Mercury Glass Tutorial

... just in time for Halloween decor! Mercury Glass DIY on barquegifts.com 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). DIY Mercury Glass Supplies on barquegifts.comYou 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. Mercury Glass DIY on barquegifts.comIt'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). Mercury Glass DIY on barquegifts.com 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. Mercury Glass DIY on barquegifts.com Mercury Glass DIY on barquegifts.com 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} Mercury Glass DIY on barquegifts.com Mercury Glass DIY on barquegifts.com {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) Mercury Glass DIY on barquegifts.comI 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 DIY on barquegifts.com Mercury Glass DIY on barquegifts.com