I like to scoop my paint into a separate cup, then apply with a brush over the entire surface of the mirror for a subtle soft gold glaze. I had a little helper in photographing this gold leaf painted mirror. I suppose she is perfect to show how large the mirror is 🙂 The best way to prime your glass for painting is to first wash it using warm, soapy water. This will remove dirt or any dust build-up. Rinse and let it dry thoroughly. Next, use methylated spirit on a clean, dry and lint-free cloth to fully degrease the glass surface (making sure you’re working in a well-ventilated area). If you don’t have any methylated spirit, rubbing alcohol or white vinegar will also work. Set aside your now-primed glass in a dust-free area to air-dry for around 10-15 minutes and your glass will be ready for painting.

Water-based glass paints will dry hard within an hour or two (although the instructions always say to leave for 24 hours), and most can be baked in a domestic oven to make your design dishwasher proof. Now on to the fun part! Gold leaf painting! Our mirror has been cleaned, primed, painted and glazed. Now we can apply the liquid gold leaf paint. The raised details on the mirror will be receiving a glamorous metallic gold paint finish to highlight those areas. This liquid gold leaf is amazing. It’s a one-step liquid leafpaint with amazing coverage. Use good ol’ household glass cleaner to prime your glass before painting. It does the job well and will leave your glass smelling lovely and fresh. If you’re painting on brand new glass that you’ve bought especially, then chances are you won’t need to prime your glass before painting. Priming is more important for older glass items that have been handled a lot as dirt, oils and dust can hinder the paint from adhering to your glass. How to get paint off glass Make sure that you spray the mirror frame on both the top area and the sides. Apply at least one coat of primer to your project.

Next, grab your primer. Considering the condition of the mirror before the cleaning, I’ve decided to prime this before painting as an added precaution. I don’t always use primer when painting furniture, but often do use it when painting something white. You can find more projects where primer is used here: Primer.Due to the ornate details of the mirror, spray primer is the best choice. This is the primer that I’m using ( here). You should first prepare your surface. Clean the glass with warm soap and water to remove any oil. Make sure the glass is fully dry afterward. Otherwise, this may thin the paint – especially acrylic paints. Using rubbing alcohol on a cotton cloth may provide a better alternative for cleaning surfaces. You may wish to tape off certain areas, such as the rim of a drinking glass or cup. answer: Of all the times I have used this paint I never add a top coat/clear coat. It does provide great durability in itself and I personally fear that adding a top coat may dull the metallic finish.

If you wish to paint large areas of glass, then spray paint may be a good choice. Simply tape up any edges or areas where you don’t want to paint and start spraying. Make sure you’re in a well-ventilated area. Painting Pens It’s possible to use acrylic enamel paint on glass. This type of paint is perfect for achieving an opaque finish and solid coverage. You can cure some enamel paints through 21-days of air drying, or you could choose to set through heat. Acrylic Glass Paint For beginners, children, or delicate areas, pens may be the best option for painting glass. These paints offer a solid color. This is also a perfect choice if your design includes lettering or handwriting. Types of Paintbrush You can see the subtle metallic gold glaze here. For best results, you only need to apply a thin coat. How to Apply Gold LeafGlass paint comes as water-based or solvent-based. If you are a beginner, we recommend opting for water-based glass paint, as it’s easier to clean and can be diluted with water if needed. After applying two coats of paint in an off-white base color I want to give the finish a subtle metallic gold glazeover the entire surface of the mirror. This will add a metallic sheen in a light gold color. If you take a closer look you will see how dirty this mirror is. We certainly can’t apply the liquid gold leaf paint or any kind of paint over this dirt.