Easy Etched Glasses

December 2, 2011 at 2:06 pm
by Suzonne Stirling

Etching glass is an old craft that I’ve returned to over the years, always looking for ways to refine the process, to make it easier and more foolproof. After using self-adhesive stencils for painting, I thought I’d see how they stood up to etching cream. Turns out it’s the easiest and most foolproof method I’ve found yet!

If you’re looking for a crafty holiday gift or a way to dress up your table, this is an easy craft to undertake. If you make glasses like mine, each glass will take approximately 20 minutes to complete, 15 minutes of which is waiting time (time that you can spend doing other things). The best part about it – I didn’t have the slightest bit of leakage, meaning that all of my glasses came out exactly the same. That’s been one of the pitfalls of the other methods of etching I’ve tried, so it’s a breakthrough. I don’t know how the self-adhesive stencil keeps on sticking even after getting wet multiple times, but it came through every time.

Here’s how to do it:

Materials:

Clean glasses
Martha Stewart Crafts self-adhesive stencils
Armour Etch etching cream
Fine-tipped paintbrush
Plastic gloves
Scrap paper
Access to running water
Drying cloth

 

Directions:

Step 1:  Apply self-adhesive stencil to your glass (if creating a border around the rim, use the rim of your glass to guide you in the placement of the stencil). Rub your finger over the stencil to make sure all areas are sealed.

 


Step 2:  With your paintbrush, apply a fairly thick, even coating of Armour Etch to the exposed areas of the stencil. Let it sit for 5 minutes.

Step 3:  Without removing the stencil, place the glass under running water and rub etching cream off. Remove the stencil and wash any remaining residue from the glass and the stencil. Blot the stencil dry and dry your glass.


Step 4:  Using the last segment of your design, overlap the stencil slightly for the second application and repeat steps 1-3 (you don’t need to recoat the overlapped section with etching cream, it’s only to help you align the design).  If necessary, repeat for a third time. (Some glasses, like champagne flutes, may only require two applications to completely encircle the glass.)

 

Resources: Martha Stewart Crafts self-adhesive stencils found at Michaels or online through Plaid. (Not all of the stencils are self-adhesive, so check the description. The stencil shown here is from the Fair Isle Dots collection.); Armour Etch also found at Michaels and other craft stores.

Tip: Check thrift stores for sets of plain glasses or shop discount chains.

For more craft and home ideas visit me at Urban Comfort.

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