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How to Color Glass with Mod Podge

Use food coloring and Mod Podge to tint any glass the shade you want – this tutorial on how to color glass is amazing, and really easy!

Skills Required: None. Even if you’ve never Mod Podged before or have little crafting experience, you should have success with this project.

Use food coloring and Mod Podge to tint any glass the color you want - this tutorial on how to make amber glass is amazing!

Learn how to make amber glass with a simple tutorial. Did you know that you can add food coloring to Mod Podge to make amber glass?? Yes, you can.

And you can use said food coloring/Mod Podge mixture to create a stained glass look on mason jars, like Carolina did. She’s going to have amber jars as one of the centerpieces at her wedding, and what a great budget way to do it.

Follow her tutorial to stain glass any shade that you like. Learn how to color glass with Mod Podge by reading her instructions below.


Faux Colored Glass. One of my wedding centerpiece elements will be amber glass jars. I chose amber to coordinate with the traditional brown glass of beer bottles.

Of the many Mod Podge and food coloring methods around, I chose to follow the tutorial at Carolyn’s homework because she had done some protocol troubleshooting.

For coloring, I started with the “light brown” recipe on the back of a food coloring box and tweaked it several times to get the right color.

Even with Carolyn’s instructions, it took S-I-X attempts to get my colored glass to look presentable. I didn’t even take a picture of the first attempt (the Mod Podge never dried!)

How to color glass mason jars

Amber Glass Attempts

Dyed glass with Mod Podge

No brush marks, bubbles or crusty goop! Here’s what I did below.

Amber Glass

Ingredients

  • Glass Bottles
  • Mod Podge Gloss
  • Food Coloring
  • Wax Paper
  • Teaspoon
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Baking Pan

Total Cost = $4

If you have jars, Mod Podge, and food coloring on hand – this could be a free or very cheap project for you! I highly encourage you to save glass jars from the recycle bin just for this purpose.

Let’s get into the how-to. *You may notice the tutorial pictures are pieced together from different jar “attempts”!

Dye Mod Podge with food coloring
Coat jar with Mod Podge

Have you found a good mason jar painting method? I’d love to know in the comments! Enjoy!

How to color glass with food coloring and Mod Podge
Yield: 1 jar

How to Color Glass

How to color glass mason jars

Learn how to tint glass using Mod Podge and food coloring! You'll be able to dye glass any color you like with this tutorial.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Active Time 30 minutes
Dry Time 1 day
Total Time 1 day 40 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $1

Materials

  • Glass jar(s)
  • Mod Podge
  • Food coloring

Tools

  • Bowl
  • Mixing spoon
  • Wax paper (to cover work surface)

Instructions

  1. Clean the glass jar with soap and water or rubbing alcohol; let dry.
  2. Add two heaping tablespoons of Mod Podge to a container.
  3. Add 8 - 10 drops of food coloring (you can mix colors) plus 1/2 teaspoon water and mix well.
  4. Pour the Mod Podge into the jar and swirl to coat. Place upside down on your work surface to let drain. Allow to sit until all excess Mod Podge is fully drained.
  5. Turn over and allow to dry for 24 hours. Alternatively, you can place in a 200 degree oven and bake until dry (do not leave unattended).

Notes

The more thoroughly you mix the food coloring, the less streaking that will occur in the finished product.

If you notice the Mod Podge mixture doesn't reach certain areas of the jar inside, you can use a paintbrush to assist.

Did You Make This Project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


Cella

Saturday 7th of September 2024

Hi!

I just used acrylic paint and mod podge and painted the outside of a cake stand. I let it dry, not for 24 hours but it was dry. I then put it in the oven and turned the oven on to 350 and left it in there for 34 minutes. Then I turned the oven off and let it cool. It did not stain the glass. What did I do wrong?!

Tracy Siranides

Monday 5th of August 2024

Hi I am looking to see if it is possible to use this on my bathroom glass vanity light shades. They are plain frosted glass that I would like to color for a updated look, but still keep the transparency? So was wondering if this food color/mod podge method could be painted on the outside portion of the shade. And how would the shades be cleaned after they cure dry? Just wipe with a damp cloth? I have never worked with this product before, but I am intrigued. Thank you in advance for any suggestions/advice you can provide!

Pam

Thursday 4th of April 2024

Hi Amy,

I am trying to look forward to my first jar(s) for Christmas items within my online store. Want to have a snow affect on inside of jar and stickers on outside. Do I remove the glue on outside of jar as they are Christmas decorations and variety of winter/ Christmas decor? Would like to use food coloring on inside of jars, and then have a crystal look of snow with Decoupage on outside. My hopes are that small chains of clear christmas lights are on inside. Is all of this possible and am I on the correct path? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Newbie here and hoping for the best!

Sincerely, Pam

Dorothy

Saturday 30th of March 2024

Can I do this to a glass lamp shade

Amy

Saturday 30th of March 2024

Yes you can, though I'd check how hot the glass gets. You might want to use an LED bulb with it if the glass is getting really (Mod Podge is not flammable but you don't want it bubbling or melting off).

Nancy

Saturday 9th of September 2023

What color do you use to get the amber color

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