How to Make Glow in the Dark Glass

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Hi guys,

In this tutorial you will learn how to make glow in the dark glass / glasses my way! They are awesome and glow beautifully in the dark! I actually came up with this idea about a year and a half ago or so during one of my creative moments :-) I just thought it would be super entertaining to bring them to parties and have drinks with my friends.. and they were really impressed! Everyone loves them! :-)

OK, let's get started!

Step 1: You Will Need...

Crystal resin (I used Gedeo Crystal resin)- bought on Amazon

rubber gloves

stirring sticks

mixing cups - from Ebay

glow in the dark pigment powder - I bought this a while ago from Ebay and the powders I used were cyan and green. I found the green one was more intensive and bright.

(I have used about a tablespoon of the glow in the dark powder to 40ml of resin)

kitchen towels

glasses or clear plastic cups of your choice (with at least slightly inverted dome on the bottom)

rubbing alcohol/ soapy water

something to protect your surface when working with resin, I just used a piece of cardboard

Step 2: Clean Your Glass

Clean the bottom of your glass with some rubbing alcohol or just wash them in soapy water to get rid of any grease and dust.

Make sure it's completely dry before the next step, resin does not like water!

Step 3: Mix Your Resin

Mix your resin according to packet instructions and once it is crystal clear, add the glow in the dark powder and mix thoroughly.

Always make sure the area where you work with resin is well ventilated and also protect your hands and eyes if possible.

Step 4: Pour Resin and Let Dry + a Tip!

Turn your glass upside down and apply the resin mixture. Make sure it doesn't create a dome, it needs to be flat - unless you want a wobbly glass :)

(Only use the resin on the reverse side of the glass, so that it doesn't come in contact with food or drink that you will then consume. I would also advise to hand wash separately from other dishes in warm but not hot water)

Let it dry for a couple of days in a warm - room temperature(resin doesn't like cold either!), dry and dust free environment.

Tip: To make the glass glow even more, use a UV light/ torch and point the light at the dried resin on the bottom of the glass - do this for at least 10-20 seconds. The glass will glow really intensively within seconds!. Or you can just take an advantage of the sun! The longer you leave it ‘charge’ in the sun the longer it will last and glow more intensively.

Step 5: Finished Glasses

Aren't they cool?! :)
Happy crafting and please send me a picture here on Instructables through 'I made it' or on Facebook/Twitter if you decide to make these glow in the dark glasses yourself, I would love to see your creations!!

If you like my little projects and want to see more of them, you can support me by liking, sharing, subscribing to my YouTube channel and following me on social media:

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Step 6: WATCH VIDEO!

You can watch the video tutorial here, it was so much fun to make - you'll see :-))))

Comments

[NoobOfTrade]

I Know It Takes A Couple Of Days,But The Problem Is That I Need A Dust Free Environment, Which I Need To Know How Long It Can Take With Dust

[NoobOfTrade]

2 Things, 1, How Long Does It Take To Dry? And 2, How Sensitive Is It To Dust, I Uh... Don't Think I Have Any Dust Free Environments ^-^;

[MikaelaHolmes]

These are great! Such a beautiful effect. I make a lot of things that glow with LEDs el wire etc, but I always forget that there are simpler ways to create awesome glowing effects that don't require electricity! I'll have to try a project with this technique. Also your photos are lovely :)

[Treupp]

Such a great idea! Two things though.

1. Would you consider those very dishwasher-safe? I'm not a chemist and I don't know if and how temperature and steam would affect the bond between resin and glass.

2. This is more of a suggestion related to point 1. Before rubbing the glass with alcohol, I'd apply some fine grit sandpaper and elbow grease to the bottom of the glass to roughen the surface up a bit. The bond will be stronger this way. ;)

[HelenaDaydreamer]

Hi there, I would hand wash only in warm but not hot water. The 2nd point is a good idea, I actually though of it after I've posted this tutorial too :) I'm sure it would hold the resin even better! :)

[Meglymoo87]

Sweet :)

[crsmith6196]

Found this very interesting!!!! I raise chickens and you have given me the inspiration to tackle a lighting problem in my coops. At night I like to check one last time that things are okay. If I turn the lights on the noise is defining. Using a flashlight takes longer and it still causes stress on the chickens. I'm going to go to the second hand store buy clear glass "anything" and make it!! Then position it so sunlight hits is daily. I'll test it and let you know. THANK YOU

[PamG10]

Why don't you try the idea of making a small hole in the roof and epoxy/silicone in a clear bottle containing a little water? Then add some of this to the bottom. I've read that a small drink bottle equals a 60w bulb!

[xenobiologista]

I went on a Berlin Underworld tour of a civilian bomb shelter, there was one room for the volunteer firefighters where the walls were painted with glow in the dark paint. You can hardly see it now, but according to the tour guide, back then it was supposedly bright enough to read by for an hour or so after the electricity went out.

[crsmith6196]

Wow - thanks for telling me.

[HelenaDaydreamer]

Cool, yea that could work, let me know please :)

[Wrrr 10-G]

This is just lovely.. Thnx for sharing

[xenobiologista]

You could also just mix the glow powder with clear nail polish. It may not be as hard as resin but it shouldn't get much wear and tear on a concave surface.

[TeresaM7]

Probably a whole lot more expensive, too. Still, you could use it to paint designs up the sides of the glass. That might be fun.

[HelenaDaydreamer]

Hi there thanks for all your comments! You could definitely use just nail polish, but as you said it's not very hard. I would always advise to put the mixture from the other side of the glass, not just because of the powder but the resin as well.

[EmilA1]

I guess you never hear about vaseline glass or uranium glass ...

They are available at flea markets and antique shops.

[xenobiologista]

Vaseline glass does not glow in the dark by itself, it's fluorescent under UV light.

Also uranium is a heavy metal, even the non-radioactive stuff is kinda toxic. Probably not good for drinking glasses.

[Yonatan24]

That looks really cool! Thanks for sharing!

[HelenaDaydreamer]

Thank you :)

[Catley]

This is really special! Makes me wish I drank, but would be a good present for friends who do, and there must be other things that could use some glow in the dark resin!