Authored by Brandy Burgess in Crafts
Published on 10-21-2009

Hand painting can give a creative and unique touch to any project. You don’t need to be a great artist to paint and create fantastic pieces of artwork. You just need a bit of time and personal creativity. Try out some of these simple hand painted craft ideas to help bring the artist out of you.

Hand Painted Craft Ideas: Wine Glasses

Hand painting your own wine glasses is a great way to dress up any inexpensive clear champagne or wine flutes. They make great party drink holders as well as gifts for friends and family. Use these step by step instructions to create your own hand painted wine glasses.

Begin by cleaning the wine glasses with a small amount of rubbing alcohol to give a clear surface. Grab a paper plate and take about three to four colors and dab a small amount onto the plate. Use the other end of a paint brush (not the brush but the plastic or wooden end) and dip it into the paint. This will create small perfectly round decorative dots on the wine glasses. Place the dots in a line that swirls around the glass. Next, change to a different color and follow the swirl. Continue with all of the colors.

You can then finish the glass by painting the stem of the wine glass and adding more dots at the base. Allow the glasses to completely dry and then they will be ready to use. Enjoy these unique wine glasses at any event or special holiday.

Hand Painted Craft Ideas: Mugs

Hand painted mugs make great gifts for family and friends. They can be personalized to resemble something that a person likes or even their name. Begin by creating a design that you’d like to place on your mug on a piece of paper. Once you have a design that you’re happy with, transfer it to the mug by carefully painting directly on the mug with a small bristled paintbrush.

Once the paint is dry, lay the mug on its side and apply a glaze. This will help to keep your design looking great for longer. Use a thick brush to apply a smooth thick coat. Let the mug air dry for about 24 hours. To set the mug, place it into a preheated 325 degree oven for a period of 35 minutes. It’s best to use more bold and bright colors for this project such as reds, yellows and blues as these will show up the best.

Hand Painted Craft Ideas: Oil Bottles

Hand painted oil bottles can be great as housewarming gifts or just to decorate your own home. To prepare the oil bottle for painting, clean it with rubbing alcohol. Use acrylic paints to create a design on the sides of your bottle. Allow the paint to dry for at least 8 hours. When dry, add a coat of waterproof varnish to help protect the paint from coming off.

Hand Painted Craft Ideas: Conclusion

Hand painted crafts are great as gifts, party favors or just to give your own home a personal feel. You don’t need to be skilled at painting to create fantastic designs. Try using tracing patterns as well as items around your home to create perfect pieces of art.