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Glass Etching

ByGail Wilson Published on Updated on
119 Comments

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Doing glass etching on various projects is a great way to personalize gifts. It’s fairly easy to do, but you do need to be very careful with the etching cream.

glass totemI had this glass totem that I made over a year ago. I googled to find a garden phrase and found “Friends are the flowers in the garden of life”.

Decide on a stencil

friends are the flowersThe image was designed  in my Silhouette Studio Designer Edition. I was cutting this out on my Portrait, so I did  it in two different cuts. After I cut it like this, I rotated it to cut the other half. Note: the “g” in garden,  I didn’t make my outer most circle quite big enough.

etching-cream-vinylCan you see the words? It’s tough to see white on white.

Apply Stencil

etching-cream-vinyl-appliedI actually ended up cutting out one word at a time and applied it without transfer paper. Because I do stenciling all the time, it was easy for me. This vinyl is VERY sticky and a little difficult to re-position. After applying each word, I transferred the oodles and boodles. (insides of the letters)

Spread etching cream with plastic knife

spreading-etching-creamThere were a couple of places I had to “patch” with a small sliver of the vinyl—where the letter was too close to the edge, and where the two words didn’t come together perfectly. I didn’t want the etching cream to bleed though the edges of the stencil.

After donning rubber gloves I used a plastic knife to apply the etching cream to the stencil.

Use a cotton swab to clean up smudges

use-a-qtip-remove-excessThere were a couple of places I got too close to the edge, and used a Q-tip to clean it up.

Rinse Etching Cream with garden hose

scrape-excess-etching-cream-into-botteI scraped the excess etching cream back into the bottle, it’s reusable. It’s best to do this outside (away from pets and plants).

rinse-etching-creamCarefully, I rinsed the etching cream off with the hose. I have used etching cream before and learned the hard way that you shouldn’t rinse it in your sink. When you  have a porcelain sink  the etching cream can leave visible damage.

Admire your glass etching project!

glass-totem

garden-totemI love how this glass etching turned out! There are so many applications for glass etching. Think candy dishes, dog/cat treat bowls, oh and I did glass etching on a  baking dish for jamie years ago.

gail

See more repurposed glass project ideas here

Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.

119 Comments

  1. Darn! Too late but that’s okay – My husband just bought me a Silhouette Cameo for my birthday that’s coming up in a week or so and when we were there, I saw the fabulous glass etching piece and thought that would be my next purchase!

  3. I would love a Silhouette to make some vinyl wall art for my daughter’s room. I would use the etching cream on some glass photo frames that I already have – they would make perfect wedding gifts!

  4. Hi,
    I have so many great ideas what I would love to make with a Silhouette portrait, but first I’d love to make some mini personalized glass etched candles for teacher appreciation gifts and gifts for my friends – I think they would look wonderful.
    thanks for a great giveaway

  6. I collect(um, hoard) lots of glass jars. This would be fun to use so I can display them instead of keeping them on dusty old shelves 🙂

  7. Ohhh i would love to win!!! I have so many ideas on what to make! I think I would use it to make greeting cards and decorations especially with vinyl. I would also use the etching kit to make Mr. and Mrs. glasses for a friend who is getting married this winter!

  8. i’d use the portrait to make up some halloween party invites. i’d love to etch some beer mugs for christmas gifts.

  20. Prefect timing for Halloween. It would be fun to etch some ghosts, Halloween says, etc on some candle holders!!

  25. Ok Glass etching is next on my list! That little garden statue is awesome Gail! I think I would use it to personalize
    Christmas gifts 🙂

  27. I’m thinking I’d like to etch something on the glass door of my studio (after some practice on something else!)

  28. My son and his wife are deaf. I’d love to etch the hand-sign I Love You on a set or clear dessert plates and glasses. Thanks for a wonderful giveaway.

  29. I always wanted to try etching. I have some really funky blue wine bottles I would like to etch one day. I also have many other ideas for window panes and glass doors.

  30. I really want to etch my own casserole dishes that my sweet hubby bought for me on our last anniversary. Yes, it was what I wanted! I also want them to return to me, so putting our last name on them is imperative!!! Of course my mind has a lot of other vinyl projects rolling around in it…I have some spare cupboard doors crying out for vinyl…

  32. I have wanted to do glass etching for awhile, but have been scared I will mess it up. This looks so easy. I would like to make personalized Christmas ornaments for my children and this would be a great opportunity. With the Silhouette I could make each one special with out having purchase off the shelf generic stencils. Thanks for the opportunity!

  34. My son is getting married in April, I wanted to etch an entire set of kitchen ware for their wedding.

  35. My daughter just bought a house and I would love to etch Welcome on the window in her door. I could also make some unique Christmas gifts!

  39. I would love to do some etching on some old windows, glasses, mirrors and on and on……so many surfaces.
    Thank you for the giveaway.

  40. I have shelves of glass in my garage that I use to make totems with solar lights in them to give to people who have lost a loved one. I call them ‘memory lights’. Every day as night falls they are reminded that their loved one is still with them in their hearts. I would love to be able to personalize them with the Silhouette and etching kit. PLEASE!

  41. I’d so love to win to try this…I don’t know where I’d even start — picture frames, ornaments…it’s all so cool.

  43. That is such a cool idea! I would etch my glass flour and sugar jars first and then find some glassware for the bathroom and monogram those!

  44. I am love everything having a “place” and I would use this on glass jars I’ve collected for storage around the house. Plus, wouldn’t it make personalized gifts easy peasy? Some of the comments gave me some great ideas. Thank y’all!

  45. I would use it to etch like tea, sugar and flour into glass canisters or candy dishes.. Thanks for the chance to win a awesome prize.

  47. I would put our name on some of the Pyrex and other dishes we got as wedding gifts with the etching kit. I would love to use some of the other Silhouette products to add decals to plain tshirts, create handmade holiday cards and gift tags and create some subway art for the living room.

  49. I would love to have a Silhouette to enhance my paintings. I am sitting here with the shingles thinking of all the wonderful ways I could use a Silhouette. I would love to give etching gifts on dishware! What a great personal gift. I would love to use both etching and Silhouette to personalize weddings at our old barn. I would like to develop the barn as a wedding site, but I’m not sure I can pull it off. We have had two wedding there so far and one more booked. I made tons of signs and designs for the wedding and believe the Silhouette and the etching would add a professional air.

  51. I would love to etch some plates to personalize for Christmas gifts! Thanks for the chance to win 🙂

  52. I would do some Christmas Presents on 8×12 casserole dish to give to my daughters, sister and nieces.

  53. I want to make some vinyl wall art for my sons room and I would love to etch some glasses with my boys favorite super hero logos

  55. I would to do some etching on my vases! I would use the silhouette for cutting tons of stuff! I love how your glass totem turned out! So cool!

  56. I’ve tried etching before, but it seems that it will be much easier using the portrait. I’ve lately been researching this product and would to win one to aid in my paper crafting hobby!

  57. I have always wanted to do glass etching and have dreamed of having a silhouette. What would I do with one? There are so many things, Like glasses, mirrors, and the totems that I have made. There are so many.

  59. i am amazed at all the things that i could do with the silhouette/cameo,vinyl,glass etching,inking,,,what else,hmmmm,blinging,,,,,, wow i need the eiching kit!!!!! Endless possibilities:)

  61. I have been wanting to etch a number of things, including glass wear, a table, and a mirror to go in my Louisville Cardinal room.

  62. I have seen etching creams before, but was reluctant to try it because wasn’t sure if they worked or how hard they would be to use. Thanks for showing us this. First thing that came to my mind to use it on, was a candy jar. And I like the idea of using them on platters or baking dishes to use as gifts.

  63. I am working on a “family tree” gallery in my house, and I would really like to put each person’s name on the glass of each picture with vinyl and having a Silhouette would make this so much easier and nicer looking.

  64. The possibilities are endless with the portrait! I would love to use the stamping tool to make stamps for clothing for my daughter. I would also love to use the vinyl cutting tool to create labels and organize things in my kitchen. I would use the etching tool to create fun patterns on vases. I have tried to do it freehand but it is always a mess and never looks that great!

  66. P.S. The rafflecopter says the raffle ends in 33 days and 19 hours rather than 3 days and 19 hours. Just thought you might want to know.

  69. I would love to have the Silhouette portrait because I still have the Silhouette SD…it’s high time for an upgrade! I would love to create some beautiful glass etching on mason jars for sugar and salt scrubs. Those are great give aways for the holidays and great for birthday gifts too! I can see it now…”Sweet Brown Sugar Scrub” and “Luscious Lavendar Salt Scrub”.

  70. I have been thinking of getting each of my cats their own personalized plate, so that’s what I think I would make.

  72. We have a lot of upcoming weddings to attend, so I would etch on bakeware as a personalized gift for each couple. Or even come up with something more original. I love how your project turned out!

  74. I have three nephews getting married in the next few months–I’d love to etch glass cookie jars for them and fill them with my mother’s (their grandmother’s) cookie recipes.

  75. Stacy has been bugging me about getting her a Silhouette – I’m sure cake plates would be a first project for this handy little item.

  78. I would love to hang a new portrait on my collage wall. I would love to etch My cake domes and some plates.

  79. All my mirrors and maybe my bathroom window. I love words and phrases. And punnies! Thanks for the chance!

  82. I feel so silly, but I had no idea something as cool as etching cream existed. I WANT TO ETCH ALL THE GLASS NOW!

  83. that is a beautiful garden totem!!! love how the etching turned out! i would etch sayings onto the glass in frames/i would etch monograms onto glasses for gifts/etch fronts of wine bottles and or jars!

  84. I’d etch a piece of glass to have a favorite quote, something either JRR Tolkien or GMMR or from The IT Crowd. Then I’d frame it and put some bright scrapbook paper (solid color) behind it!

  85. I’m working on assembling parts to make a Trumeau Mirror that I would love to etch a quote in once done. Have the mirror, not I need a great old door and some trim!

  86. Oh I love this! My amily is making gifts this year for Christmas, and this would give me so many options!

  87. I have been working on my family history and would love to be able to etch family trees onto old windows to share with my ever shrinking family…

  88. I would love to be able to add etched embellishments to the stained glass custom pieces that I make for people.

  89. It would be quicker to list what I wouldn’t use it for! I’d definitely use the etching cream for some Christmas gifts. When I get a Silouette, EVERYTHING with be labeled. Can’t wait!

  90. That looks really nice and crisp!

    Hmmm… what would I etch… I think it would be cool to take an old window and etch something on it and hang it from two chains. 🙂 xo

  91. I would love to win a silhouette. I have a pinterest board full projects just waiting to get done. 😉 I would love to etch glasses for my family.

  92. Thanks for the chance to win! So cool! I would like to try etching special glasses for my kids to use and maybe dishes as well! 🙂

  97. I make bird feeders from glass plates and I would use this to etch designs and words on them. It would make them so awesome. Also Christmas and wedding presents, galore!!!
    Melissa

  98. I love the idea of glass etching, never tried it but definitely will if I with this puppy :). Great little gadget!!! Perfect for the holidays coming up.

  100. Thank you so much for the giveaway. I would love to etch vases for wedding presents. But I would also create scrapbook embellishments like a mad woman 🙂

  101. Omgosh… I would soo love to win one of these..What wouldn’t I do with it..Signs, pillows I have so many ideas. As far as etching goes I would love to try it on some jewelry and my daughter is graduating from H.S this year so making her a shadow box with her cap and senior picture is on my to do list and etching on the glass would be awesome.
    Thank you for all you share!

  102. I have been wanting to etch! I have candle holders and vases from my wedding reception that I have always wanted to etch and give to loved ones as gifts.

  104. Would love to make some gifts for my sisters and mom etched with their names and filled with some homemade goodies from my garden!

  106. If I were lucky enough to win this great giveaway (or if I magically had $269 to finally purchase one) I’d mostly use it to make signs, I LOVE signs!! The 1st sign I would make using the etching, would be a gift for my parents 50th wedding anniversary in Dec.

  107. My daughter shares an apartment with six other girls at college. I would monogram plates for each one as a Christmas gift:) I have wanted this tool in my arsenal for a while now. Thanks for this great giveaway.

    Be blessed:)

  109. I love etching. We have some etched cabinet doors done the old school way, and now that I think of it, I have a wedding to go to I should etch something for them as a gift.

  110. I would etch the two glass doors on my cupboards in my kitchen. I have so many ideas on using the Silhouette that I can’t list them all. Thanks for the great giveaway.

  111. I would etch all my bakeware to make sure it comes back to me and make hostess and housewarming gifts for friends

  112. I would etch some vases I have with a cool design. That way I could make them a bit more visually interesting.

  113. I use glass bowls and serving dishes. The very first thing I would do is etch my name on them so they find their way back home.

  114. I would love to use it to etch a cake stand and casserole dish like I have seen others do as a gift. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  116. i love the saying and how this turned out. Very cool. Haven’t a clue what I would etch, but I bet I could come up with something!

  117. I would love a Silhouette. If I had this machine I would definitely etch windows in our pantry doors and maybe even the laundry room. How fun this would be! Jo @ Let’s Face the Music

  118. I would love to etch monogrammed wine glasses for Christmas gifts! LOVE the giveaway 🙂

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