DIY Anthropologie Inspired Hand Dotted Glassware

I was inspired by a recent pinterest post to try something I've wanted to buy for a very long time.  On numerous occasions I've been tempted to buy these Anthropologie settled confetti glasses, but I would have had to buy at least 4, and at about $8 a glass...it definitely was not going to be in my budget.  I also have a lot of cups, so space was an issue and I was also not too fond of the smaller size.  So, I decided to try doing something similar myself and see what happens.  I used some tall glasses that we have that are rarely used (we always use the shorter ones of the set). I figured worst case scenario, if I didn't like it, or it didn't turn out...no harm done.  I'm also picky and wanted something more unique and different, so I decided I would go for round dots rather than oblong strokes as seen in this post.

 Here is what you will need to paint your own glassware :)

• Glassware (of any kind)
• Acrylic Enamel Paint - I bought primary colors (red, yellow, blue, and white) of the Martha Stewart brand
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Cotton Balls
• Q-Tips (with cotton removed)
• Paint Palette (an un-used cutting board in my case)
• Sheet Pan
• Parchment Paper

Note: I would recommend maybe wearing a mask if you're painting indoors as the smell might bother some people.  It definitely gave my the sniffles after I was all done.

You can use primary colors to make any color you want. Use this chart to help make a combination of different colors:

Red + Yellow = Orange
Yellow + Blue = Green
Blue + Red = Violet
Red + Orange = Red-orange

Yellow + Orange = Yellow-orange
Yellow + Green = Yellow-green
Blue + Green = Blue-green
Blue + Violet = Blue-violet
Red + Violet = Red-violet  

 I bought colors in high gloss as I wanted some shine, but they didn't have red in high gloss, so I had to settle for a satin finish (you can't tell the difference!).

 I was looking for a 'semi-perfect filled in round dot' look, which I knew I couldn't get with a paint brush or toothpick, so I opted for a Q-tip with the cotton removed.  It worked well for the look I was trying to get.

1. Prior to painting your glassware, make sure to wipe the area intended to paint with rubbing alcohol. Avoid leaving fingerprints.  

2. Apply one color at a time starting from the bottom and moving around the glass. Adding one color at a time allows you to make sure you get an even look, filling in colors where you need to. 

3. Avoid painting around the rim of the glass just to be safe.  The paint is supposed to be toxic free, but better to be safe than sorry. 

4. Also, make sure to press down on the paint while applying the dots to make sure you don't have a tip sticking out.  When the paint hardens, it can be pretty sharp.

It took me about 2 hours to do 6 glasses.  I was only going to do 2, but I started to really like the look :)

5. Place the glasses on your sheet pan covered in parchment paper (to save your pan just in case the paint drips...it shouldn't).  

6. Allow the paint to dry for 1-2 hours.

7. Place the glasses in an oven, turn up the heat to 350C with the glassware inside (you don't want to place cool glasses in a hot oven or they might break/shatter/crack).

8. Heat for 30 minutes.

9. Allow them to cool in the oven for a few hours (at least 1 hour) before removing.  

An alternative is to allow the glasses to cure for 21 days, but baking works just as well according to many reviews I read about the paint and I was in a hurry to see the final product :)

I really like my new cups and I'm considering doing this to the rest of them.  According to the paint label, you can wash these glasses in the top rack of a dishwasher, so let's see how they hold up!