This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LoveAmericanHome #cbias #CollectiveBias Here I’m sharing my tips for creating a warm atmosphere over the holidays and my DIY Faux Mercury Glass Tutorial. You’ll even find a four minute video with step-by-step instructions. Let’s stay warm — even when it’s cold outside!
Create a Sense of Warmth
Winter means it gets cold outside here in the Rockies. With temperatures dipping into the low teens, I love to create a sense of warmth; and light the way for a warm welcome with candles. I love fragrances that remind me of my childhood at Christmastime. The scent of fresh apples reminds me of apple turnovers for breakfast. And the scent of pumpkin pie reminds me of my family gathering around the supper table for our annual Christmas dinner.
Decorate with DIY Faux Mercury Glass
Fragrances can warm the heart and sooth the soul. I love how they create a joy-filled atmosphere in our home. A respite amidst the cold winter days and a warm welcome for all who enter in. The American Home™ by Yankee Candle® brand collection offers timeless scents from a beloved brand. I found these candles at Walmart. And the scents of the holidays inspired me to decorate our home with things that glitter and shine. So I created some DIY Faux Mercury Glass to add some shimmer to the Christmas decorations adorning our home over the holidays.
Materials needed to create DIY Faux Mercury Glass
- 1 Spray can of Looking Glass spray
- 1 Spray bottle (try to find one with a “mist” option)
- 1/4 Cup Vinegar
- 1/4 Cup Water (feel free to make another batch if needed)
- Glass Container
- Paper Towels
- Glass Cleaner
Video Tutorial to create DIY Faux Mercury Glass
In this four minute video, I’ll walk you through how to create this DIY Faux Mercury Glass step by step. Plus, I’ll explain why I prefer painting the outside over painting the inside of the glass and give you some photos to help you see the difference. If you enjoy videos like these, make sure to follow me on YouTube.
Directions to create DIY Faux Mercury Glass
Step 1: Gather your materials. Having everything gathered together and ready to go makes creating this DIY Faux Mercury Glass much easier. I recommend creating this craft outside. But if it’s 13 degrees outside, you may want to take it inside and cover the floor with a plastic tablecloth and newspapers. We also turned on our inside vent to air out the room.
Step 2: Clean the Glass. Make sure to clean the glass surface throughly. You don’t want any dust, dirt or grime on the glassware when you start.
Step 3: Spray the glass with the fluid mixture. Once the glass is very clean, clear everything out of the way and spray the glass with the spray bottle of water and vinegar solution. You want tiny beads to form on the surface of the glass. If the fluid starts to run, use a paper towel to mop up the excess.
Step 4: Shake the Looking Glass Spray. I used Krylon Looking Glass spray for this project. You’ll want to shake the spray can for about two minutes to make sure the paint is loose and ready to spray.
Step 5: Spray the wet glass container. You’ll want to spray a light layer of Looking Glass paint onto the glass container. It’s your choice to paint either the outside or the inside of the glass. From a distance, I think either option looks almost the same. I happen to like the way spraying the outside looks a little better, and I like the fact that spraying the outside gives me greater functionality in using the glassware.
Step 6: Pat with a paper towel. Pat any runs in the fluid with a paper towel. It’s best to work with a slightly wet paper towel. Be careful not to leave a paper towel imprint on the glass.
Step 7: Let dry. You want to give the glassware a chance to dry a bit between coats. I let ours dry three to four minutes between each coat of paint.
Step 8: Layer. The amount of layers you add depends upon what level of transparency you want to achieve. I added four layers to the candle holders I created for my candles from American Home™ by Yankee Candle® , but you can add as many layers as you like to create either a more transparent or matte look. Repeat steps three through seven as may times as desired until you achieve the “look” you want.
DIY Mercury Glass Gift Ideas
I loved how the candle holders turned out so much that I made two more Mercury Glass containers to give as gifts. I even have my heart set on transforming a glass lamp using this same technique. The sky is the limit with this project, and I hope you’ve found this tutorial helpful.
Where to find American Home™ by Yankee Candle®
You can find American Home™ by Yankee Candle® at Walmart in the housewares section. You can also find great tips for home decorating at the American Home™ by Yankee Candle® Brand Page.
If you’d like to find out what fragrances are available from American Home™ by Yankee Candle®, make sure to check out the What’s on the Shelf Page.
Have a favorite craft or home decorating idea to share?
Do you create special home decor for the holidays? What about unique homemade gifts? I’m always looking for new ideas. Please leave a comment below and join the conversation. I love hearing from my readers!
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