I love coming together with my family and friends around the dinner table. It’s one of the reasons why I started a business around handpainted glassware. But I’ve also found so much joy in the art of creating, and I wanted to pass on some ideas for you to try at home that will engage your own inner artist.

Painted stemware

You can find all the supplies you need for your own painted glassware project at your local hobby store. You will need:

• Clear glass stemware
• Water-based painted for glass painting
• Soft bristle brushes in various sizes
• Paper towels
• White vinegar or rubbing alcohol

Before you start on your painting, be sure to wash each glass with warm, soapy water and let it dry. Once it is dry, wipe the glass with a paper towel that has been dampened with either the vinegar or alcohol to make sure that no soap residue remains.

Now that you have a clean glass, decide if you want to use a pattern or stencil to paint with. If you do use this method, tape the pattern inside the glass.

Once your painting is complete, let the paint completely dry for at least 24 hours. Some paints allow you to “cure” the glassware in the oven. To do this, place the glass in a cool oven, then heat it to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes. When the time is up, turn the oven off, but leave the glass in the oven until it has cooled off. Then let the glass sit for 72 hours. Once you are done, your glass can be handwashed for the best results.

Painted pictures

Another fun glass painting project is ideal for adults and kids. And all you need are a few items:

• Frames
• Glue
• Water-based painted for glass painting
• Soft bristle brushes in various sizes
• Paper towels
• White vinegar or rubbing alcohol
• A picture you want to trace

Even easier than painting glassware, painting on the glass in picture frames gives you a lovely item to decorate a wall or window in your home as well as a fun project to do in your spare time.

Just as with the glassware, thoroughly wash and clean the glass before you begin. You can place the image you want to trace in the frame beneath the glass. Trace the outline of the drawing with your choice of paint, and let the paint dry. Once it is dry, fill in the image with the paint colors you want, and again let it all dry. The finishing touch is to remove the image, place a little bit of glue around the inside edges of the frame and place the glass back in the frame.