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
You are a clever clever girl. I love it all. Especially the water carafes !
I just love that idea. I don´t think that we have that kind of spray here in Portugal. It´s very sad …. Thanks for the tips.
loved every single piece you did. I may just go and get myself a can:)
deezie
Great ideas, thanks.
Oh my gosh, that is so cool !!!! I have to bookmark this page ! What a fun craft.
I think even I could try something like this
Great projects! I have several glass items that I could enhance. Thanks for the inspiration!
This is why I love blogs. I had NEVER heard of Frosted Glass spray paint, but now I want to do it to all the glass in my house! So cute thanks for sharing!!
Everything looks lovely! You might have just convinced me to try this out! Thanks for the ideas!
I just bought some of that last week and frosted the windows on my front door to replace the curtains that were there. Worked great but I didn’t like the effect – too stark without curtains. Now you’ve inspired me to try it on other stuff.
I love it – and seems much less daunting than the etching creams (for me, anyways!). My spray paint repertoire seems to be growing on a daily basis!!! Thanks for the inspiration, as always!
Wow, love it! So many applications is right, but I think I really like it on the cabinet doors and that bathroom window you showed.
This is one of my favorite posts!! I am off to the store to go buy myself a can. I am SO excited about all the possibilities! Thanks for sharing.
What is the durability of the bathroom window with tempature changes? I love the idea and I am in the middle of a MAJOR bathroom renovation and the window is calling for the frosting.
Wow thanks for the inspiration, I didn’t know that there’s spray paint for this. This will definitely be my next project
Please keep us update on how long the designs last since you said it can be clean with soap and water.
Just found your blog and I LOVE… We are new followers!
You had to get me started … I have used both the spray paint and the etching cream in the past and you’re right – it is addictive. You reminded me, though, that I have some glass votives waiting for me to pretty them up ….
I was thisclose to using it on my dining centerpiece!! I’m dying to try it somewhere! These are lovely.
THANK YOU FOR THIS POST!
You have no idea how long I’ve been contemplating this project. I am hosting a Chili Cook Off in a few weeks and wanted to do this to some pint glasses, but I was sure that etching cream was
not worht the effort. This spray looks perfect!!! One question, do you think these would be ok in a dishwasher, or just hand washed?
Fantastic…I love this. I have gotten so many ideas and learned so much since I started surfing blogs. Thanks for sharing.
Pam
OMG!!! I love it!! I now know what I’m going to make my sister for Christmas!! Thanks for all the great blogs you do!!!
I especially love the idea of the vase turned into candle holder. I have lots of vases from flower arrangement gifts stored away. This sounds like an easy way to revamp them and putting them to use again
I had no idea this stuff existed! I have got to go get me some, I love every single one of your projects. Thanks so much for staring!!
That is just too cool! No wonder you used the entire can…there are so many neat projects to do with that stuff. Thanks for the ideas!
Nancy
Great job Kate! I love your projects. My favorite is the bath cabinet doors.
I may have to try that. I did a post last month on trying to etch a glass vase with etching cream. I followed the directions on the container, but the result was very blotchy. Later, on Martha Stewart’s site I saw that you had to apply an extremely smooth coat. (The picture on the container I used was just slapped on haphazardly.)
Love the pantry jars and house numbers. I may have to try that.
Wow you really didn’t want to stop! It all looks great, though, so that’s a good thing! What a simple way to make things look FABULOUS!
Stephanie from The Whispering Creek House…very cool..i didnt know they had this product know hold me back! lol
I hate the etching cream and acid stuff. I swore a long time ago I’d never use it again. However, I do love the spray stuff! I was planning on posting about it soon. Love all of your “victims.”
OMFG these are soooo great! you are a genius!
I didn’t even realize you could buy ‘Frosted Glass’ spray paint. Pretty cool. I’ll have to give it a try sometime. Any tips for getting nice, clean lines?
That stuff is genius! I’ve been trying to decide what to do with the window in my bathroom (it looks out onto my back patio-why would they do that?!) and I think this will be a perfect solution! I love what you did with it, especially the coffee bean jar. Too cute!
As always, great inspirations, Kate! I might have to do this with some glass spice bottles I’ve had sitting around. Hummmmm….
One more thing to put on my list of things to try. No one told me that blogging was going to be this much fun!
Very pretty! Love the bathroom cabinet.
Those are all beautiful ideas, Kate! I can’t wait to give it a try!
Thanks!
Gorgeous!
Wow, I didn’t know about this product. You made some beautiful items.
I definitely need some for a pane of glass above my front door; folk in the street can see through that and straight up into the master bedroom!
Now, who will lend me a 10 foot ladder??
Everything you did is so cute! You could make so many neat gifts like this.
Thank you for posting this! I had no idea it came in a can! I have been wondering how people did that. . .
So pretty!
What??? I had NO idea what this stuff did, although I have passed it 5,000 times in the store. Holy cow! YAY! So cute!
I had no idea such a spray painted existed!! I’ve already started coming up with some ideas…can’t wait to try some. Thanks!!!
I love the coffee jar! Just great! The candleholder is beautiful too. Good job as usual, inspiring!
I love the bathroom cabinet doors. Such a great idea!
This is a great idea! I am going to try this frosted glass paint.
Jane
I’m in L-O-V-E!!!! I can’t wait to do this myself!! Awesome!!
I love it. I’ve been jonesing for something to spice up my ctop jars with flour and sugar, flax seed and tea bags. Maybe I’ll try this!!
Oh la la! I loves these ideas! Thanks for the mention!
I love this stuff! I’ve used it several times with great results. Here’s a link to a glass front cabinet I did using the same technique. http://www.thepurplepea.net/2009/05/like-i-promised-second-project-with.html
oh I am so in love with this ! I cant wait to give it a try. Fabulous job. My favorite is the bathroom cabinet. Very clever.