Frosted Glass, Five Ways
September 23, 2009
Lately, I’ve been inspired by several bloggers to embellish some glass objects with frosting. What finally motivated me were these etched glass wine bottles I swooned over at my favorite shop in St. Helena called ‘Vintage Home’.
Not only did I want to enhance some decor, I also had a practical purpose. I needed to transform my glass bath cabinet doors from a clear to opaque surface. So last week I grabbed some of Rustoleum’s ‘Frosted Glass’ spray paint to conduct some experiments. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised and delighted with the results.
I must say that this post was almost titled, “Somebody Stop Me”. When I’m armed with a product that makes me giddy, I need someone to hold my arms tightly against my body, look deep into my eyes, and say to me: “PUT DOWN THE CAN. STEP AWAY FROM THE FROSTED GLASS SPRAY PAINT.” I didn’t stop using the stuff until the can was empty. And all of the other glass in my home is now breathing a sigh of relief.
Here are the five glass objects I enhanced with (yet another) can of spray paint.
First, I made these water carafes for my Mister and me.
They were simple glass carafes that I picked up for a few dollars at a thrift store a few months ago. I taped them off with alphabet stickers, painter’s tape, and paper towels.
They remind me so much of the bottles from the shop in St. Helena. I think they’d make a darling wedding gift. Or you could monogram just one for yourself.
They’re kind of Pottery Barnish. Or Crate and Barrelish. Like this bottle below.
Next victim: my laundry soap jar.
My coffee bean jar was not spared.
Then I transformed this vase into an elegant candleholder.
I applied some stickers, and used painter’s tape to cover the top.
The new and improved version adds so much ambiance
Finally, the practical application. I gave these previously clear glass bath cabinet doors a less transparent view of the interior. Nothing too exciting inside anyway: shampoo, soap, hairspray, yada, yada, yada.
There’s a botanical theme going on in this space.
So I removed the doors and used flower shaped stickers to form this simple linear pattern on the inside of the glass, which will help it last in a steam filled space.
All of my glass was transformed with ‘Frosted Glass’ spray paint on the outside of my glass objects – except for the bathroom cabinet. That was an inside job. I liked how easy it was to apply, and how it dries in 10 minutes. And it’s actually hand washable with mild soap and a soft rag. But you can’t put it in the dishwasher. And if you completely hate your pattern, it comes off with mineral spirits or paint thinner (according to the can.)
Many others have used acid based ‘Etching Cream’ (available at craft stores) to achieve this same effect.
Take a look at some of these fabulous projects:
Etched Glass Storage Jars by Martha
More pantry jars by Pink of Perfection
Etched jars via Sunset Magazine
Frosted glass table by The Purple Pea
Frosted Glass Table Top by Amanda at Serenity Now
Etched glass silhouette mirror by Living with Lindsay
Etched glass bathroom window by Martha
Frosted Glass House Number by Creative Glass Guild:
Frosted Glass Bookcase by Craftynest
Sea glass frosted luminaries, available at Charming Weddings
Red polka dot frosted glass luminary by CandleLand
And this loveliness by Uppercase Living:
There are so many creative possibilities with either Frosted Glass spray paint or Etching Cream. Perfume bottles, wine glasses, mirrors, hurricanes. And frosted snowflake ornaments at Christmas ! I can’t wait.
I hope you’re just as inspired as I am from all of these projects.
Tags: frosted glass, spray paint
To Elaine: I live in North Dakota and used this on the lower pane of the double-hung windows in my second-floor bathroom. We have major temperature extremes and my design has survived pretty well. There are a few spot that could use another shot of the the paint, as the condensation running down the window panes has worn a bit of the crisp edges off (I used painters tape to make a frame within the pane). I did mine about 15 months ago and plan to do more in an upcoming basement bathroom we’re remodeling.
Oh my! Another thing to obsess over! I love the coffee jar – “wake up” very clever!
Your bathroom cabinets are gorgeous.
I think you should start posting MULTIPLE times per day!
I love this! I was thinking of applying some type of frosted layer to our front door (it’s all glass), but I think I may give this a try instead.
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to go out and get some and try this for myself! A trip to Goodwill is in order. It seems to be a weekly thing lately!
I’m so impressed! I definitely want to try out something like this!
UGH! I am just going to stop blogging since I could never compete with your brilliance! Seriously, I love this idea.
On my way to pick up some frosted glass spray paint right now! Great idea…thanks!
I never thought they carried a glass froster in a spray can, awesomeness. I need to start walking slower in the home improvement stores!
Thanks for all the great ideas, keep ‘em coming.
I love this idea…..lots of possibilities. Thanks!!
Awesome! I love the “wake up” jar. CentsationalGirl strikes again!
Love this idea Kate! Your projects turned out great! Now if you ever find a can of spray paint that can turn plain glass into BEVELED glass, lemme know. I’ve been wanting the one plain glass door in my kitchen cabinets to magically transform to a beveled glass, and for some reason just staring at it for the past 3 years isn’t doing the trick.
Your post made me laugh! I know the feeling of being giddy with product in hand
. Great project. I love all of the items you enhanced.
Chelsea
Wow, Thank you for sharing this idea… my husband may get fed up with me, but wow… I can’t wait to get started!!!
-Derrelyn
I love this! And it really sounds quite easy to do. You have really great pieces that you’ve made. Thanks so much for sharing!
Brilliant!
Oh my gosh, I need this stuff!!! I just love what you did with all of those cute things around your house.
Every project was awesome! Like so many other readers, I had never heard of frosted glass spray paint…unlimited possibilities…and soooo timely…I recently caught MY CHIHUAHUA DRINKING FROM MY WATER GLASS on my night stand…eewww….so I was thinking some kind of carafe with the cup placed upside down on top would be a great solution….this will jazz it up a lot!
Beautiful! THanks
We used frosted glass spray paint on the sidelight windows next to our front door. I didn’t want curtains, and my hubby hated that people could see in. It worked perfectly. Love your cabinet doors!
Kate, I can’t remember if I’ve commented on this one, but I know I saw it before I went out of town. Thanks so much for the link to my blog.
I love ALL of your inspiration photos, and the his and hers turned out too cute!
Thanks for posting one from Uppercase Living too! That one isn’t spray paint, it’s actually a vinyl that you apply onto the glass. Cool huh? Great job with your projects — I am so NOT good at spray paint like you!
Hi http://www.greedygirlsguide.com stopping by from SITS
This is a great idea, I’ve been looking for unique favor ideas and this is it, i love it
I am TOTALLY inspired! What a fun project and it sounds so easy! Thanks!
Wow! I think I love you — or hate you — well, probably love. How easy it would be to buy colored glass and then frost it — beautiful!
Wow, these are great, and it looks so easy, I’m going to give it a try!