Adding Sass to Your Glass

Glass Etching by author Meghan Carter

Materials you'll need.
Design ideas.
Step-by-step glass etching instructions.

Glass etching might be one of the most ingenious ways to add a touch of your own personal style to your home. Regardless of whether your decorating style is modern, country or traditional, there is a fashionable pattern to use when you etch your glass. Don't believe glass etching can be so versatile? Here are some great glass etching patterns for each type of style:

Modern and contemporary glass pieces look stunning when etched with simple geometric patterns or organic, earthy silhouettes. Try circles, squares, swirls, leaves, branches or flowers when etching glass with a modern style.
Country glass pieces take center stage when etched with words, cute animal pictures or flowers. Try etching glass jars with the words of what they hold or etching silhouettes of chickens, cows, horses, eggs or flowers.
Traditional glass pieces add an elegant touch when etched with scroll designs, damask patterns, vines, diamonds and other intricate patterns. Try looking at wallpaper and fabric for inspirations when looking for a traditional pattern to etch on glass.

When choosing which pattern to use when glass etching, look around at the décor in your home and find a pattern that will compliment what is already there. When you see the results, I promise you will be stunned. Glass etching looks so beautiful, and the best part is that it is so easy. In a matter of minutes - literally - you can etch a beautiful pattern onto glass. To see for yourself how easy glass etching is, watch my video where I show you step-by-step instructions on how to etch glass.

What to Etch

There are many different glass objects in your home that will look beautiful when etched. Here are some of my favorites:

Wine Glasses
Cocktail Glasses
Jars
Plates
Bowls
Candlesticks
Vases
Lamp Bases
Cabinet Glass
Mirrors

Glass Etching Ideas

Personalize your party décor by etching wine glasses, plates, bowls, vases or candlesticks. Choose a pattern that works with your theme or a simple abstract pattern that adds to the festivity.
Etch glass as a gift. Whether it's for a housewarming or birthday, glass etching makes for a beautiful gift. Try etching a beautiful vase and fill it with flowers, or etch a jar and fill it with a bread or cookie mix.
Update your cabinet glass with a bit of etching. Etch a simple frame, a windowpane or a pretty pattern on the glass. The cabinets will look beautiful when you're finished.

Glass Etching Materials

Glass cleaner
Vinyl contact
Craft knife or razor knife
Glass object
Glass etching cream
Carbon paper or a stencil

How to Etch Glass

First, wash your glass with a mild soap and water, and dry the glass with a clean cloth.
Cut a piece of vinyl contact, which is vinyl with an adhesive side. Your piece of vinyl contact should be a bit bigger than the size of the area you would like to etch.
Once you have your piece of vinyl contact, put it onto the glass. To keep from having bums under the vinyl contact, put the contact on very slowly applying pressure as you go. If you find any bumps under the vinyl contact, try to work them out. Any bumps may be places where the glass etching cream can seep under the vinyl and ruin your design.
After putting the vinyl contact on your glass, it's time to make your design. If you plan on using carbon paper, put the carbon paper on the vinyl contact. Then put a picture of your pattern over the carbon paper and trace over the pattern. When you are finished tracing the pattern, the carbon paper will have left the pattern on the vinyl contact. If you have a stencil you like, simply use the stencil to trace the pattern onto the vinyl contact.
Once the pattern has been drawn onto the vinyl contact, you can cut out your design with a craft knife or razor knife. After cutting out each section of vinyl contact, peel that piece of vinyl contact off of the glass. Remember, the places you cut out of the vinyl where the glass is exposed will be the parts of the glass that are etched.
Then, using a paintbrush, put glass etching cream all over the stencil. Be sure to put the glass etching cream on very thick and try to apply it as evenly as possible. Because the fumes from glass etching cream can be bad to inhale, make sure you only etch glass in a very well ventilated area.
Let the glass etching cream sit on the glass for the amount of time suggested on the bottle. Then rinse the glass etching cream off with clean water.
Remove the vinyl contact, clean the glass with a glass cleaner and you're done. It really is that easy and the results will be beautiful.
To make the design on the vinyl, you can use either carbon paper or a regular stencil. Trace your design onto the vinyl.
Then cut it out using a craft knife. The holes you cut in the vinyl are the places where the glass will be etched.
Once you have cut out your entire pattern, apply a thick layer of etching cream with a brush. Make sure the entire stencil area is covered with etching cream.
Let the cream sit for the amount of time suggested on the label. Then rinse it off with water. Remove the vinyl contact and clean the glass with a glass cleaner.

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Adding Sass to Your Glass

Glass Etching by author Meghan Carter

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