I’ve wanted to try glass etching for years. It just never seemed to make it to the top of the list and, frankly, I thought it was harder than it actually is. Apparently this was the year, because after buying the wrong product, then using the right product on the wrong type of glass, I finally nailed it. I want to etch everything now.
I found these jars at the dollar store and decided for the price it wouldn’t be a big deal if I ruined them. They had that nice framed area on each side that was just begging for embellishment.
I used this Armour Etch glass etching cream. You’ll know you have the right stuff if it has warnings on every side that basically say not to touch it, breathe it, stick it in your eye or look at it wrong. Oh, and it may be fatal. Fun times.
To make the stencil, I used some ugly, old Contact paper. I guess there was a day I didn’t think it was ugly, since I own it, but this is not that day.
I cut out the stencil with a razor knife.
I peeled off the backing and applied the sticky side to the jar. If your design is very complex or your glass is very curved, it takes a bit of patience to get the stencil on straight.
I applied a generous coat of etching cream inside the stencil.
The instructions on the jar say to leave it on for one minute, but after the glass block fiasco, I left it on for an hour to be safe. I don’t know if it helped, but it didn’t hurt. I also wiped a bit off to make sure it had worked before washing the whole thing.
I did have a few small spots that didn’t etch, so I carefully brushed cream onto those areas and let it sit for another hour. That did the job for most of it, except for one spot that just wouldn’t take. It isn’t very noticeable, and one out of twelve panels isn’t bad.
My favorite jar turned out to be the one where I etched the negative space around the pictures, instead of the pictures themselves. This is the one I gave to my sister as a hostess gift on Thanksgiving, full of Spiced Chai Tea Mix.
I was curious whether this would work on mason jars, so I tried it on this one. I love it so much I don’t even know what to put in it.
Join me again on Wednesday and I’ll share my Spiced Chai Mix and Salted Caramel Cocoa Mix recipes I used to fill these!
Staci, how about putting some handmade lotion or bath salts into the small half pint jar? You can put just about anything in them that you can put in the bigger jars. They would make great Teacher gifts.
That’s a great idea! Those are my initials on the jar in the photo, so whatever goes into it is for me!
another great project! thanks!!!!
My pleasure!
Looks great, I always wanted to try this!
Try it! I’ve wanted to for a long time too, and I’m so glad I did!
I did some etching earlier this year and the real trick for me after 1st total failure, was to wash the vase I was doing in warm soapy water, then rubbing entire thing down with rubbing alcohol and wiping with clean paper towel….worked great that time! AND I also left it on much longer than called for and it turned out SOOOO much better than 1st time! I was at least pleased and I am my own worst critic really.
I didn’t wash mine before, thinking the acid in the etching cream could eat through anything, but now I’m wondering if that was the problem with some of those spots. I’ll try your suggestion next time. Thank you!
Pingback: Spiced Chai Tea Mix and Salted Caramel Cocoa Mix « Crafty Staci
these look great! I had no luck at all with that etching creme
My last attempt was pretty much a fail, so I’m thrilled it worked this time! I’m sorry to hear yours didn’t work Wendy. Maybe next time will be different!
I’ve never etched glass before. Do you etch the inside or out side of the jar?
I’ve only done it on the outside. You could probably etch the inside, but I’ve never tried it. Now I’m kind of curious what that would look like!