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This post is sponsored by Deco Art. All opinions expressed are my own.
Get the best results with glass paint! Learn how to apply, cure, and see what your finished project will look like. Perfect tips for stunning glass creations!
Have you ever wanted to try glass painting?
It is a fun craft to learn, but if you are new to this type of crafting you probably have some questions, so I am here to help!
In this tutorial, I'll share six different types of Deco Art Paint and how they look on glass.
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Supply List
Some supplies were provided at no cost. If the exact supplies are unavailable, links may lead to similar products.
- Multi-Surface Satin
- Multi-Surface Metallic
- Gloss Enamels
- Glass Paint
- Stained Glass Paint
- Glass Paint Marker
Different Deco Art Glass Paint:
For these tests, I took panes of glass out of 4x4 Dollar Tree Frames and used the same color of blue, when available, to see the comparison.
It is important to read the instructions because the paints have different cure and bake times.
The examples below have been painted, cured, and baked according to the directions.
Multi-Surface Satin
Directions: Shake well. Apply 1-2 coats. Air cure 7 days. For a top rack dishwasher-safe finish, clean the surface well with alcohol. Paint glass or glazed ceramic piece. Allow to dry for 4 days. Place in a cool oven. Set the temperature to 325ºF and bake for 30 minutes. Cool with oven door partially open. Not for food contact surface. Self-sealing. Indoor/Outdoor. Water-based. Permanent. Fast-drying. Intermixable. Soap and Water clean up.
I did two samples for this paint. The first pane is air-dried, and the second is cured and baked.
The top half of the glass pane has two coats and the bottom half has one.
Brush marks can be seen on both panes and through both layers of paint, but overall I think it looks nice and clean.
The Air-dried didn't hold up to the scratch test, the paint came off quite easily.
The baked glass held up much better but can still be scratched, it is a bit more durable.
Multi-Surface Metallic
Directions: Shake well. Apply 1-2 coats. Air cure 7 days. For a top rack dishwasher-safe finish, clean the surface well with alcohol. Paint glass or glazed ceramic piece. Allow to dry for 4 days. Place in a cool oven. Set the temperature to 325ºF and bake for 30 minutes. Cool with oven door partially open. Not for food contact surface. Self-sealing. Indoor/Outdoor. Water-based. Permanent. Fast-drying. Intermixable. Soap and Water clean up.
The top half of this pane has two coats and the bottom half has one.
The brush marks are very apparent but do improve when applying more coats. nice and clean.
This paint did hold up to the scratch test and the tool didn't make a mark.
Gloss Enamels
Opaque paint for glass, glazed ceramics, and wood. Glass/Ceramic: Clean the surface with alcohol. Apply paint. Let dry for 4 days. Bake for 30 minutes at 325º F in a non-preheated oven. Cool with the oven door open. Dishwasher safe. Not for direct contact with food. Wood: Apply 1-2 coats. Air cure 48 hours.
This glass pane has a single coat of paint.
The paint went onto the glass surface nice and smooth but you can see the brush marks even when dried.
This paint did hold up to the scratch test and the tool didn't make a mark.
Glass Paint
Directions: Shake well. Apply with a soft brush or sponge for an opaque satin finish. Apply 1-2 coats. Allow to cure for 4 days. For a top rack dishwasher-safe finish, place in a cool oven. Heat to 275ºF and bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool in the oven. Not for direct contact with food. Water-based. Permanent. Soap and Water clean up.
The paint at the top of this pane was applied with a brush and a sponge on the bottom.
Both methods covered the glass quite nicely. The painting marks are visible but not as much as the other paints.
This paint did hold up to the scratch test and the tool didn't make a mark.
Stained Glass Paint
Directions: Shake or stir gently. Clean the surface with alcohol. Apply with a soft brush. Use a flooding technique to lay color into areas leaded with Deco Art Liquid Leading. Do not overwork. Allow to cure for 4 days. Place in a cool oven. Heat to 275ºF for 30 minutes. Allow to cool in the oven. Air Dry: Allow to air dry for 21 days. Not for contact with food. Water-based. Low odor. Intermixable.Permanent. Hand-wash safe finish.
I did not use a brush to apply the paint to this pane. Instead, I used a small squeegee tool and lightly pulled the paint across the glass.
There are no marks from applying the paint. The cured paint is quite transparent and has a nice glossy look.
This paint also held up to the scratch test and the tool didn't make a mark.
Glass Paint Marker
Directions: Not for direct contact with food. Clean the surface with glass cleaner before applying. Shake well. To activate press down on the tip until the paint appears. Allow the painted project to air cure for approximately 8 hours, then bake at 375ºF for 40 minutes (at temp) in a non-preheated oven. Allow the project to cool with the oven door open. Dishwasher safe.
This glass paint marker was a lot of fun to doodle with.
One thing I did notice is that the paint tends to pool in large areas.
I think the marker is great for drawing, but not as great for coloring.
This paint did hold up to the scratch test and the tool didn't make a mark.
My Thoughts
Overall, I am very impressed with these paints and have rated them in order of preference.
- Stained Glass Paint - is my top pick! I love the glossy finish and the transparency.
- Glass Paint - if a more opaque look is needed, this paint is great. It doesn't scratch easily and has great coverage.
- Gloss Enamels - is a beautiful paint that glides onto the glass. It is easy to apply and doesn't scratch. Brush marks can be seen but the application is still very pretty.
- Multi-Surface Metallic - the brush marks were visible, but it coats the glass nicely, and the metallic shimmers.
- Glass Paint Marker - this marker is fun to play with but the paint pools when coloring in larger areas.
- Multi-Surface Satin - this paint is more easily scratched, even after curing. A great paint for most materials, but I think there are better options when it comes to glass.
Would you rate them differently than me? Let me know in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The answer to this question is yes and no. How is that for an answer?
You can use acrylic craft paints on glass, but it will not be permanent. Acrylic paint will easily scratch and flake off once it is dry.
If you are looking for a permanent option for glass look for paints specifically made for glass. There are some great examples of glass paint in this post!
If a glass paint is dishwasher safe, it will say so in the directions. Always read the directions before using the paint because all paints cure differently.
Crafting Essentials
- The Cricut Cutting Machine is easily my favorite crafting tool. We use it in so many of our tutorials!
- These MakerX Crafting Tools are perfect for keeping in the craft room and are always ready when needed!
- This Fiskars Paper Trimmer is easy to use and cuts nicely without frayed edges.
- These Scotch Precision Scissors cut like a dream, and you get multiple pairs in a pack!
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Carol ("Mimi")
Good information to have for possible futures projects. Thanks for this info. I'm pinning for future reference.
Katie
Thanks, Carol! I'm happy to help, and thanks for the pin!
Priscilla
I paint on bottles and need to know what's the first strip of paint on the left ? I'm looking for a solid type of paint
Katie
It is the Gloss Enamels. This paint works on several different surfaces including wood, paper mache, plastic, resin, ceramics, glass and many other surfaces.
Kelly Brandt
What kind of paint is the one on the left the dark blue?
Katie Adams
True Blue Gloss Enamels: https://amzn.to/3COreDm
Robin
I have a project that I've been wanting do that requires painting glass, so thank you for the tips! Pinned
Thank you for sharing at the Creative Muster. Robin | Fluster Buster
Katie
You are so welcome, Robin! Happy to help!
Angie ~ ambient wares
I've never painted on glass before and I've got a lot of old windows I should experiment on. Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday! Pinned
Katie
Ooh that sounds like fun! I'm excited to see what you come up with Angie!
Megs
Wow, really cool tips! Thank you for sharing!
Happy Monday, from the Inspire Me Monday linkup!
Megs
Katie
Thanks Megs! I'm so glad you like this post about painting on glass.
Marianne Perry
Morning, I saw your blog today and was very interested as I am starting a glass project this weekend, HOWEVER, I couldn't get your sound up, turned it up all the way, and the sound on my computer, but it was not easy to hear you.
Katie
Hi Marianne, were you on a device like a phone or a tablet? For some reason, the audio doesn't always work on these devices. You can try from a computer, laptop or a different device. I'm sorry for the difficulty.
Faye
Thank you for your information. I have wanted to try painting glass but after one case of following all the directions the paint came off in the dishwasher. Are all art deco glass paints dishwasher safe?
Katie
Yes, the paint is top rack dishwasher safe. But of course the more you wash in the dishwasher the more faded the paint will become. I would recommend handwashing if its something you want to keep in tip-top shape for a long time.
Tina
I stained my octagon bathroom window. I used gallery glass paints and found since I was doing this project vertically, the gallery paints ran; to thin for a vertical project there I used deco art glass/ enamel paints
I spent 2 days on my bathroom window
Using a liquid leading as well. It was beautiful. I say was because after 5 days my paints have run over the liquid leading, colors are fading. I can no longer see where the lead ends and the paints started. I can only guess it’s due to the hot showers. Any suggestions.
Thank you.
Katie
Hi Tina, that sounds gorgeous! I am sorry it didn't work as planned. I think it since the window is already set you couldn't bake the glass. Baking is what sets the paint.
Archana
Thank you for the post. Very informative. I am planning to paint on a window (one of them is a hurricane proof). How would it last with direct sunlight? As it is a prefixed window I can't bake the class. Will that make a difference? By the way i am just about to start my glass painting journey ?
Katie
Hi Archana! Baking the glass is what sets the paint in and makes it permanent. If you cannot bake the glass I would recommend looking for a different paint. Congrats on starting your journey! 🙂
Dottie Lewis
I want to make Christmas decorations from wine bottles - a raindeer, a santa and a snowman. What type of paint to I use - and spray or brush on? I need something that is permanent and won't rub off (or flake on the glass)
Katie
Any of the Glass Enamels will work. Make sure to bake if you want the paint to be permanent.
Carol Redding
I have the same question. I’m wanting to paint on wine bottles which I will add small lights in the bottle. I’m wondering how to bake to make permanent.
Katie
This paint would work great for that! Just make sure to follow the directions on the bottle for baking. Each paint has a different time and/or temp.
Deepa
Where did you get a glass for painting ? can you share info ?
Katie
Are you talking about the glass sheet? It is actually the glass from an old frame I wasn't using. The dollar store is a great place to get frames that have glass sheets too!
Louise Perrault
Hi, my name is Louise and I recently got interested in painting on glass and dishes. I just bought a beautiful panted plate. So I was wondering once it is painted do you have to cook the glass or plate???
Katie
HI Louise! If you are using the glass paint from Decor Art then yes. Baking is how you cure the paint and make it permanent. If you use a different brand of glass paint just make sure to follow their directions.
Marie Stankiewicz
Hi Katie,
I am making dish flower garden art for my girlfriends for Christmas gifts. Will gloss enamel paint withstand weather conditions? Also, will five month of drying/curing replace baking in the oven?
Thanks for your time,
Marie
Katie
Hello Marie! Such a beautiful gift idea! I think the paint will withstand for a bit but may fade if it is in direct sunlight. As for the drying vs curing, I am not quite sure. Baking at high temperatures is what cures the paint and makes it more permanent. I have only followed the directions on the label and have not tried other methods.
Jeanne
I use different brands of glass paint with different baking temperatures. Which one should I use when time to bake? The lowest or highest temp?
Katie Adams
Sorry, but I can't give you the final answer to that. You would need to do testing to see what worked best for the different products used.
barb.
Hi! Thanks for such an informative article! I am a bit confused tho-I want to paint on a glass 'frog' that would go outside. On one hand I hear it wont work and the other not so sure-I have always love this paint line and would be happy to hear what you recommend-happy new year! barb.
Katie Adams
I don't see why it wouldn't work. Just make sure to cure the piece in the oven when you are finished.
Tina Tremain
How would you cure a larger project that won't fit in an oven?
Katie Adams
I would suggest using paint that doesn't require curing in an oven. Gallery glass doesn't require an oven, it simply dries. But it is less permanent.