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One of the best things about hearing from all of you is learning what some of your crafting issues are and how we can help you trouble shoot them. With all the comments we have been receiving in response to my original glass paint post, and Jodi's Martha Stewart Craft Paint post, I thought this would be a great opportunity to gather, summarize, and answer some of your frequently asked questions.
To start, here are questions that overlap about both the craft and glass paint lines.
What is the difference between Martha Stewart Glass Paint and Martha Stewart Craft Paint?
An important thing to know is that both lines of paint are compatible with the stencils and silkscreens we have made; this means that the silkscreens and adhesive stencils you find in the glass aisle can also be used with craft paint, and vice versa. This will offer you more options for artwork. Be sure to check out both aisles!
Curing Instructions for Martha Stewart Glass Paint and Martha Stewart Craft Paint
All of the paints in both our Craft and Glass Paint follow the same curing instructions:
Air cure for 21 days OR bake in an oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (for full details on baking techniques click here).
There are a few exceptions to this rule:
- Do not bake any of our paints that contain glitter (Fine Glitter Glass Paint, Glitter Craft Paint and Coarse Glitter Craft Paint). These should follow air curing instructions.
- Do not bake any of our specialty effects found in our Craft Paint Line such as our Fine Crackle Effect, Weather Crackle Effect, White Texture Effect, Glitter Texture effect, etc.
- Only bake glass that is oven safe.
- Always heat your glass objects gradually; start in a cold oven and never handle your piece until completely cooled
- Do not allow any painted area to come into contact with another surface while oven-curing.
- Only plan on baking your item once. Repeated baking at that high temperature will compromise the integrity of the paint and make it brittle and more susceptible to marring and chipping.
How do I fix mistakes I've made while painting?
You can always remove our paint while it is still wet simply by washing it or wiping it off. The only exceptions are when you are applying craft paint to fabric or wood, that will not be removable once applied. Be sure to wear an apron or an old t-shirt while crafting!
If you have already let you paint dry on your hard surfaces like glass and ceramic you may remove it with a blade or scraper. We have one here that already has a safe handle attached.
What are all the types of Martha Stewart Glass paint, and what do they do?
In the Martha Stewart Glass program, we have 5 different finishes of paints: Gloss Opaque, Gloss Metallic, Gloss Transparent, Frost Translucent, and Fine Glitter Translucent. All of them are made with a thicker paint formula to allow you the option of creating traditional "leaded" lines for you to fill in with our Liquid Fill paints. Liquid Fill paints are an additional formula of paint, with a different consistency from the rest of the line.
From left to right, Gloss Opaque, Gloss Metallic, Gloss Transparent, Frost Translucent, and Glitter Translucent Paints
- Gloss Opaque: These are our opaque colors that are great for general painting, silkscreening, stenciling, making leaded lines, and for spraying.
- Gloss Metallic: These are our metallic colors that are great for general painting, silkscreening, stenciling, making leaded lines, and for spraying.
- Gloss Transparent: These are our transparent colors that are great for general painting, silkscreening, stenciling, making leaded lines, and for spraying.
- Frost Translucent: This is a paint that has a "frosty" sea glass texture like this. It's great for large surfaces and for stenciling, and even better for spraying. However, because it has a raised texture, I would not recommend silkscreening on top of a frosted surface. Your silkscreen will not adhere as easily and will cause your artwork to bleed.
- Fine Glitter Translucent: These are our fine glitter paints that have a smaller particle size than our original glitter paint in the craft line. The glitter paint will go through our silkscreens and spray systems. It is translucent because light will still pass through the areas you paint.
- Liquid Fill paints: These are transparent paints were designed to work with our paintable clings. It is best to use this paint on flat surfaces because it has a flowing consistency and is meant to flood recessed areas within leaded lines.
Keep asking those questions, and stay tuned for more tips and answers to your FAQs. For more information on our craft and glass paints, click here.
If you have any technical questions regarding the use of our Martha Stewart Craft paints, please direct them to our partners at PLAID! Customer Service: 1-800-842-4197 Mon - Fri. 8am - 5pm EST
From: Martha | 1/11/13 at 10:15 am
This is a very good idea for a column, but the text in the graphic of overlapping circles is too small to read unless you're viewing it on a fairly large monitor or one with above-average pixel density. I'm reading it on a 15" laptop that's a few years old, and I can only somewhat make out what it says.
From: Tracy Chou | 1/11/13 at 12:28 pm
Hi Martha,
Thank you for your comment, we have updated the format of the image. Try clicking it, it should enlarge itself for better legibility.
From: Luanne | 1/14/13 at 6:22 pm
I painted 4 special beer glasses for my husband. I used Martha Steward Glass Paint-gloss. I let them sit in a cabinet for 25 days to cure. When my husband used one, the paint smeared all over. When we washed that one on the top rack of the diswasher, the paint completely disappeared. I know you have good products. Please help! Thanks!
From: Tracy Chou | 1/15/13 at 10:52 am
Hi Luanne,
Your issue does sound very strange, your paint should not smear during use. I would recommend contacting our partners at Plaid, 1-800-842-4197 Mon - Fri. 8am - 5pm EST and they will be able to assist you.
From: Paint Equipment Rentals | 1/16/13 at 11:25 am
thanks to the woner of the website for post a good article about paint.I am very happy to see your website and very happy to see your article.
thank you
Paint Equipment Rentals
From: Ann Flanagan | 2/4/13 at 4:10 pm
Can you use the Martha Stewart gloss transparent glass paint set on a piece of Lexan to create a stained glass effect? I realize you could not put in oven to cure, but will it have same look sitting for 21 days? If not, can you make a recommendation for another paint? Thanks, Ann Flanagan
From: Tracy Chou | 2/4/13 at 5:18 pm
Hi Ann,
Though I haven't personally tried applying our glass paint to Lexan (I'm assuming it's a type of industrial grade-resin?) our paint should technically adhere to it. It will have the same look if you do proceed with air-curing as opposed to oven-curing. However, I can't guarantee that our paint will stand up to all the elements your piece of Lexan might be exposed to, as it is specially formulated for glass and ceramic.
From: Brenda Luna | 2/7/13 at 10:15 pm
Looking for suggestions. I have an antique/vintage green glass shade (white underneath-green exterior) I want to change my colors to rust and yellow. Is there a way to paint over (or any other ideas welcomed) to cover this large dining room green glass shade? Thank you.
From: Tracy Chou | 2/8/13 at 12:56 pm
Hi Brenda,
Depending on how large your piece is, and whether or not it is removable, you might have be able to accomplish this in several ways.
My favorite technique for solidly coating something with a super smooth/glossy appearance is to use the glass spray system and spray your lamp. I would use an opaque gloss glass paint.
If you feel most comfortable with painting, you can remove your shade and paint it by hand with a brush or foam pouncer.
From: Tanya Murphy | 2/25/13 at 2:48 pm
I have found that when I am painting fine details on glass that sometimes the paint starts drying quickly and clumps up. Is it ok to use the clear liquid fill as a thinner to help in keeping my paint smooth? I have tried to find a section on your site that specifies what fill can be used for but so far I have only found the video on the clings and the video on tinting an entire bottle. Is there another place I should be looking that I have missed?
From: Tracy Chou | 2/26/13 at 9:44 am
Hi Tanya,
I would actually recommend using our Fill Medium. It is sold in a 2 oz bottle for you to mix with your paints to help make it thinner.
From: Simon | 3/8/13 at 9:14 am
I left my project overnight not realizing it would take 21 days to cure at air temperature. It's the next day, can I now bake it to achieve the quicker cure time or do I have to wait the full term? I'm using White Translucent Frost paint to thinly coat glass. Thanks.
From: Lisa Wells | 3/10/13 at 8:23 pm
What is the best way to put a pattern on a glass item. I would like to paint something on wine glasses for a wedding and I don't want to free hand them I want to go by a pattern I made but I am stumped on how to put the pattern on the glasses. I tried a sharpie but they lines are hard to cover.
From: Tracy Chou | 3/11/13 at 9:48 am
Hi Lisa,
I would recommend looking at our project gallery here just for some ideas on stencils we do offer in case you choose that route.
If you are determined to use the pattern you made, I would suggest cutting your pattern out of a clear adhesive stencil film (something very similar to contact paper) that we sell in our Mulit-surface Craft Paint line. You would print your pattern out, or trace it with a permanent marker directly onto the film and then cut it out with a craft knife. Because the film is adhesive, you would then just peel and stick it to your glass.
Be warned though, you might have to cut a new pattern for each application.
From: Sandi | 3/24/13 at 11:29 am
I made wine glasses for a fund raiser last night and the images are still very raised.
I used the paint right out of the bottle, with the applicator tip.
Will they eventually flatten out? Right now they look like they could peel right off the surface. It's been about 12 hours.
From: Tracy Chou | 3/25/13 at 12:28 pm
Hi Sandi,
The paint will not flatten out, it was intended to provide you with a raised effect, much like traditional leading in glass painting would.
If you try and peel them, they will peel off the way it would come off if you put a razor blade to it. Any forceful removal will cause it to come off.
I would advise you to cure your glasses, this will make them durable for use and dishwasher safe.
From: Ellen | 4/6/13 at 7:49 am
I used the MS silkscreens and the Gloss Opaque Pearl Paint on a terra cotta piece that I had painted white with the MS satin craft paint. It turned out lovely. I would like to use it outdoors. Can I bake the terra cotta finished piece, or should I air dry it? Are the gloss opaque paints appropriate for use on terra cotta over a white background? And finally, since it will be outside, should I spray it with any kind of sealant once it has cured.
Thanks!
From: Tracy Chou | 4/10/13 at 2:18 pm
Hi Ellen,
Our paints will be durable outdoors. I wouldn't recommend baking your piece, I would just let it air dry.
We typically reserve our gloss opaque paints for glass/ceramic surfaces only, but it doesn't mean your project will fall apart! In the future I would recommend sticking to craft paint for these types of projects. Craft paint works with silkscreens as well (we offer silkscreens in the craft aisle as well, there are more designs!)
If you would like to ensure that your pot is extra durable, you can spray it with our satin or gloss finish. It is an aerosol sold in the craft aisle. However, our paints are durable on their own so you should be fine if your paint is not left in direct contact with the elements and extreme weather conditions.