DIY Christmas Lights Wine Glass

A pretty and colorful DIY Christmas lights wine glass is a fun, festive glass painting project that’s sure to get you into the holiday spirit! Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make yours — feel free to adapt, add your own twists, or swap colors. Let’s bring on that festive sparkle!

🎨 Why This Project Is So Much Fun (and Worth It!)

Why painting these adorable Christmas lights wine glasses is one of my fave DIY projects:

• Simple to create!— just a few dots, lines, and details transform plain glass into holiday magic
• Customizable — pick your favorite holiday colors, mix styles & bulb sizes (classic, neon, vintage)
• Perfect for Christmas dinner glassware, gifts or decor — fun glassware to serve drinks to guests, a sweet hostess gift, or keepsake

Now, let’s walk through how to create this DIY Christmas Lights Wine Glass step by step — grab your materials and your favorite holiday playlist, and let’s go!

See my full tutorial video on how to paint these Christmas wine glasses at the bottom of this post!

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What You’ll Need (Supplies & Prep)

Before starting, gather the following:

• Smooth wine glasses (stemmed or stemless)
• Glass-friendly paint (e.g. Folk Art Gloss Enamel or Multi-surface acrylics made for glass)
• Fine brushes (a very thin liner or detail brush, and a small round brush)
• An erasable marker or silver Sharpie (optional, to sketch layout)
• A cup of water (to rinse brushes)
• Paper towels or a rag
• A palette or plate for mixing
• Optional: sealant (clear acrylic or dishwasher-safe varnish)

Artist’s tip: Gloss enamel paints are a bit more translucent (especially lighter colours) and dry to a high shine, multisurface paints are more opaque and dry flat. There’s no right or wrong choice, just whatever look you prefer!

PREP YOUR GLASS

Clean your glass first with mild soap and water, dry, then apply a squirt of rubbing alcohol and wipe with a paper towel. Let dry completely. This removes and smudge marks, fingerprints, residue or oils from your hands so paint adheres better.

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Step 1: Plan Your Light Strand Layout

Sketch or visualize your path

Think about where the “wire” will go — will it wrap around the glass, crisscross, or spiral? I like doing a wavy line that meanders up the glass and a few loops for visual interest.

You can lightly mark small anchor points (with a light colored erasable marker or silver Sharpie) to guide dots and wires later. Use a very light hand if you do this step!

Choose your bulb spacing & direction

Decide how far apart your “bulbs” (dots) will be. Fairly regular spacing, with slight variation to look natural works well. You can also alternate colors or sizes.

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Step 2: Paint the Wire / String

With a very thin liner brush and a dark color (e.g. black, dark green, or brown):

1. Paint a freehand line (the string) along your planned path.
2. Add little loops or gentle curves so it doesn’t look stiff.
3. Let it dry enough that it’s set but still tacky (so bulbs can “stick” to it with their lines).

This line acts as the foundation for your lights.

Artist’s Tip: If you are having a hard time painting the line (“wire”) or it looks too fat, consider using a dotting tool or the end of a small paintbrush to make a thin line of connected small dots. This is much easier and still looks great.

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Step 3: Add the Lightbulbs (Dots)

Using your round brush, pick your bulb colors (e.g. red, green, yellow, blue, etc.) and do the following:

• Paint round or slightly elongated dots along the line, spaced evenly (or artistically varied)
• Make sure each bulb slightly overlaps or touches the wire so it “looks attached”
• If you like, have some bulbs larger or smaller for variety

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Step 4: Connect Wires to Bulbs / Add Details

Using a very fine liner brush:

• With black paint, add a tiny cap or base at the bottom of each bulb (a little rectangular bit)
• If you want, add a highlight (a small crescent or dot of white) on each bulb for shine

These small touches make the lights “pop.”

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Step 5: Let Dry & Cure

Once all your painting is done:

1. Let the glass sit undisturbed until fully dry (check paint instructions — several hours or overnight)
2. Remove any unwanted paint smudges with a bit of acetone nail polish remover using a Q-tip (Be careful not to get any on your design because acetone WILL remove the paint!)
3. If desired, apply clear gloss enamel for an extra layer of sealant (optional)
4. Some paints say you can air dry for 21 days to cure, but I ALWAYS bake mine in the oven to cure

Baking Instructions

• Place the glasses on a clean cookie sheet in a cold oven. This gradual heating prevents the glass from cracking. This step is VERY IMPORTANT> Never preheat oven.
• Bake: Set the oven to 350°F (175°C). Some paints, like metallics, say 325, check the label. Once the oven reaches temperature, start a timer for 30 minutes.
• Cool Down: After 30 minutes, turn the oven off and leave the glasses inside, until completely cool. I usually crack the oven door but you can leave it closed too. Either is fine.This can take several hours or even overnight.
• Curing Time: After cooling, allow the glasses to rest for 21 to 72 hours before washing or use, depending on the paint brand.
• Hand wash only! Some paints say they’re dishwasher safe but honestly, I always hand wash mine. Also, never scrub with a scrubbie or leave to soak in water for long periods of time. Long soaks in water will lift the paint off the glass. By following these care instructions, you will be able to enjoy your creation for many years to come!

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Tips & Variations to Make It Your Own

• Color themes — try all white, pastel, neon, or vintage Edison bulb tones
• Glitter / metallic accents — mix metallic paint for the wire or bulb caps
• Wrap more tightly — have the strand wrap multiple times around the glass
• Names or words — leave space and paint “Cheers” or “Merry & Bright”
• Mix glass shapes — try clear glass coffee mugs, rock or martini glasses, highballs, mason jars, or champagne flutes

25 Christmas Wine Glass Painting Ideas For You!

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Handmade Hits Different!

There’s something whimsical and charming about sipping from a glass wrapped in holiday lights — it just feels festive. This project is perfect for holiday parties, gifts, or simply elevating your seasonal table décor.

Go ahead, pick your favorite palette, turn up some carols, and let your paint (and creativity) flow. If you try it, I’d love to hear how your glasses turn out or see your own spin on the design. Happy painting & happy holidays! 🎄✨

Love, Luna

Luna Selene Creations is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

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