I love to craft with recyclables AND I’m a big fan of Mod Podge, so this how to tint glass project is a really fun one for me! Tinted glass is beautiful, but expensive – so why not make it yourself for a fraction of the cost? Learn how to tint glass in just a few easy steps with Mod Podge Sheer Colors. Keep reading to learn how I used a recycled apple jug to make my own version of a $159 Pottery Barn product.
How to tint glass supplies:
- Recycled Glass Bottles or Clear Mason Jars
- Mod Podge Sheer Colors
- Maple Leaf Garland (optional)
- Small Pumpkins (optional)
Step one. If using a bottle with a label, soak it in hot water for at least 10-15 minutes to loosen the label. Scrub the label off with a scouring pad. Resistant residue can be removed with Goo Gone or a bit of cooking oil. Make sure the glass bottle is clean and completely dry before moving on to step 2.
Step two. Squeeze a generous amount of Mod Podge Sheer Color into the jar.
Rotate and swirl the jar until the entire interior is covered with color. Hold the container upside down to let the excess drip out. (You can save the excess for another project!)
Step three. The photo below shows what the Mod Podge looks like when it’s still wet. The color is not transparent at all. Set the project aside to dry. Drying time varies based on the size of the project, but it takes at least 1-2 days to dry, and longer for bigger projects. I found that placing the bottles in a sunny location speeds up the drying time. Once it’s dry, the color will be transparent and the glass will appear tinted.
Larger bottles, like this Pottery Barn inspired jug, make great stand alone pieces. This faux wine jug would look great as above the kitchen counter decor. Smaller pieces can be arranged to make tablescapes or mantle decor.
I tinted two wine bottles orange and painted a tomato sauce bottle gold to create this centerpiece. Wrap a bit of twine around the necks of the bottles, arrange them on a wood disc, and finish it off with some fall foliage to create a pretty fall tablescape. When Christmas rolls around, tint bottles red, and there’s even pink tint for Valentine’s day.
If you enjoyed this how to tint glass tutorial, we think you’ll love this how to refinish a table project with resin and fabric.
Have fun crafting with recyclables!
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Morena Hockley is the crafty mind behind the tutorials at morenascorner.com. Morena is a stay at home mom to four young children, and crafting is what helps her maintain her sanity. It’s a wonderful outlet and it’s how she gets her “me” time. In a past life, Morena was an elementary school teacher and an assistant principal. She misses teaching, so her blog is in a sense a virtual classroom. Swing by and check out Morena’s Corner!
is it possible o add acrylic paint to Modge Podge for paint colors?
If so can it be thinned to make it transparent ?
I have four very boring clear glass hurricane candle holders. I’ve been wondering how to jazz them up and add some color to my equally boring mantle (and easily, I’m no Michaelangelo.) This could be my answer. Thanks.
I poured the Sheer Mod Podge into a bottle about the size of a bud rose vase 5 days ago, and it still has not turned transparent. I have no idea what I may have done wrong. Is there anything I can do to force the transparency?
Where can I purchase these tints?
Hi Audra, you can purchase the Mod Podge Sheers here: https://www.consumercrafts.com/store/browse/catalog/basics-glass-paint-and-finishes/1/40?sw=sheer&o=0
All projects have a supply list at the beginning – just click the colored links and it will take you directly to the product used!
Hello,
I have some glass Christmas ornaments that I am painting the inside of with Mod Podge Sheer colors and once they are dry I will be making sun catchers out of them.
My question is this: Is there any way to dry them faster? It takes about a week for them to get completely dry since they have such a small opening and I really do not have a week to spare. Can they be put in the oven on a low setting and baked for a specific amount of time? I have used my hair dryer which seems to speed up the drying process but that is very time consuming as well.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Great question! I did some experimenting recently and found that if I place the glass in a cold oven, then set it to 200 degrees and bake them for about 15-20 minutes they dry right away. Leave the glass in the oven after you’ve turned the oven off and wait until the glass is cool to remove them. I hope that helps!
Hello Morena,
Thank you for such a quick response I really appreciate it. I will definitely give the oven a try, I was going to try it before but I wanted confirmation that putting the paint in the oven would not cause a problem. I do have another question for you but this pertains to acrylic paints not the transparent.
Last year I made a wind chime using Christmas ornaments again but this time I used acrylic paint to paint the inside. After I left them to dry for about a week, I glued the top on and put ribbon around it and then hung it up in my room. As time went on I noticed that some of the paint started to recede to the bottom of the ornament even though it was completely dry before I attached the lid. Would you know why this would happen and what can I do so it won’t happen again? I cleaned the inside of the ornament with alcohol, let it dry, then applied my paints.
I made another batch of acrylic ornaments this year but after the paint dried I did 2 different things to see if it would seal the paint inside. They’re still drying so not sure which one worked or if both worked which one was better. On a couple of the ornaments I sprayed the inside with clear acrylic gloss coating. It was kinda hard to determine if I had covered the inside completely so we shall see.
On a couple of the other one’s I used Minwax fast drying Polyurethane clear gloss. I just poured a little in the ornament swirled it around, poured it in the 2nd one, did the same thing, then I poured the extra in the trash. I didn’t want to take a chance on putting any of the acrylic paint that may have still been damp back in the container. Thank you for any help or suggestions and Happy Thanksgiving.
Love the mod podge in bottles project..but why is the gold so dark and the other bottles look more see through? Is the gold a thicker color? Great and easy project too. Thanks, Michele
The gold is glass paint and not Mod Podge. The Mod Podge will be sheer, unlike the gold paint.