Nap Time DIY: Make Your Own Mercury Glass!

I call this a nap-time DIY, because I literally completed it (easily) within the constraints of Big Sister's unpredictable afternoon nap.  It's a synch, and I'm SO happy with the results!

Mercury glass is all over the place lately - I've seen it popping up everywhere, and here are a couple of inspiration photos:

POTTERYBARN'S LIT MERCURY GLASS GLOBES

WEST ELM'S MERCURY GLASS VASES

It's always fun to embrace a fad when it comes to decor, but it can also be expensive.  These options aren't overly pricey - but doesn't it sound so much better to make your own out of those cheap glass vases (that I know you have under your kitchen sink)?  I'll show you...

Here's the very first one I attempted (just a simple glass votive I had in the linen closet that might have otherwise landed in the garbage).  It has the remnants of a blue candle in the bottom, hence the slightly bluish tinge.  It's one of my favorites, and I made it in a few minutes.  I made some others, but I'm saving their debut for a future post (oh, I know... the s-u-s-p-e-n-s-e... ha!)

There are a number of different techniques for DIY Mercury Glass that I've seen floating around - Here is what worked for me:

1. Choose any clear glass vase, votive, etc. that needs a face-lift.  Make sure it is clean and dry. 

2. Spray the outside of the vase with a fine-mist spray bottle using a water and oil infusion (see notes that follow) until there are visible droplets of water evenly covering the whole exterior of the vase.

Notes:  (I used a room spray that was made with essential oil and it worked beautifully, and smelled good).  If you don't have something like this laying around, a spray bottle filled with water and a few drops of olive oil or vegetable oil mixed in (shaken well to infuse) will do just fine.  You can do this with just plain water, but I found the results were more visually pleasing when that little bit of oil was mixed in.

After First Coat of Paint

After Second Coat of Paint

3. Immediately spray paint the still-wet exterior of the vase or votive (right over the top of the spritzed water), using Krylon's 'Looking Glass' spray paint. 

More Notes: Results were best when I sprayed a thin coat all the way around, waited 30 seconds or so, re-coated, and then applied a final touch-up spray in any visible thin spots.  It's okay if the water droplets run a bit (that's part of how you get the look) but you don't want visible paint drips... so avoid coating with too much spray paint all at once.  Also... this 'Looking Glass' paint is kind of hard to find!  Buy it HERE if you have trouble!  What can you NOT find at Overstock.com?!? Seriously.
 
It is worth mentioning that this paint looks a little dull when first sprayed.  Not to worry.  As the paint dries it takes on the mirrored, reflective look - and once completely dry, this technique leaves you with a Mercury Glass look quite like the West Elm example, above (if I do say so myself)!  

If you like the slightly less shiny/silver look of the Pottery Barn Globes above, I suggest following the same steps, but spritzing and spray-painting the *inside* of your vase/votive instead of the *outside*, and then letting it dry upside down.

Here is a closer look at the finish... although it is SO hard to get a good shot of such a reflective surface.  (And, yes... I've been contorting myself every which way in an attempt). 

I hope you'll try this... and play around with thicker (hello, silver!) and thinner (softer, subtle) coats of paint.  I'm finding myself searching the house for anything made of clear glass so I can continue with more of these satisfying little transformations.  It's so fun!  I can totally picture a little cluster of these vases on a shelf... votives for a wedding... mercury glass figurines... 

Now, I'm (seriously) off to scour some more closets.
Thinking..."WHAT ELSE CAN I MERCURY?!?"  
<Rubbing hands together, insert:evil laugh>

If you do try it yourself... you just have to promise to send photos!!  I love this DIY and I wanna see.  :)  

BigPlansLittleVictories@gmail.com

This Project Shared On: http://diyshowoff.com/category/pinterest