Freelance Friday: Creepy Halloween Bottle Decor Using Mod Podge

It’s FRIDAY! I know you are excited for the weekend, and in case you are looking for a great craft project to do check out these creepy bottles from,  Joy’s Life. We stumbled across Joy’s blog awhile ago, and have loved seeing her creative crafts. Since Halloween will be here before we know it, we wanted to share a craft project you can use as Halloween decor. These awesome bottles are easy to make, and require very minimal supplies. Create these to add to your scary Halloween decor. To see how Joy created these bottles, click here.

Modern Silver Glitter Striped Vase

Sometimes the most simple accessories and home decor accents are the most beautiful.  If you are looking for a simple piece using a few paint colors, this modern silver glitter striped vase is a great project for you.  Not to mention that if you’ve never painted glass before, this is a great project to start with.  You can use these basic instructions to add spice to a glass piece you already have on hand.  Here’s how.

Make It Monday: Enamels Glitter Gold Daisy Vase

You know how awesome our FolkArt Extreme Glitter is – but you also know that it’s not permanent on glass.  You’ve been asking us for permanent glitter on glass, and we’re delivering!  We are so thrilled about our new product, FolkArt Enamels Glitter.  It works just like regular FolkArt Enamels AND it comes in two colors, gold and silver.  The sparkling effects are gorgeous!  Plaid designer Julie Lewis has created this special daisy vase with Enamels Glitter, and you won’t believe how easy it is to recreate yourself.  Here’s how it’s done.

Reverse Painting on Glass

Welcome to another installment of ASK PLAIDIE LADDIE!

Plaidie Laddie, loyal Plaid pooch and one of our blog contributors, wants to answer your most burning painting questions. Every week he’ll pick a question out of his virtual mailbag and answer it (with a little help from me, since he only has paws). This week’s question:

“Dear Plaidie Laddie, I have a glass plate that I want to paint for serving food at a party.  I don’t think it would be good to put food directly on the paint though – is that correct?  How can I paint a plate that is food safe?” -Karen H. from Washington

Dear Karen, Great question!  Painted partyware is so pretty, but we here at Plaid don’t recommend placing food directly on painted items.  There IS a solution though – reverse painting on glass!  I found a tutorial for you by Cathe Holden of Just Something I Made for Living Locurto.  The tutorial is for reverse sign painting on glass, but the same method could be used for glass plates as well.  If you paint on the BACK of the plate, you can place food on the top of the plate without fear!  This tutorial uses Apple Barrel Gloss (which works well), and we also have a special paint formula made just for glass: FolkArt Enamels.  Whichever paint you use, you’re really going to enjoy painting on glass, and this tutorial makes it so simple.  Have fun at the party!  Save a biscuit for me!

Sincerely, Plaidie Laddie

TGIF Project: Quick and Easy Modern Vases

Blue is my favorite color, so of course I’m enamoured with these bold and modern glass vases from Cathie and Steve for Plaid.  I promise you quick and easy projects for the weekend, and these deliver.  You simply need a few FolkArt Enamels colors and some glass vases (which you can get from the thrift store).  You won’t believe how quickly you can make these; the longest part of the process is the drying time!  Find the complete instructions here.

TGIF Project: Traditional Poppy Vase

Blue is my favorite color in the whole world, especially blues of the turquoise variety.  That is one of the things that lead me to fall in love with this gorgeous Gallery Glass vase by Cathie and Steve.  You can definitely use it for flowers (the Gallery Glass is on the outside), and it also makes a gorgeous piece for home decor purposes once the flowers are removed.  You don’t have to lead, so it will take you about 20 minutes to whip up.  Find the complete instructions here.

Have you been to our new Plaid blog, Gallery Glass Class?  It’s by our resident expert Carol Smith, and there are all sorts of ideas (and patterns) to get you started.  Please pay us a visit!

Make It Monday: I Love You Painted Heart Plate

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Plaid!  Here at Plaid you know what we love – paint!  We couldn’t leave you hanging without a Valentine’s project for the big day.  I know that many of you love glass painting, so I’m including a glass painted project that expresses your true feelings – it can be for a husband, family member, friend or even a pet!  Nothing say I love you like dog biscuits served on a plate, don’t you think?  Whomever you are spending the day with, I wish you all the love and happiness in the world.  Here’s how to make your own “I Love You” plate.

Love Ornament from Karen Embry

It’s not always easy to come up with cute Valentine’s decor – everything seems to have hearts on it or is really cutesy, don’t you think? Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but sometimes you want something a little more sophisticated. This ornament painted by Karen Embry using FolkArt Enamels definitely fits the bill.  Karen floats the colors together in a beautiful way, making a simple word into a bold statement.  Visit the full project instructions here.

Speaking of Karen, Plaid would like to congratulate both her and Drew Emborsky (The Crochet Dude) on their New Horizons win!  At the end of each year Plaid hosts the New Horizons competition, which is open to CHA designers.  A cash prize of $1,500 is awarded to two artists based on achievements and professional goals.  Awards were presented at Winter CHA.  Congratulations Karen and Drew!  We are so proud of you.

TGIF Project: Kiss Me Valentine’s Glasses

If you’re planning to cook a romantic dinner for your sweetie, may I make a suggestion?  Why not paint some fun and pretty Valentine’s Day glasses with FolkArt Enamels!  I’m always looking for original Valentine’s Day painted projects, and honestly, they are really hard to find.  These wine glasses totally fit the bill.  They also might be fun for a girls’ night out.  Find the complete project instructions here.

Make It Monday: Christmas Joy Vase

Did you know that you can make a beautiful Christmas decoration out of an old spaghetti sauce jar?  You can – and you can do it with FolkArt Enamels!  They paint beautifully on glass and are very durable.  Plaid designer Kirsten Jones used them to create this fun and whimsical Christmas vase.  Use it to display a sprig of holly or evergreen.  It really brightens up a table and adds holiday cheer.  Here’s how to make this project.