If you’re like me and can’t refrain from buying random knick knacks at the thrift store, this is a great project to bring new life into some plain artifacts. Glass etching cream is a paste that you can apply to any glass surface that will basically eat away the top layers to reveal whatever pattern you painted on.
I did this project on a set of old glasses that I had on hand as well as a new set of cheap glasses that I got at HomeSense, which I etched on and gave to my family as gifts. For this project, I chose to etch large, serif initials onto my glasses. I love the idea of making and gifting initialed glasses because they are so versatile! You can use them as decoration, as a desk organizer, or just as a personalized cup (which is especially great for bathroom toothbrush holders). This is also a great craft to do on old glass vases, mason jars, glass jam jars and basically anything else made of glass!
Also if you haven’t already guessed, I got my non-toxic etching cream from Michaels (sponsor me pls). I haven’t played around with different creams, but the one I got was on the weaker side and even after being left for double the amount of recommended time, left an uneven etch. Although it didn’t work out as I planned, I like how the unevenness gave off a more rustic vibe.
Doing this project I learned three things:
- Leave the cream on for longer than directed
- The more simple the design, the easier
- A thick, even layer is needed to see good results
I ended up having to redo mine because leaving the cream for 15 minutes as directed didn’t give the cream enough time to work, and I annoyingly had to repaint the cream on all over again after I washed it off for the first time.
I found the best way to get a clean design is to pick up some printer-friendly sticker/label paper (I got mine at the dollar store) and print out your design onto it. Use an X-Acto knife to cut out the pattern, peel off the backing and stick it onto the glass to make your own stencil. Using a stencil makes it easier to apply a thick layer than if you were to paint free-handedly with the cream.
Although most etching creams I’ve seen are non-toxic, be sure to have proper equipment on hand, be in a well ventilated area and use gloves when handling the cream. To prevent harsh chemicals from going down the drain, I took extra care to wipe off most of my cream with damp paper towels before rinsing the entire class in my sink. I also made sure that none of the chemical sat in my sink after I rinsed it off and I hand washed the glasses before washing them a second time in the dishwasher to ensure they were clean and safe to drink out of.
How to Make Customized Glasses
Materials
- Glass etching cream
- Printer-friendly sticker or label paper
- X-Acto or precision knife
- Paint brush
- Glass cups
- Rubber or latex gloves
Process
- Using an X-Acto or precision knife, cut out your desired design onto the sticker paper. It helps to print a design onto it first to use as a guide before you carve it out.
- Wash and dry the glass cups.
- Wear gloves while handling the etching cream. Using a paint brush, paint a thick and even layer of the etching cream overtop of the stencil.
- Follow the directions of the glass etching cream and let it sit accordingly. You may need to let it set longer depending on the brand, but I let mine sit for 30 minutes (double the recommended time).
- Peel off the stencil and wash off the cream using some soapy water. Wash the glasses thoroughly before using. Etched glasses are typically top-rack dishwasher safe so I recommend running them through a cycle before using them to drink out of.
Concluding Thoughts
Although my etching cream wasn’t as strong as I thought it would be, tweaking the process a little helped me to achieve results that I’m happy with! If I were to try this again, I would definitely read the reviews of the etching cream before buying, because it is a little bit more on the expensive side in terms of crafty DIY tools and there are a variety of brands out there varying in etching power.
However, once you source out a good etching cream, the process itself is a breeze and I really want to try it on a glass vase or small mirror. It’s a great way to upcycle those old glasses that you might have hiding in the back of your cupboard or that one 50 cent cup that you just had to have from the thrift store 🙂
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