I’m a little late to the DIY Mercury Glass craze I know. But I have so many pretty, glass vases that I had bought for the wedding cookie table. Decorating with so many clear glass vases gets a little boring. I have seen a lot of DIY Mercury Glass in blogland for the last couple of years and knew I would eventually try it, so I bought a can of looking glass spray paint several months ago at Hobby Lobby with good intentions. (That stuff is hard to find and a little pricey…I used a coupon!)
I have the spray paint and a vase. Now what? I needed inspiration. I didn’t just want to spray the vase and have a plain, mercury glass vase. So I went browsing and found this lovely vase on the Pottery Barn website. I love it! (And if anyone knows what the greenery is, please let me know!)
All I had to do was figure out how to create that “look” of Pottery Barn’s vase or something reminiscent of it. Here’s what I came up with.
I’ll show how I did it:
Supplies
- vase
- Elmer’s school glue
- Krylon Looking Glass spray paint
I drew a grid pattern onto the vase with the Elmer’s Glue and let it dry for about two hours. (Those little black marks are from a sharpie I used as a guide for the first glue line)
Then I took it outside to spray the vase with several very light coats. It dried in about 5 minutes! Then it was time to peel off the glue.
Here it is with all the glue removed.
I have to admit, I was unsure if this would work or not, but I love how it turned out!
By the way, don’t these stems look real?!?
I went to my local flower shop, Floral Designs of Mount Joy, looking for something to put in the new pretty vase, but it turns out they didn’t have any real stems in yet. Too early. But they did have these silk ones. I don’t know what they are, but they look so real, don’t they!
Happy First Day of Spring!
Linking here:
Your vase is beautiful.
This is a great knock-off project. Very creative. And I thought for sure those branches were real. I went to Walmart to look for some faux blooming branches and they are not nearly as realistic! Am trying to finish a project with them to submit to this linkup as well. We’ll see if I make it.
Thanks Lucy! I guess only flower shops carry the “real-looking” branches! Good luck with your knock-off!
This is so creative! I am going to be giving this one a try. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Meredith! Let me know if you try this, I’d love to see it!
I’m going to try this on my Ikea vases.
Those are “Bells of Ireland” in the Pottery Barn vase.
Thanks Catherine, for telling me what’s in the vase! They’re so pretty! Have fun doing your vases!
Very cool project and I love how the vase turned out!
I wouldn’t swear my life on this, but the greenery made me think of Bells of Ireland.
Thanks Ashley! I’ve never heard of Bells of Ireland, but since you’re the second one to say it, they must be!
Your vase is so beautiful and SO creative! You must have an incredibly steady hand, I know know that I could make a grid that looks as good as yours. Did you use the glue bottle with the nozzle completely open?
I couldn’t believe it when you said the greenery was NOT real! I just assumed from looking at it that is indeed was real. Look at those leaves.
You should be “bursting your buttons” proud with this lovely creation.
Judy, thank you so much for the sweet comments! I don’t have steady hands at all, quite the contrary! But I did use the nozzle of the glue wide open and that helped keep the lines semi straight – that and gravity : )
Here’s a link to lots of Bells of Ireland Images. Yes, They are real!
https://www.google.com/search?q=bells+of+ireland&hl=en&rlz=1C1TSNP_enUS462US463&biw=1734&bih=882&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=hiVOUZntBYba9AT8noCgBQ&sqi=2&ved=0CFAQsAQ
however….I love your “new” vase, and I think the faux pear blossoms in it are remarkable!
https://www.google.com/search?q=pear+blossoms+pictures&hl=en&rlz=1C1TSNP_enUS462US463&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=7yZOUdC6DpD-8AT2yoCoDg&ved=0CC0QsAQ&biw=1734&bih=882
I have been collecting some mercury glass pieces and I did not know you could fake your own! I am so ready to try this! (I am newly retired so I am new to nearly everything crafty!) Thank you for giving the “how to” details!
Once Upon a Time Optician, JennyP
Thanks Jenny for your kind comments and congrats on your retirement! And thanks for the link. I don’t know enough about flowers or plants to identify them (I wish I did!)
I love your ‘new’ vase! It looks so wonderful, different than most mercury glass, so unique. Great job!
Debbie 🙂
Thanks Debbie! I was pleasantly surprised that I got the look I was after.
LOVE this idea and I’m stealing it!! Thank you!! 🙂
Thank you and you’re welcome! 🙂
Bells of Ireland are interesting shade of green flowers and very easy to grow from seed. I like how you textured to glass
Thanks Gail, I might have to try growing Bells of Ireland. They really caught my eye!
Jeanie, your mercury glass vase is so different from the ones I usually see, I really love it! I was expecting to see that you sprayed the inside of the glass, since that’s usually how that spray is used, but I was surprised to see that you used it on the outside. Your technique of using the glue to create a pattern is genius! That would be a little hard to do on the inside of the glass, so I see why you did it on the outside. Great job! Oh, and I found you over at TheCottageMarket.com this morning. Have a great day!
Debbie
Absolutely Beautiful!
Thank you Liz!
Thank you so much Jeanie, this Mercury Glass Vase added something interesting in my decoration. In addition, I found some interesting ideas with balloon decoration on the internet. I wish you will add them in your blog.
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This is so creative and beautiful. Thank you.