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Tip Store: Crafts & Hobbies: China Painting

​Porcelain Paints

Go to an arts and craft store and buy a product by the name of Porcelaine paints, this comes in a small bottle (about $8 to $10) or pen form. This is one you can bake in an oven. Go to a two-dollar store and ask the manager if you can purchase mugs in bulk and see if he will give you a discount for cash.
​- Contributed by Lynda, Hopetoun, 29th March 2007

Personalised Mugs

I have done the same, but with bowls. You can get them for under $1 at Ikea. They have mugs there too, but I am not sure of the price. You have to be careful to check the mugs can go in the oven. A lot of cheaper crockery is only fit for microwaves. The bowls I make for friends' children (newborn babies etc.) are easy. I use porcelain pens from Spotlight (about $6 each). I have a variety of colours that I have slowly built up and the pens last a long time. It is easy to draw names and pictures using the pens, and they are microwave and dishwasher safe. This means people can use my presents all the time instead of having special instructions just to use them! And I can tailor the pictures to suit the children's interests. I definitely recommend these pens for your wedding - it would look terrific. It is a great idea for placecards too.
​- Contributed by Amy, Blackburn North, 29th March 2007

​Drawing on Glass

Spotlight stores sell paints specifically made for "drawing" on glass.... they are about $4 - $5 a tube (last time I bought them!) and are fantastic for using on any glass surface! I bought the primary colours and a couple of black 'leadliner' tubes, and painted a Disney picture on my daughter's bedroom window, as well as an ocean scene, and still have heaps left over! The tubes say not to mix the colours, but I found no problem in doing this. So they would be fantastic for decorating glasses for your wedding!
​- Contributed by Debbie, Dubbo, 29th March 2007

​Hand-painted Wedding Trinkets

I recently had my sisters wedding and we had champagne glasses that we picked up from the Warehouse for $10 a dozen, these were filled with chocolates and we painted the persons name and bride and grooms name with the date on each one. We used a glass paint, or porcelain paint available from craft shops in the wedding colours, that you can bake in the oven and have dishwasher proof. We didn't bake them as we ran out of time and did have a few people start to lose the names after a night of being handled and have liquid in them. At around $9.95 a bottle we had a total cost for just under 200 people of $165.00 plus chocolates. Not bad for a gift for everyone, saved us hiring glasses and it was very personal
​- Contributed by Lisa-Marie, Bargara, 31st March 2007

​China Painting for Kids

we have spent many a day decorating cups, mugs, plates, bowls and dishes with China paint we bought from our local Spotlight. We bought one or two to start with, but quickly built up a range of primary and secondary colours. We have painted over 50 cups, 10 pasta dishes, 4 gift sets and we still haven't got half way through the little paint pots we purchased on a 20% off craft paints day at Spotlight. I have used the mugs from Spotlight, Safeway, Coles etc., paying no more than $1-$2 a mug. The kids and their friends did a mug and pasta bowl each. A visiting teenager did a large chip bowl with the words "All gone" at the bottom. We sent the bowl home full of chips, so her family would get a giggle out of her design. For a girlfriends birthday I did a set of bluebell mugs. You paint, put in oven, turn it to 150ocelsius, wait half an hour, turn it off and let them cool. So far they have been through the dishwasher and still look great. This craft is so quick; you can enjoy mixing colours, uses very little in tools or time and for an instant impressive result.
​- Contributed by Amanda, Kilsyth South, 31st March 2007

​Options for Painting on Glass and China

There are several options. Vitrail paints, which are oil based and need to be baked if the mugs are to go through a dishwasher, there are also water based window paints, which with withstand ordinary washing up so long as they are not soaked. You can also buy 'Glass and Tile medium' that you mix with folk art or acrylic paints. If you are able to trace a pattern and colour in these are quite easy. The oil based paints are a little more difficult but if you are a crafter then you should be able to manage. I would suggest practicing on old mugs of your own first to get used to the medium.
​- Contributed by Michele, Springfield, 31st March 2007

​Painted Mugs Great Craft for Groups

At our ladies group we have bought white mugs from Ikea - 60c - then you can buy a packet of tile and glass colours for painting on the mugs, then you pop them in the oven as per instructions, put them through the dishwasher and you have a permanent design.
​- Contributed by Heather, Nicholls, 1st April 2007

​Save on Paints with Acrylics and Glass Medium

I love doing folk art and I know that you can use normal acrylic paints on ceramics as long as you use a medium with the paint onto the ceramics. You can buy it from craft shops and Bunnings, costing about $10. Just ask the salesperson in the shop if you can't find what you're looking for.
​- Contributed by Jenny, Evans Head, 1st April 2007

​Paints from Art Shops

As you have heard, you can buy paints from art supply stores that are specifically to paint on plates and mugs etc and bake in the oven to set your artwork. Special unglazed mugs aren't needed. I have painted on mugs and plates with great success. Of course you must hand wash the pieces to ensure the artwork lasts.
​- Contributed by Jacqui, Rochedale South, 1st April 2007

​Best Cups are from Ikea for 50c Each

I have painted a lot of cups and found the best ones are from IKEA for 50C each. However any glazed cups will do. Ensure they are washed well and rinsed in a solution of water and vinegar and left to dry. I then wipe them over just before painting with alcohol swabs available from most chemists. Paints are readily available from Spotlight and range from $7.00 to $10.00 in price. I have no favourite brand for I have found they are all good. It depends on the colour range and your budget.Most paints will require baking and this is done to seal the paint. Best of luck.
​- Contributed by Julie, Goolwa, 2nd April 2007