How to glam up old glasses

Glass painting looks best if it’s done quickly, so the simplest ideas give the most successful results. I painted a water jug and glasses with a parrot design based on a 1960s Josef Frank fabric. The shapes can be filled in with just a few brush strokes. The paint doesn’t dry instantly, so if you mess up, just wipe it off with a tissue and have another go. Once set, the paint is robust and dishwasher-proof.

You will need

1. Glass jug and glasses
2. Bake-in-the-oven glass paints (I used the Pebeo Vitrea 160 range)
3. Paintbrush
4. Paper and pen
5. Masking tape or newspaper

Wash your glassware in warm soapy water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Practise painting some lines on an old glass or jar first. You will notice that quick, definite strokes look better than dithering, thought-out ones. It’s worth getting an idea of this before you begin, so you can plan an appropriate design.

Decide on your design and draw it on a piece of paper. If you have a fabric or book with a pattern that you especially like, photocopy it and enlarge or reduce it to a size that suits the piece you are working on.

Slide the paper design inside your glass or jug and secure it with a little masking tape, or use scrunched-up newspaper in the middle to hold it in place, and start painting. If the paint needs thinning, use a thinning agent recommended by the paint supplier — don’t assume this will be water (it won’t be, unless you are using water-based paints).

Leave the paint to dry for a day, then put the glasses and jug in an oven set at 160C/ 320F/Gas Mark 3 for 40 minutes. Turn off the oven and allow the glass to cool down gradually or it may crack. And that’s it.

Get stuck in

The directory

Most art and crafts shops are great for basics, but for specialised requirements try:

www.hobbycraft.co.uk The Starbucks of the craft world, but a good one-stop shop if you’re feeling lazy.

www.plasti-kote.co.uk Craft sealants, paints and special-effect paints.

www.homecrafts.co.uk Comprehensive online craft supplier.

www.lainesworld.co.uk Fantastic, savvy retailer with knowledgeable staff.

www.creativecrafts.co.uk Winchester- based art and upholstery shop.

www.lazertran.com Transfer papers for fabric, wood and other surfaces.

Extracted and adapted from House Proud by Danielle Proud (Bloomsbury £16.99). To order for £15.29 (including p&p) call Sunday Times Books First on 0870 165 8585

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