Archive for December, 2008
December 29, 2008 at 2:39 am
· Filed under Decorative Painting ·Tagged cleaning your paint brushes, paint brush care, pilsner glasses, wine glasses
If you are a painter it is very important to take proper care of your brushes. These are your most precious tools as a painter. Proper care will extend their life and enable you to get more use out of them. It also will allow you to get better performance from them as you paint. This will save you money in the long run too.
These instructions for paint brush care are related to water based paints such as acrylic enamels. To begin gently clean your brushes with water. Make sure you wash them thoroughly.
You can use either liquid soap or a bar of soap. Make sure you work the soap through the entire bristle part clear up to the ferrule. Once you have worked the soap in, it is very important to rinse the brush to make sure all of the soap has been removed.
After you have completed the cleaning of the brush, dry the bristles on a clean rag or paper towel. At this time you are able to shape the bristles as they are drying. Lay the brush flat to dry and when you have placed them where you store them. Never put your brush resting down on the bristles, as this will distort it’s shape and you will not be able to get a good performance from it. It might even cause permanent damage to the bristles, and not being good for future use at all.
Never allow your paint to dry in your brush. As you are painting it is a good idea to occasionally rinse the brush out. It is very important to store your brushes in a place where you are able to keep the bristles from being bent, allowing them to maintain their shape.
Amy
http://www.amyspaintedhouseandmore.com/
aamilou@aol.com
614-530-0219
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December 28, 2008 at 4:58 am
· Filed under hand painted specialty glasses ·Tagged hand painted glasses, iced tea glasses, non-alcoholic glasses, water glasses, wedding reception glasses, wedding table glasses, wine glasses
These glasses are beautiful and would look lovely on your wedding reception tables. They can be painted to compliment the colors and theme of your wedding. After the party is over they make great wedding favors for your guests to take home.
If you are feeling up to the challenge you can keep the cost down by painting the glasses yourself. This will make them even more cost effective in the end. This is something nice your guests will be able to use even for years to come.
You can keep the design simple and it will still be a stunning piece for your tables. A matching centerpiece would really complete your tables. This is a nice idea for those who are not big drinkers or maybe you have considered not even having alcoholic drinks at your reception. They are nice to drink iced tea or water from.
You can bake these glasses to cure the paint. They are dishwasher safe if placed on the top rack. You may want to hand wash to preserve the design for a longer length of use. That is purely up to you.
Amy
www.amyspaintedhouseandmore.com
aamilou@aol.com
614-530-0219
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December 12, 2008 at 7:30 am
· Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged dipping oil bottles, dishwashing soap bottles, hand painted oil bottles, how to paint oil bottles, oil bottles, painted glassware, painted oil bottles, painted wine bottles, painted wine glasses, wine glasses
Have you ever thought about painting an oil bottle for a housewarming gift, or maybe even just for yourself to use as a bottle to hold your dishwashing soap? These bottles can be transformed from a plain bottle to part of your home decor in just a few minutes.
I do not bake these because I do not like to mess with taking off the top of the bottle. I’d rather leave it sealed until is it ready to be use. This will help keep them clean on the inside until that time arrives.
To prepare the bottle for painting, I clean the exterior with rubbing alcohol. I then paint the bottles with acrylic enamel paint that will cure within 21 days. After completing the painting of my design I allow the bottle to dry for at least 8 hours. I then add a coat of outdoor waterproof varnish for added protection. I allow the varnish to dry for a least a few hours prior to preparing it for shipping. Often I will air dry it overnight to make sure it is completely dry before boxing it up.
These bottles look nice if you paint just one side of the bottle or cover the entire bottle. In a few short minutes you can create a masterpiece to sit out on your countertop as part of your kitchen decor, whether you are using it as your soap dispenser or for your olive or dipping oil. They can really be a lovely inexpensive addition to your home.
Amy
http://www.amyspaintedhouseandmore.com/
aamilou@aol.com
614-530-0219
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December 9, 2008 at 12:58 am
· Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged loading a paint brush, one stroke, one stroke painting technique, specialty plates, wine glasses
Many of you are familiar with the One Stroke Painting Technique. It has been around for a few years. It is a very easy way to create wonderful hand painted designs on many surfaces. It is even great for those who are not experienced painters.
One of the most important things to remember when you are learning to paint using this technique, is to make sure you load your brush correctly. Often painters are afraid of over loading their brushes. In order to achieve your desired designs, you have to make sure you have plenty of paint on your brush.
The first next step is to choose two colors that you would like to use for your design. Dip one side of your brush into the first color, and then dip the other side in the remaining color. Now begin to move the brush back and forth to blend the paint. Continue to add paint and repeat these steps until your brush is loaded 2/3 of the way up the bristles. You should be ready to begin your painting at this point.
As you paint it is important you continue to use paint, and do not hesitate to keep adding more to your brush. It is not necessary for you to do the blending part after adding more paint to your brush. If you feel at any point your brush is getting over loaded, you may wipe the excess off with in your paper towel or rag. Make sure your brush is still load up to 2/3 of the brush.
You do not necessarily have to clean your brush in water when you are switching to new colors. It could add interest to your design if you simply remove the excess paint with a paper towel or rag, and then dip your paint one side at time in to the new colors and begin to blend. Also, if you would like to paint using more then two colors this is possible to. Just load your brush as you normally would with the two colors and then tip your brush in to the third color on one side of the brush. Typically, I would add this to the side that is the accent color. This is up to you since you are the creator of the painting.
Just remember, if your brush is loaded correctly this will allow your paint to flow easily. If your paint is easy to work, this will enable you to create a masterpiece!
Amy andmore.com
614-530-0219aamilou@aol.com
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December 6, 2008 at 4:44 am
· Filed under Painting Glass Pendants ·Tagged glass, glass pendants, Painting Glass Pendants, painting wine glasses, pendants, wine glasses
Painting on the glass tiles for pendants really is not any different than painting on a wine glass, it is just a little smaller. You should clean the glass tile and wipe it off with rubbing alcohol prior to painting on it. No other preparation needs to be done before you can start painting on them. They can be baked in the oven too in order to cure the paint.
The main difference when you are painting on the glass tile as opposed to a wine glass, is the size of the space that you have to paint on. Some may feel this is better since you do not have to deal with as much design space, however for many it can be harder since the details are smaller and this often makes them harder to do. For many it seems to be easier to do quality work in larger spaces, because this allows you more room to control your brush strokes.
The clear glass tiles come in a few different sizes. I would recommend starting with the larger sizes that would still be appropriate for a necklace pendant, and gain experience on this size first. Move to the smaller sizes once you have mastered these.
Keep in mind if you mess up, you can always wash off the paint and start over. This is one of the nice things when you paint on glass. It is very easy to correct a mistake or start over if you do not like your design. If you would rather practice on a disposable surface before placing your design on the tile pendant, wax paper is an affordable product to use for practice.
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December 1, 2008 at 5:25 am
· Filed under hand painted specialty glasses ·Tagged bridal party glasses, bride and groom glasses, champagne glasses, hand painted glasses, how to paint toasting glasses, wine glasses
Often champagne glasses are used for the toast, however it is your wedding and you decide what type of glasses will be used. You may want to serve something else for this event. You have a variety of glasses to choose from including martini, margarita, pilsner, or even shot glasses. That would be unique!
The hand painted glasses could be used just by the bride and groom, extended to the wedding party including the parents, or given to everyone as a wedding favor. This may depend on your budget. The glasses would make a great keepsake to remember your wedding day for years to come.
Your options will be open if you plan to have hand painted glasses. You can go with the same design for everyone or plan something special for each person. The flowers and their colors are often what bride’s will choose. This is a nice way to remember the flowers you carried down the aisle and the colors you selected for your wedding. They could also compliment the centerpieces on each table at your reception.
The sky is the limit. Allow yourself plenty of time if you are painting these yourself. That will give you the time you need to plan the designs, practice, and then do the final painting. If all else fails, hire the professional!
Amy
614-530-0219
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