Do you love to decorate? Are you a budget decorator? Do you want a beautiful, gracious home but never have the money for the right accessories? You can if you make your own hand-painted glassware to accessorize your home. The technique is simple, and you can use it on anything from dinnerware to lamps. Let's find out how.

The Technique

Any non-porous surface that does not get hard wear can be painted using this technique. You actually could use it on a sink or even a toilet, but the painted design won t stand up to heavy wear.

The first step in making beautiful hand-painted glassware is to choose a design. You can follow a stencil or free hand. Anything you like just make sure its something you will like to look at day after day. Then choose the paint. Latex and acrylic paints will adhere to glassware, but they must be sealed or the paint will eventually scrape and wear off. Polyurethane sealer works best. There are also products designed especially for making hand-painted glassware that do not need to be sealed. You will have to decide which one you will would to use on your glassware.

Next, make sure the object to be painted is absolutely clean, because any fingerprints or oil will keep the paint from adhering well. Handle the object as little as possible. Then paint your design. You can create textures by stippling or ragging the surface. Let each color dry completely before adding another color or they will run together. After the paint is completely dry seal it if necessary. Some glass paints can be baked on for added durability follow the directions on the paint package for this, and make sure your newly hand-painted glassware can withstand oven heat.

Decorating with Hand-Painted Glassware

You can use your custom hand-painted glassware to accessorize your rooms in many different ways. You could hand-paint mismatched glasses and dishes to create a unified, custom look. Update old lamps to coordinate with new room d cor using this technique. Add some beauty and privacy to a room by hand painting the windows. You can buy colored or plain plates just about anywhere. You can even experiment on old plates or some that you buy second hand, just to make sure you like the look. The sky is the limit, so let your creative juices flow and make that art.

Orrefors Intermezzo Glassware Collection

Orrefors Intermezzo Glassware Collection Intermezzo is not only an iconic design of Sweden's renowned Orrefors, but is practically synonymous with Scandinavian modern. A large collection that includes stemware, barware, bowls, cake platters, and innovative sugar and creamer sets, Intermezzo clear crystal pieces all feature the same signature emblem: an upside-down teardrop in the stem or base, in either black or cobalt blue. Crafted in Sweden, the award-winning collection, designed by Erika Lagerbielke and debuted in 1985, is eminently collectible. Like all fine crystal, each piece should be carefully washed by hand.