Painting glass jars is a relatively easy, rewarding craft that you can do to add some color to your living space. Glass makes a nice canvas for paint and with a little creativity and some DIY action, you can produce remarkable designs on glass jars.
If you’re looking to try your hands out at painting glass jars, one of the first questions that may come to your mind is the paint.
So what kind of paint works best for painting glass jars? Arylic craft paint works well for painting glass as do some specially formulated solvent-based paints. You can also use chalk paint on glass jars. Check to be sure your paint is suitable for glass to be sure.
So what are some of the best paint products that you can purchase today? To enable you to find an answer to this question, we’ve put together this guide and reviewed the best paint products we found.
Before we get to the reviews, though, let’s learn more about the steps you’ll need to take to transform your plain glass jars into decorative works of art.
How To Paint Glass Jars
If you’re new to painting on glass, you’ll want to be sure to do it properly. It’s not a complex process, but still, there are a few things you’ll want to know before you get going.
Step 1: Clean your ‘surface’.
Before you begin painting the outside of your glass jars, you’ll want to clean them first. Remove any labels that may be on the surface of the jar and wash it thoroughly with soapy water and a clean cotton cloth. You can also wipe the surface of the jar with rubbing alcohol.
Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned the jar, let it dry before you proceed. Then you can begin applying coats of paint to the jar. Make sure to read the instructions that come with your paint of choice, in case they have additional preparation steps.
Step 2: Paint! And paint again.
If you’re working with acrylic craft paint, then you will likely need to apply two coats of paint with a paintbrush or a foam brush if you want to create a solid layer of paint over the whole jar. After you apply the first coat, you’ll need to wait for about 20 minutes to let it dry before you apply the next coat.
To turn the jar while painting, stick your hand inside the jar. This will help you avoid leaving fingerprints on the paint and getting your fingers dirty.
Once you applied sufficient coats of paint to the sides of the jar, flip it over and paint the bottom of the jar. When you’re done, leave the jar overnight to allow the paint to dry.
If you’re working with enamel-based acrylic paint, it will need some time to cure. This could take as long as 20 days. When the paint has dried or cured completely, you can distress the glass jar with 100-grit and 120-grit sandpaper if you desire a rustic look.
If you’re looking to paint designs on your jars, just know you may need to paint details with a thick, healthy application of paint. If you’re adding shading and value to your work, this may work even better – you can add your base color and then add lighter and darker values on top – that’s automatically a second layer.
You can also use many acrylic paint pens to create more detailed designs on glass jars!
Step 3: Seal the Jar.
The final step is to seal the jar with two coats of acrylic sealer. A satin or matte sealer will work better if you distressed the jar. Of course, you can also use a glossy sealer if you want a shiny finish.
Leave the sealer to dry before using the jar.
How to Paint the Inside of a Glass Jar
Painting the inside of the jar is also very easy. However, if you choose to do so, you’ll no longer be able to fill the jar with water as the paint will come off.
Painting the inside of a jar is a fun way to dress up a container, but this is certainly not a good idea for a jar you ever want to use for food or drinks again.
But if you’re just hoping to repurpose an old jar, here’s how to paint the inside:
- To begin, clean the inside of the jar with soapy water.
- Next, pour about 1 to 2 tablespoons of paint into the jar. If your jar is quite big, you might need more paint for adequate coverage.
- Now, swirl the paint around until the inner surface is completely coated. If the paint is too thick, you can thin it with a few drops of water to make it more fluid.
- Next, place the jar upside down on several sheets of paper towel. This will allow the excess paint to drain off the surface of the inside of the jar. Wait a while for the paint to drain completely.
- Turn the jar right-side-up and clean any excess paint from its rim.
Now, wait for the paint to dry and your painted glass jar is ready for use!
The Best 5 Paints For Glass Jars
We’ve done our research and found our five favorite paints for your next glass jar face-lift project!
| Rank | Product | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | U.S. Art Supply Acrylic Paint Set | 12 bright, opaque acrylic paint jars |
| 2. | Arteza Craft Acrylic Paint Set | 20 matte, water-based acrylic colors |
| 3. | Krylon Stained Glass Aerosol Paint | Translucent glass paint can (11.5 oz) |
| 4. | Rust-Oleum Interior Chalked Paint | Ultra matte paint can (30 oz) |
| 5. | Individuall's Premium Acrylic Paint Set | 8 vivid, kid-friendly acrylic colors |
You deserve fabulous paints that will set your jars off with a flourish. We’ve included a full review of our top five picks so you can see which will suit you (and your creations) the best.
1. U.S. Art Supply 12 Color Acrylic Paint Jar Set
The U.S. Art Supply 12 Color Acrylic Paint Set is an excellent acrylic paint product that works nicely for painting glass jars.
The set features 12 jars, each containing 250 ml (8.45 fl oz) of acrylic paint. The colors available in the set include cobalt blue, crimson red, lemon yellow, lamp black, hooker’s green, and vermillion, among others.
The U.S. Art Supply 12 Color Paint Set features paints made from high-quality pigments. The paints are non-toxic and have a smooth consistency. The product offers great value for the money, especially if you’re looking to get a lot of different colors in one package.
It’s truly a solid option to consider for your DIY craft painting needs!
2. Arteza Craft Acrylic Paint, Set of 20 Colors
If you’re looking for a product with an even wider range of colors, the Arteza Craft Acrylic Paint Set is for you.
With a total of 20 different colors included in this set, there are no limits to your creativity when decorating glass jars.
The Arteza Craft Acrylic Paint Set features high quality, multi-purpose acrylic paints that dry to a matte finish.
They can be used for painting glass, wood, fabrics, ceramics, paper, and canvas. The colors blend easily and the paint dries quickly, allowing you to paint additional coats faster. The product is non-toxic and conforms to the ASTM D-4236 and EN71 standards.
Some of the colors available in this set include lilac, titanium white, apple green, royal purple, expresso brown, koala grey, and sapphire blue. Our creative juices are already flowing just thinking about them!
The paints come in 60 ml (2 fl oz) bottles which allow you to squeeze out just the quantity of paint you need. It’s a great product to consider for your next glass jar painting project.
3. Krylon Stained Glass Aerosol Paint
Next up, we have the Krylon Stained Glass Aerosol Paint which you can get in eight different colors. The available options include canary yellow, cobalt blue, cranberry red, smoke grey, soft blue, summer green, royal purple, and tangerine orange. The paint comes in an 11.5 oz can.
The Krylon Stained Glass Aerosol Paint, unlike our top two picks, is a translucent spray paint designed specifically for glass. It transforms clear glass into a beautiful stained glass look.
The paint is easy to use and non-toxic. To paint your glass jar with spray paint, you simply need to clean the jar, and then spray the paint in sweeping motions some inches away from the jar.
Keep in mind, though, that it doesn’t create an opaque finish but a translucent one. Thus, if you’re looking for complete opacity, you might want to try out other acrylic water-based paints. However, if the stained glass look is what you’re looking for, the Krylon Stained Glass Aerosol Paint product is the best option to go for!
4. Rust-Oleum Ultra Matte Interior Chalked Paint
The Rust-Oleum Ultra Matte Chalked Paint is an excellent chalk paint product that you can use to give your glass jars a really nice matte finish.
The paint can be used on glass surfaces as well as wood, metal, ceramic, and canvas paper. The paint is easy to apply and dries to a matte finish in just 30 minutes.
The Rust-Oleum Ultra Matte Chalked Paint can be purchased in 12 different colors. Available options include farmhouse red, linen white, serenity blue, coastal blue, charcoal, country grey, and chiffon cream, among others.
The paint comes in a 30-ounce container, which contains enough paint to cover up to 150 sq ft in one coating. It’s perfect if you’re looking to make a matching set of jars – or if you fall in love with one of these colors and want to keep it around for many projects to come.
If you’re looking for an aged, vintage look with your glass jar painting projects, the Rust-Oleum paint is an excellent option. You can even distress the jar after applying the paint to take the “vintage” feel even further.
5. Premium Acrylic Paint Set By Individuall
Another excellent set of acrylic paints you can try out is the Premium Acrylic Paint Set by Individuall. This product features 8 vibrant high-quality paints that come in 20 ml (0.7 fl oz) containers.
The colors include blue, orange, red, pink, black, yellow, green, and white. These colors can be blended together very to create an even wider range of color shades.
The Premium Acrylic Paint Set from Individuall is produced in Germany. The high-quality paint has a smooth consistency, is easy to use, and is non-toxic as well. It works with a number of surfaces and materials including canvas paper, metal, plastic, fabric, wood, and glass.
If you’re looking for affordable, professional-grade acrylic paints for your DIY craft purposes, the Premium Acrylic Paint Set from Individuall is worth considering.
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