DIY: Glass Etching Tutorial

Glass etching is kind of like spray painting, once you get the bug you want to etch everything.  So I apologize now if I turn you into an etching monster.  It is incredibly simple and you can do it for pretty cheap (just make sure you print off your Hobby Lobby coupon and save 40% when you run out the door to go buy etching cream.)  I'm sure you've seen some great tutorials online of how to etch your name into your your pyrex from Make it and Love It.  She uses vinyl and a Silhouette, but you don't have to have these to do it.  Granted I'm sure it takes longer to cut it out by hand than it does with a Silhouette but I'm using what I got!

I needed another little something for my kitchen window and when I saw some reusable,  vinyl paint stickers with a chandelier I swiped them up.  I could probably put little chandeliers on everything but my husband might roll his eyes.  Apply the etching cream as directed and wait.  I have found that I need mine to sit for at least 10 minutes.  Wash it off with water, peel template off and stick back on the sheet, wash glass again, dry, windex and then admire.  Really that's it!

I have also done some other etching using clear contact paper.  Works just as well except you can only use it once because it rips when you remove it.  To make your own stencil with contact paper print off the design or words you want.  Use painters tape to tape the image to the contact paper, if its big and simple use scissors to cut out the inside, if its small use an exacto knife.  Carefully remove the painters tape and paper template.  Figure out where you want your design, peel off contact paper baking and attach.  Make sure to press it down really well so that none of the etching cream gets underneath where you don't want it.  Then you can use painters tape to frame off your edges, this really helps because it can be hard to see the edges of the clear contact paper.

At first I filled my jar with some blue food coloring and water with a candle floating on top, but I changed my mind.  I put red glitter and ground coffee in there and gave it a swirl.  On Christmas Eve we can add some oatmeal to it and sprinkle it outside as reindeer food.  Because reindeer need some caffeine and pep in their flying, and because I was out of coffee beans.