. Shake the Krylon® Looking Glass® Mirror-Like paint vigorously for 3 to 5 minutes.
One thing to note is that the Krylon® Looking Glass® Mirror-Like paint behaves differently than regular spray paint. Instead of applying it to the outside of the glass object, you get the "mercury glass " look by painting the inside. It's a bit thin, so it's best to apply in quick, short bursts inside the glass, then swirl the paint around until it's almost dry (just a few minutes).
2. Continue
adding coats, (from 1 to 5), letting each one dry for about a minute (continuously swirling) before applying the next. Remember to continue to shake the can intermittently while you work (this is the part that I thought was messy - some of the paint got "slung" around a bit). As the paint dries, it quickly changes from dull and cloudy into a bright, reflective sheen.
3.
Real mercury glass has a finish that looks cracked and damaged. To mimic that effect with the paint, you can use the vinegar in a spray bottle. Lightly spray the vinegar directly onto the semi-wet paint and let it sit for a bit. You'll want to do this AFTER several coats of paint have been applied as it will "eat" through most of those layers. { I sprayed a lot of vinegar so you could see the effect a little better}
{see how cool that looks - on the right? Apparently, the vinegar affects the paint by allowing it to "break" when you rub it.}
4. Distress
the glass as much or as little as you like. To add another layer of depth, I used a light coat of flat black paint (to make the "distressed" areas even more dramatic)
I found this particular technique great for using leftover glass vases I had lying around, as well as candle and wine glasses for a tablescape. I think they're going to help make a spectacular Halloween centerpiece when filled with white or orange flowers and greenery!