How to Paint Mercury Glass Look
I’ve been wanting to try Krylon’s Looking Glass Spray Paint for years now, and after searching all over, I finally found some on Amazon! The first time I saw this stuff it was on Carol Duval’s show on HGTV, so that tells you how long I’ve been wanting to try it! Do you guys remember that show? I miss seeing Carol on TV, and all her wonderful projects!
During our town wide Yard Sale, I picked up these two patterned (faceted) glass bowls, both for under $5.00 each. Wahoo! Love that price! What’s great about these pieces is that they have wide openings, and the base is hollow, perfect for “Mercurizing”, as I like to call it!
Here it is. The magical can of “Mercurizing” spray, also known as Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint.
Safety Note: You need to work in a well ventilated area, like outside, or in the garage with the door open like I did. I wore gloves and safety goggles too, just to be safe … safety is good people! Make sure you shake the can well, about 2 minutes should do it, and then spray your glassware. I did about 4 – 5 coats. I didn’t do anything special here, just sprayed, let dry a few minutes and sprayed again and that was it! That’s the beauty of using the patterned glass, you won’t need to do any special aging techniques on these.
I hope you enjoyed learning How to Paint a Mercury glass look and that you’ll give it a try, it was super fun and easy. These types of bowls can often be found in thrift shops and flea markets, so they shouldn’t be too hard to find. You can find more info about this product, along with other project ideas, on the Krylon web site.
Polly Quintiliani says
does anyone know if you can buy this in other colors besides silver?
Amanda says
I’ve also heard and read that the Looking Glass spray is being discontinued. My WalMart and Home Depot do not carry it, but I have seen it at Hobby Lobby. Looks like I need to stock up!
Lisa says
saw that you sprayed inside the hollow stem. Did you spray the inside or outside of the bowl part. Am I right to assume the inside?
thanks
Angela Swanson says
What a great product. I use a lot of spray type paints not to much Krylon but I will have to find some of this. I find cut glass everywhere and it gives it a great alternative look. I am sure there a lot of other things you can use it on as well.
My DIY Blog http://www.mypersonalaccent.com
rk says
I so badly miss crafts shows like Carol Duvall’s and others on HGTV. I actually wrote to them once saying they should call themselves Real estate TV! There is such a huge market for arts/crafts shows and yet no one is filling the need. Some PBS stations carry CreateTV but not all cable companies carry it 🙁
Paula Gale says
Hiya RK – In the UK it’s called Creat and Craft – I’m not sure what CreateTV is. I do watch the on-line My Craft Channel which I think has associations with Northridge Publications who bring the Cricut magazine etc. But I consider the States as the home of scrapbooking really so it astounds me that no one is filling the gap in the market… If you found out how much the craft industry is worth in the U.S. surely this would tell some producer that it’s worth considering such a programme. In the UK in the mid-late 90’s you couldn’t turn on your TV without watching some make-over programme that showed you how to repurpose something – long before the term ‘repurpose’ reached these shores! lol…
Now it’s all antiques shows and ‘cash in your attick’ type shows – where clearly, they have an idea what’s there already before they agree to film there… put it this way – there’d be no point coming to my house!!!
Paula x x x
Karen Watson says
Great point about My Craft Channel, Paula, that’s a good one too!
RK, I’m glad you wrote to them and told them!!
Paula Gale says
I love the look but not sure whether it’s something they do in the UK. We can get spray paints to achieve lots of other looks, so wouldn’t be surprised if this was available too.
Not sure if anyone here is aware (and anyone else reading these comments) but here in the UK, we have a dedicated craft channel – which is a shopping channel who ship internationally for a flat rate I think. It’s on 24/7 but live in between the hours of 8am and 8pm (GMT) each and every day. They can be viewed on line anytime at:
http://www.createandcraft.tv/ShowGridView.aspx
Sorry – can’t do that linky thing, but paste into your browser. Lots of stuff but a lot of it is card making. New Tim Holtz products are launched on the show next week – so there are lots of stamping shows for those who like… not too many upcycling shows on the channel – after all, it’s a shopping channel. Would be nice if they did though. Worth a look if you’re into your papercrafting, knitting, sewing, stamping etc.
It might not be your thing, but it sure is better than the news channel!!! I spend most of the day in my craft room and have this on for ‘company’ and just play it in the background a lot of the time.
Just thought I’d let you know. It is a lot of fun (if you get the british sense of humour – which is just sillyness most of the time) – it’s certainly not a rigid show like HGTV or QVC which is about the product and move on quickly to the next. The channel is equally about demonstrations from guests and last an hour each. Aparrently they have a growing overseas audience.
lol – anyone would think I was promoting for commission!
Love the Graphics Fairy Karen – have been a fan for almost as long as i’ve been blogging which is coming up 3 years… i’m just a learner at it still lol!
Paula Gale – England. xxx
Karen Watson says
Paula, Thank you so much for sharing all of this info! Hopefully we will get something like that here, it sounds wonderful! Often times when you guys have a successful show, we get the American version of it, so that could happen! And yes, I do get British humor, it’s my favorite kind of comedy!! Thanks for your sweet words about my site too!
xoxo
Karen
Cindy~ Heart and Sew Inspirations says
I couldn’t find the Krylon paint either but Rustoleum has a Metallic chrome that worked equally well. I painted some pumpkins with it to look like the Pottery Barn ones I saw on Pinterest! They came out great!
Karen Watson says
Thanks Cindy!! That’s really good to know!
Camille says
Karen, these are beautiful!!! I loved Carol Duval, Decorating Cents – all the HGTV DYI shows. I agree, I would love to see more of them again! That’s how I got started watching HGTV! ha
Karen Watson says
Thank you Camille! Yes, those were the shows that got me started watching it too!
Artsy Chick says
Oh how very cool! Those are really beautiful. I did not know about this paint! Will definitely have to get some to try it out.
Karen Watson says
Thanks AC!
Michele says
Hi:
I got my Looking Glass paint at Ace hardware. If they don’t have it in stock, they can order it for you and the price was VERY reasonable as compared to all the other places a searched through.
Also, if you want a cool look, fine spray a mix of vinegar and water on the glass before painting. I did that on a “newsed” candle jar and it looks terrific!
Oh, and I miss Carol Duval, too!!!!
Karen Watson says
Wonderful, thanks for the Ace tip Michele!!
Anonymous says
Just recently here in Australia, our Better Homes and Gardens TV show had a demonstration on how to make an Antigue mirror. They used the same type of spray pain however before painting they sprayed the glass with vinegar, then while it was wet painted 2 coats of paint,then let the vinegar dry off then did another couple of coats.
Shannan
Karen Watson says
Hi Shannan,
Yes, I’ve seen that, it gives a nice antique look, especially for smooth glass pieces. What’s nice about the patterned glass, is that the pattern makes it look old automatically so no addition steps are required, but you could certainly give it a try!
Amy says
Found you at Hometalk… following!
Karen Watson says
Thank you Amy! Hometalkers are welcome here any time! I love Hometalk!
Pollyanna says
That is just amazing, I am going to have to try some … hope they have it at my Walmart!!
Karen Watson says
Thanks Pollyanna!
Jennifer Mechling says
What a fantastic project. Thank you so much for sharing!!! I love your blog, and I too miss Carol Duvall. I’m with you, HGTV should have more craft shows. I’ve practically stopped watching that channel. I get more fun out of reading your blog and using your graphics. Thank you so much again!!!
Karen Watson says
Thanks Jennifer! Maybe HGTV will see this and start making some crafty shows for us again!
Deb~Paxton Valley Folk Art says
Wonderful Karen, thanks so much for this great tutorial and yes, I remember Carol Duval very well, miss her show! Off to Walmart to look for some of this great spray paint! Deb
Karen Watson says
Thanks Deb! I hope you can find some!