Have you heard of the decorative art technique of Verre Eglomise? Apparently it dates back to the 13th century and according to Wikipedia, the French term Verre Eglomise refers to the process of applying both a design and gilding onto the back of the glass to produce a mirror-like finish. When you combine it with Unicorn SPiT, it creates the most beautiful effect.
That’s my humble attempt at Verre Eglomise with Unicorn SPiT and it was surprisingly easy to do. I’ve never used Unicorn SPiT on glass before. I do know that it works like a charm on wood and material though, and I’ve been dying to try it. Especially after seeing all the beautiful things some of the other talented SPiTTers have been doing. Anyhows, because this was one of those playing around, experiment kinda things, there was just no ways I was going to spend a ton of money. Luckily, we had one of those el-cheapo clocks and a plastic doily in our craft stash that was just perfect.
How To Verre Eglomise With Unicorn Spit
After dismantling the clock we gave the glass a good clean with newspaper and watered down vinegar, before using the doily as a stencil.
The design on the doily was quite fussy, so I took a plastic lid to mask off the center bit. When spraying the doily, I used a very light touch, so the design would come out blotchy and hazy rather than perfect. I think it adds a nice aged feel.
Once the paint was dry, I applied a coat of clear Mod Podge to the glass. Like most water-based paints, Unicorn SPiT won’t adhere to smooth surfaces like glass, plastic, or melamine if it’s not treated first. If you don’t have any SPiT, acrylic paints will also work. Using a combination of White Ming and Zia Teal I just dabbed bits of color onto the back of the glass, being careful to leave some gaps between the colors.
When everything was dry, copperleaf was applied to the outer edges of the glass.
Copperleaf is really, really thin sheets of copper and you should be able to find it in most craft shops. It comes in a pack of between 10 and 25 sheets. To apply the copper leaf, spray the area with a little tacky glue and gently brush on the leaf with a good quality brush. I had to keep flipping the glass over to make sure it looked okay. It was a bit disconcerting to work on the back of the glass, you’re kinda layering everything in reverse 😀
Life is lived forward but judged in reverse - Salman Rushdie
Once I had the look I was going for, I sprayed the back of the glass with mirror effects from Rustoleum. Krylon sells something similar, but it’s hard to find here in South Africa.
And that’s it. The Verre Eglomise with Unicorn Spit experiment was done. The piece of glass went back into the original plastic frame, which got a quick makeover with some spray paint.
Aren’t those colors just lovely?
The photos don’t do the Verre Eglomise with Unicorn SPiT justice at all.
And the colors in the mirror change depending on how the light catches the copper leaf behind the glass. I think I’m ready to go all out now and try the technique on a BIG piece of glass. What do you think? Have you experimented with anything interesting lately? I’d love to hear how it turned out.
And if you like the idea of using Unicorn SPiT to make in Verre Eglomise don’t forget to pin it for later.
BTW, if you love Unicorn SPiT as much as we do and want to spit on some crazy things, here are a few more tutorials you’ll enjoy:
- It’s great for creating faux rust;
- Or you can apply some Unicorn SPiT to fabric;
- And boring melamine is no match for the power of SPiT either ;-);
- You can even use Unicorn SPiT to create this cracked up effect for something totally different;
- Or to make a mixed media mosiac. The posibilities are endless.
Unicorn SPiT has a few sparkling colors too, which are just stunning. This tutorial will show you how to blend the sparkling colors to create jewel-like tones. Oh and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: If you click on the links below, we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us come up with new crafty ideas to share with you 😉
Or if you prefer to buy rather than DIY
As always sending lots of love and hope you have a stupendously creative week.
Last update on 2026-04-23 / Source Amazon Affiliates
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