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A guide to printing your own images, text and designs on glass surfaces

Glass decorating techniques vary as much as potential glass projects. Here are a small number of popular projects you may be considering:

windows
Stained glass effects and simple designs are popular, especially in period-style properties, small bedrooms, porches and front doors, as well as adding finishing touches to glass windows on stairwells.

Wine and beer glasses
Stylish, colored text printing is often seen on many pub glasses and the effects can range from frosted to brand logos, etched and embossed.

Mirrors
Decorated mirrors tend to be a bit more subtle, perhaps a design in the corner of the mirrors or small sets of drawers with mirrored fronts can often have silhouettes printed on them.

crop frames
Clip frames often have printed border decorations to enhance the beauty of your favorite images. Flower borders and corner designs are common.

vases

Beginners embarking on their first glass painting projects often start with a selection of plain glass vases to decorate. Once again, flowers top the list of popular designs, as they lend themselves so well to colored liner and glass inks.

Glass decoration: techniques, options and expectations

Glass printing techniques vary as much as potential projects, but certainly certain techniques are much simpler than others. It all depends on what you need to achieve. For example, suppose you need to print “Congratulations Susan and James” on several glass vases for your wedding day. Since this is a one-off event, this project could easily be accomplished with water-based papers.

Waterslide papers are fantastic for transferring any picture, image or text you’ve printed onto virtually any hard surface. The projects are not dishwasher safe, but as the effect is only required for one day, this would be the right choice, as images of flowers or other images could also be placed next to the text without any extra effort.

How to use water-based tracing papers to decorate crystals

Packs of slide papers usually come in 5 or 10 A4 sheets, which is enough for potentially hundreds of decal designs. If you have an inkjet printer, you’ll also need to purchase some clear spray varnish. If you have a laser printer, clear varnish is not required.

Start by printing your text and/or image on the glossy side of the water-based paper. Waterslide paper acts like regular paper and will travel through your printer the same way.

Once your design is printed, wait around 30 minutes for it to dry before spraying a coat of clear varnish. (Inkjet only) Apply a couple more coats of clear coat in quick, even bursts to seal the print on the paper. This is necessary as the next stage is to immerse your design in water for around 30 seconds.

The backing paper will begin to slide, allowing you to lift out of the water and slide the film containing your design onto the glass surface. You will have several moments to reposition your design while gently removing any remaining water from under your design with your fingers and thumbs. The design will begin to harden on the glass over the next two hours.

Reasons not to use water-based tracing papers on glass

If the glass surface you want to decorate will be exposed to the elements or washed away with water, you may want to consider other permanent options if possible.

Decorating glass with glass paints

With a little artistic skill, a permanent effect can be achieved with tracing paper, liner, and glass paint.

If your glass surface is flat like a glass coaster, for example, lay the glass flat and trace the outline of your design onto the glass. If your glass is rounded, you will need to arrange the design to trace it to the inside of the glass.

Get some glass paint and liner. Vitrea as a brand is a good choice and both the glass paint and liner are dishwasher safe once set in an oven at around 150°C for 30 minutes.

The purpose of starting with your outline is to prevent the colors from blending into each other. Take a simple design like a flower, for example, and imagine drawing a stem and various petal outlines around the top of the stem.

Your eyeliner comes with a precision tip. Create your liner by squeezing some liner on a tissue to check for clogs or air bubbles at the tip of the nozzles. As you work, keep cleaning the tip. This will help prevent the lines from becoming too thick.

The next step would be to fill each petal with color.

Start by applying the paint liberally by puddling the paint or using a pipet. This will give you a flat stained glass effect. For a lighter colored paint, thin with water. For non-water-based paint, use a glossy varnish.

Brushes can be used to fill in with color or for an easy option glass paint markers can be used. Bullet tip markers are great for detailed work and quick projects. Markers are especially smart for novice painters and kids. Baking markers, just like paints, are very durable once baked. Synthetic brushes allow for more strokes, while natural hair brushes allow more paint to be applied for smoother coverage.

Printing on transparent film for windows

Window cling is a transparent film that uses static to adhere to glass. Car window stickers, for example, are made from window stickers. Now it is possible to get a transparent adhesive window to print your own images or text. Transparent designs and stained glass effects are quick and easy to achieve.

Window cling printing is a single sheet of film with a backing sheet that is peeled off after printing. Once you print your design, cut out your images, or colors, close to the edge before removing the backing sheet. Now place your design directly on your glass surface. You can move the window sticker around until you are happy with the position, but be careful not to touch the static side as finger marks can ruin your finished work.

Window clings can also be used to decorate interior mirrors and are popular in children’s rooms.

Glass decoration with transparent adhesive paper

Probably the fastest way to transfer virtually any image, design, or text to glass is with a clear cling film. This is a clear A4 sheet of film with a clear adhesive backing. The process to use is very similar to window cling, except you can’t reposition your designs after applying them to the glass.

Where to buy glass decoration products

Your local arts and crafts store will always stock a wide range of glass paints, whether in tubes, powders, or as a paint. Ask for advice on which one is best for the project you have in mind.

Google Shopping and eBay are also packed with a wide variety of glass paints and liners. Pebeo is a leading brand and the eyeliners can often be bought in 20ml tubes quite cheaply with a bit of shopping around.

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