Enhance frosted glass lampshades by learning to paint alabaster glass.
Alabaster glass is decorated glass usually used as a covering for a light fixture. Though alabaster glass can refer to any frosted, translucent glass, some alabaster glass pieces are designed to mimic translucent minerals. Create custom designs on alabaster glass fixtures using air-dry or heat-curing permanent glass enamel from an art or craft supply store.
Instructions
1. Choose the brand of glass paint for your alabaster glass design. Brands of glass paint include Delta PermEnamel, Pebeo Porcelaine and Pebeo Vitrea, usually called Vitrea. Delta PermEnamel glass paints do not require heat to set permanently, whereas Pebeo heat-setting paints require that the painter bake the alabaster glass in an oven to get the design to set. Delta glass paints require both a surface conditioner and a finishing glaze layer to permanently set.
2. Prepare the glass painting surface as indicated by the instructions on the paint label. Use the smooth side of the glass for the painting surface, not the frosted side. Thoroughly clean the glass surface with rubbing alcohol applied to a dust-free cloth. Surface conditioner, as is needed with Delta PermEnamel, should be gently and evenly brushed onto the painting area using a large paintbrush.
3. Apply the paint to the smooth side of the alabaster glass. Use a gentle brush when using Delta PermEnamel paint. Painting with too much pressure can dislodge the Delta paint and surface conditioner from the glass. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours before curing.
4. Cure the paint. Air-dry glass paint cures using a special glaze. Brush the glaze onto the entire painted area with a dry brush. After 10 days, air-dry glass paint will be permanently cured.
Bake heat-set painted alabaster glass in an oven set at 325 degrees. To keep the alabaster glass piece from breaking from heat stress, place it in the oven while the oven and glass piece are room temperature, allowing the glass to gradually heat as the oven warms. Once the oven has reached 325 degrees, bake for 20 minutes, then turn off the oven.
5. Allow the piece to cool for 30 minutes before removing the alabaster glass from the oven with heat-safe gloves.
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