Handpainted Glass Using DecoArt

I love adding alittle pizazz to ordinary pieces; Taking a simple item up a notch makes them unique and unexpected.

I just finished up a new easy DIY project using glass paint, which added a burst of color to my ordinary clear drinking glasses and wine glasses. Its amazing what you can do with inexpensive glassware, paint, and an imagination

The kind folks at DecoArt were gracious enough to send me a huge box of goodies to try out. I decided on their transparent glass paints which I thought would be great for adding a little interest to my once plain-jane glasses.

Supplies: Decorative Glass, DecoArt Glass Enamel Paint (in your color of choice), small flat brush, alcohol, and cotton ball

For this project, I chose a pair of decorative wine glasses that we received as a gift for our wedding (many years ago I might add). I use them on occasion when enjoying a yummy glass of red wine, and thought some added color would make them even more enticing to use on a regular basis (yes, Im often known to drink a glass of wine or two during the evening hours).

Start off by cleaning the glass surface (inside and out) with alcohol.

These paints are for decorative purposes only, so you can only paint on certain areas. To add a little color to these glasses, I decided to add the transparent paint to the outside of the glass, as well as the base of the stem to add a soft glow.

I applied the paint in thin, long strokes to avoid any clumps or streaks.

Within minutes, these two ordinary glasses were transformed into unique and personalized wine glasses.

Pretty fun, huh?

To finish up the glasses, I baked them in the oven for 30 minutes at 275 degrees. When baking glass to seal the paint, be sure to put the glass in BEFORE the oven heats up and dont take them out BEFORE the oven is completely cooled.

How-To Paint Laminate Furniture

I recently shared my newly styled bookshelves, but before I added all the colorful books and stylish accessories, I gave the bookcases a much needed makeover.

Since painting the space deep blue, the once faux-wood bookcases got lost in the dark hue of the walls, and they were ready for a transformation. A crisp, fresh coat of white was the perfect solution to make a statement.

I purchased these two bookcases from Walmart about 2 years ago. Each were around $100 and were not the best of quality (duh, look at the pricetag). Anyway, they fit the bill at the moment, but recently the shelves started to bow. Aside from the decision to paint the bookcases, I also needed to make a few updates so they would last a few more years Ill get to more on that later in the post.

Before starting the process of painting the laminate, I did a little research on the process and the first article I saw was Lindsays post when she transformed her TV cabinet. It was just what I needed to get me started.

Heres the bookcase before

To begin, I gave each bookcase a good sanding with my orbital sander (hands down, my favorite power tool). These bookcases are made of a particle board-like composite with a faux-wood laminate exterior. It was important NOT to sand too much because otherwise the surface would get ruined (since its essentially paper), but at the same time it was important to get them roughed-up so the paint would absorb into the surface.

Then the next key step was to prime all the surfaces. Like usual, I used Kilz Primer which blocks, seals, and preps the surface for the paint to adhere to the surface. Primer is important, but especially when painting over laminate (as I described above). Unlike wood, laminate is a smooth, non-porous material, so it really needs something to grab on to primer will do the trick! Its suggested that primer takes 7 days to completely dry you can take that advice if youd like, but I didnt (shame, shame on me, I know). BUT, I did wait about 4 days before painting to really make sure the surface was good-to-go!

My good blogging friend, Diane, recently wrote a post on Gripper Paint. She uses the Glidden brand (Kilz brand has a similar product), and even though I havent tried it, this is another great product to use as a primer. The name says it all.

Sidetrack Steps

At this point of the project, I made the decision to make a few much-needed updates to the structure and look of the bookcase. Instead of moving on to directly painting the bookcase, I decided to replace the shelves and the backing material.

As I mentioned before, the shelves were really bowing alot so I took a trip to my hardware store and had a long piece of 212 cut into lengths needed for new shelves.

And check out the back of the bookcase UGLY! It was basically paper and when I started to paint the surface, it started warping even more. Once the decision was made to upgrade the back, I crumbled the paper-backing with one hand

To fix the backing, I had a thin piece of plywood cut to size. Then the Mister and I flipped the bookcase onto its front and nailed the plywood to the perimeter of the bookcase back. (This step might seem difficult, but please be assured it wasnt this was probably one of the easiest steps throughout this project).

Now back on track

After sanding, priming,and making a few updates, it was time to PAINT!

I used a brush for the corners and a roller for the flat surfaces. In certain areas, I used a brush first, then went over the same surface with the roller to achieve a smooth, stroke-less surface. Heres the bookcase with the first coat of paint

Heres a tip. If the surface isnt sanded or not sanded enough, then the paint will bubble (because its not adhering to the surface). Check this out

This is a No-No!

Ill be honest, these bookcases took about 3-4 coats until I felt they were fully covered. And even after they were dry to the surface, I didnt put anything on the shelves for at least a week. Paint takes about 30 days to fully cure and with the heavy books and accessories sitting on them, the last thing I would want would be to have them ruined or peel!

And this is the result

So refreshing! Then it was time to add the books and accessories.

And heres a peak at how the bookcases look fully styled with books and accessories. You can check out more by viewing this post.

2 Easy DIY Ideas for Handpainted Glass

I love adding alittle pizazz to ordinary pieces; Taking a simple item up a notch makes them unique and unexpected.

I just finished up 2 new easy DIY projects using glass paint, which added a burst of color to my ordinary clear drinking glasses and wine glasses. Its amazing what you can do with inexpensive glassware, paint, and an imagination

The kind folks at DecoArt were gracious enough to send me a huge box of goodies to try out. I decided on their transparent glass paints which I thought would be great for adding a little interest to my once plain-jane glasses.

Supplies: Decorative Glass, DecoArt Glass Enamel Paint (in your color of choice), small flat brush, alcohol, and cotton ball

For this project, I chose a pair of decorative wine glasses that we received as a gift for our wedding (many years ago I might add). I use them on occasion when enjoying a yummy glass of red wine, and thought some added color would make them even more enticing to use on a regular basis (yes, Im often known to drink a glass of wine or two during the evening hours).

Start off by cleaning the glass surface (inside and out) with alcohol.

You can paint anywhere on the glass with these paints, but because of the decorative glass etching on the outside, I chose to paint the inside, this way depending on how the light hits, the transparent paint will give a soft glow.

Additionally to painting the inside of the glass, I also painted the base of the stem. I applied the paint in thin, long strokes to avoid any clumps or streaks.

Within minutes, these two ordinary glasses were transformed into unique and personalized wine glasses.

Onto project two

For the second handpainted glass project, I pretty much used the same supplies, yet a simpler style drinking glass. Ive always liked the look of dipped rim drinking glasses, but most come with a heavy price tag. Ive had these tall clear drinking glasses for a long time that I purchased at Ikea years ago, and thought they would be perfect to add some color to.

To start off, I cleaned the glass again with alcohol and squirted some of my desired color in a small bowl.

Then to get the hand dipped look, I decided to dip the glass rim into the bowl and turn. Just remember Dip And Turn.

After my Dip-And-Turn method for the rim, I still wanted to add a bit of color to the overall glass, so I decided to add a little color to the bottom of the glass. I flipped it over and again with long, even, thin brushstrokes, I painted the the underside of the glass.

And this is the result

Pretty fun, huh?

To finish up the glasses, I baked them in the oven for 30 minutes at 275 degrees. When baking glass to seal the paint, be sure to put the glass in BEFORE the oven heats up and dont take them out BEFORE the oven is completely cooled.

Organize, Protect, and Maintain Your Home + Giveaway

Do you remember the yellow paint color you used in the kitchen three years ago?

Or the last time you cleaned out the debris in your central vac system?

What about replacing the batteries in the smoke detectors?

Owning a home is a wonderful thing. Its an experimental playground to create a space you love and that reflects your personal style. Yet, home ownership isnt always easily theres alot that goes into maintaining a safe and healthy environment for your family. Thanks to HomeZada for making it really easy!

HomeZada, my newest latest and greatest sponsor, is the perfect online (and FREE) solution to organizing, maintaining, and protecting your home. Their easy-to-navigate dashboard allows you to manage your home inventory (furniture and decor), schedule home improvements (on a handy to-do calendar), and plan future projects with a budget spending spreadsheet.

Can you imagine life without scraps of paper lying around with future to-do lists? Or scattered notebooks filled with random paint color codes? I sure can Id love to be more organized!

How about imagining life with an organized maintenance calendar so you (or the mister) knows exactly what needs to be done, when, and how much its going to cost. Imagine wanting to renovate your bathroom, update the kitchen countertops, AND install a new foyer floor, only to think its ALL way to expensive?

Well, with the charts, calendars, and graphs through HomeZada, everything is easily revealed in front of you no guessing games, no questions asked.

With all the DIY projects that we work on, creating a wish list really keeps us on track with time and budget. And again, no more random to-do lists scattered around the house.

And most importantly, maintenance projects around the home (which Im horrible at) are scheduled in a convenient and easy-to-read calendar so you have no excuses. My hubby loves this part!

On a serious note, HomeZada is a wonderful resource for documenting all of your personal belongings from furniture to family heirlooms. You can upload photos, receipts, and even owners manuals to have a thorough inventory of everything you own in case of a flood, fire, or other damage. Wouldnt it be nice to have the security of knowing everything is set if something horrible were to happen?

In need of inspiration for some of your future projects? HomeZada is a great resource.

One of the really cool features about HomeZada is their mobile app. Many of us have smartphones and for me, I often think of things while on the go, so its perfect. And you know what, its all FREE (there is a premium package with even more features if youre interested check out the giveaway below).

If you love where you live, I encourage you to visit HomeZada.

Now onto the Giveaway!

HomeZada is offering one lucky winner a years subscription for their Premium Package (valued at $99/year).

Heres how
(leave a separate comment for each)

Styling a Bookcase

Ive mentioned here and there that Ive been working on revamping my faux-stained laminate bookcases, and I can officially say they are done & styled. Take a look

I LOVE a well-styled bookcase! A good mix of books, accessories, and personal momentos really brings life and character to a bookcase.

When we moved into our home a couple years ago, I was in a wood-tone state-of-mind, and chose these laminate shelves from Walmart for $99/each. They are not at all of great quality, but at the time they fit the bill.

Since then, Ive started transitioning to a whiter and lighter aesthetic. Once the decision was made to paint the front room a dark navy hue, the dark faux-stained bookcases blended in too much with the dark walls.

With the light green walls, they worked, but not so much now.

White bookcases were a must! Check out the result.

Huge change right?! I have an awesome How-To Paint Laminate tutorial coming soon, but in the meantime, this post is all about How-To Style a Bookcase.

Lets break it down.

Steps to Styling a Bookcase

1. Whether its a butt-load of books or simply a few, since it is a bookshelf, books are the best items to start with. Mix em up by having some vertical and others horizontal. Layer them on top of each other and in different ways on the various shelves. Then

2. Add the accessories. Layer accessories in front of the books, on top of the books, and/or in between the books.

3. Finish with the details. Add pictures and/or momentos that make your bookcase unique and personal.

You saw the one finished bookcase above, and here is the other

Want to see a closer view? Check out these up-close-and-personal shots

For the smaller paperback books, I layed them horizontally and in 4 piles with two set back in the center. Having them set back allows for the layering of accessories in front giving depth and an interesting way to view the books. I also like leaning pictures on the backs of the bookcases to add a pop of color.

Love my desk chair? You can learn all about it by clicking here.

I often get asked, Where do you find unique accessories to style the shelves?

Finding accessories that fit your style for a bookcase can sometimes be a challenge. One of my favorite go-to resources for accessories throughout my home is One Kings Lane. They have such a diverse selection and variety of accessories and furniture!

Starting today, OKL has teamed up with Martha Stewart to offer an eclectic collection of french inspired decor including furnishings, art, rugs, tabletop, etc. The Entertaining en Provence event an extension of an article in the September issue of Martha Stewart Living incorporates colors like pale greens, sages, creams and linens o so yummy!

The sale only lasts for 72 hours, so youll want to click on over and check out what Ms. Martha has pulled together. If you arent a member of OKL, no problem its FREE to sign up!

Heres a sneak peak at a few of the fab items that youll see at the One Kings Lane sale

Be sure to click over because you might even see some similar accessories to what I used for my bookcase display.

Heres one more peak of my newly styled bookcases I know you cant get enough, hehe.

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