Creative Ways to Display Your Photographs

Project #1: Tinting Glass Jars

This has got the be one of my favorite projects I have ever done on the show.  It was so much fun to watch a plain ol' clear glass jar transform into a gorgeous tinted glass jar! It was so super simple and easy.  In fact, I tinted the jars with only about 45 minutes to spare before the camera crew got to my house to start filming.  I'm not sure I should have admitted what a procrastinator I am, but luck was on my side with this project.  It turned out beautifully the first time around.  

  You will never believe what I used to tint the glass.  

Yep, floor polish and food coloring!  It is so easy, you just mix a couple of drops of any color of food coloring with the floor polish and paint it on your glass.

Drop in the food coloring....

stir it up with your paintbrush, and start painting!  I just used a cheap foam brush.

I held it over a paper plate to catch any drips.

and then all you have to do is let it dry.  I watched mine closely for a few minutes to catch any runs before they dried.  I used a dry sponge brush, and just gently touched the drips with it.  However, if you do happen to find a run that you weren't able to catch, just wash your jar in hot water and the tint will come right off, allowing you to start over!

I let it dry for about 30 minutes or so, and then added the twine and ribbon to the necks of the bottles.

To get the photos inside, I rolled them up, picture side out, and pushed them down into the bottles.  I used a wooden skewer to move them around a little bit, so they were facing forward.

I started with blue food coloring in the floor polish for the first jar, and then I added a couple drops of green each time I started tinting a new bottle.  I wanted each bottle to be a slightly different shade.  I LOVE how they turned out. I also loved how quick and easy it was to tint the bottles.  I wouldn't use this technique on anything I was going to serve food from.  I am pretty sure it isn't "food safe."  This technique is also not permanent.  It will wash off with hot water.

I would love to see what projects you come up with using this technique, so be sure to share.  I am personally going to be on the lookout for clear Ball canning jars, so I can tint them the coveted blue.  I bet no one will ever know the difference!

Happy glass tinting!