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• Do-It-Yourself: painting wine glasses

As college students, many of us often find ourselves on very limited budgets. This often poses a problem when trying to serve a nice meal to family, friends, or significant others. The weeks spent saving up for some type of food other than Ramen noodles usually sponges up all the money, forcing presentation to fly right out the window.

However, a great way to fix this problem is painting your own wine glasses. Painting glasses is a cheap and great way to class up your next dinner date or girls night in and adds a personal touch. They also make fabulous gifts. Here’s how to do it.

What you’ll need

1. A set of clear glass wine glasses – You can usually find these pretty cheap at any craft, home or closeout store such as Kohl’s or Hobby Lobby. Target sometimes has a set of 12 for $9.99.

2. Glass paint (3-4 colors) – This can be found in almost any craft stores in a variety of colors. It’s best to stick to one brand as some may have different directions for use. Make sure that the paint is specifically made for glass and can be set by heating in an oven.

3. Paintbrushes

4. Clip art and tape (optional)

What to do

1. Clean - Begin by cleaning all of the glasses. The glass must be clean and dry in order for the paint to stick. A run through the dishwasher should do the trick.

2. Plan your design - Simple ones usually work best. If you don’t feel comfortable thinking of something on your own, print out some clip art and tape it to the inside of the glass. Otherwise, just rely on your natural skill with the paintbrush.

3. Start painting – Using the paintbrush, paint the designs you planned on the outside of the wine glass. Use small, firm strokes to ensure that the paint goes on smoothly.

4. Repeat – Wait for the paint from the first coat to dry (20-30 minutes). Once the paint is dry, go over the designs with a second coat of paint. Repeat again if necessary.

5. Dry – Once you’ve finished painting, let the glasses dry completely (overnight).

6. Heat – Follow the directions on the paint for heating instructions. This usually requires placing the glasses in an oven in order to set the paint. By doing this, you will transform the glasses into a college students favorite thing – dishwasher safe. Remove the glasses from the oven and let the cool completely.

7. Serve and enjoy!