But lets start with what you will need.
First off, if you live in Canada I had a really hard time finding this spray. I actually got really lucky because Michaels had some and they didn't know what it was. Because this spray comes in a small can they thought they were sent samples of this stuff so they were selling it for 2 bucks a can. 2 BUCKS!!!!! It is actually really expensive stuff. I also found it in the states for $12 a can. So you can imagine my joy when Michaels here in Canada was selling it for super cheap. I bought all of their cans (which was only 2). Other than the fluke "samples" from Michael's I have not been able to find it here in Canada. But if you live in the States I found it at Hobby Lobby.
Then you will need a spray bottle filled with equal parts vinegar to water and make sure that bottle is set to mist.
Also, you will need a paper towel to blot with or even better a soft rag
and lastly you will need glass to spray.
I read somewhere that you need to spray the spray on the inside of the glass for the best results but for the things I was spraying I didn't want to spray on the inside or I couldn't because they were vases for flowers and one was a lamp and I couldn't access the inside. Soooo, I sprayed on the outside of the glass and it worked just fine*.
Firstly you need to make sure the surface that you are spraying is clean.
Check....
Then you start with your first coat of spray. It will still be very transparent. Let it dry, it only takes one to two minutes to dry.
Then spray a second coat. This is where it starts to get fun.
Right after you spray your second coat mist your vinegar water solution all over the surface
Then go ahead and spray your third coat of Looking Glass Spray.
Let that third coat dry for 1 to 2 minutes.
Then, use your soft rag or paper towel and blot the bubbles of paint you will see forming on the surface.
When you are blotting the bubbles you need to be very gentle and careful. It is very easy to take off too much of the paint. But don't worry if you do, you can always just do a few more layers.
You will have to do these 3 steps a few times because the paint does go on very transparent. Eventually you will start to see the final product forming. It is up to you how much of a "mercury glass" effect you want.
Here is my final product of the lamp.
I tend to not do too much of the blotting because I like just a few "imperfections"
*Now, I have to be honest. At first I did not do anything else to this lamp, I put it in my living room and I was a happy camper. That is until I noticed that anytime someone touched it or anytime my darling little Paxton drove his cars over it it was getting scratched or the paint was rubbing off. I guess this is why they say to paint it from the inside. But don't worry, I figured out a great fix!
Because this is a lamp in my living room, and my kids are near it all the time I decided to go back, touch it up with some more Looking Glass spray and then after, I sprayed a clear enamel gloss over top because I didn't want my paint to chip off. It did not change the overall effect of the mercury glass at all and so far my kiddos have not been able to scratch any more of the paint off. I can dust it with a rag now and I'm not worried I will rub any of the paint off.
Here are a few more projects I did with this neat stuff.
This stuff is very convincing too! My mom commented on my very old mirror. She was very surprised when I told her it was actually an old window I had painted to make it look like an old mirror.
Over all I think this stuff is a lot of fun! It creates beautiful things for relatively cheap compared to the mercury glass you find in the stores. The only think I would say is that it is very stinky stuff to work with. Make sure that if you do choose to use this stuff that you are in a very well ventilated area. I had a mask on in my garage, with the door open and I still thought the fumes were getting to me.
Try it!
What are you making lately anything I should try?
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