DIY: Etched Glassware
I was checking out at Hobby Lobby at lunch one day recently and got to chatting with the cashier about our mutual love for our Cricut machines. Note that this is the point in the story where Noah interrupts me to clarify:
You were talking to the cashier?
…yes
About things other than your total or swiping your card?
Yes. Her name was Julie, and she was lovely.
*blank stare*
When we take personality tests, I can just take his for him by choosing the opposite of each of my answers. Saves a lot of time.
Anyway, back to the point. JULIE, who WAS delightful, told me her favorite thing to do with her Cricut is etch glass. Cue screeching break sound as I turn and apologize to the lady behind me, because this might take a sec.
Julie, you saucy little minx! Tell me everything!
Well you just buy a creme at put it on glass. And it etches it.
OK cool! BRB!
And that is how I got into etching glass. As an added bonus, most of the things I make are for kids or women, and it’s high time I showed a tutorial on something that could work for men. And nobody loves monogrammed, classy whiskey glasses like men whose wives make them monogrammed, classy whiskey glasses.
I had so much fun learning to etch glass- it was so much easier than I thought it would be, and the design options are endless. For my first project, I started with monograms for my husband and me on whiskey glasses that I bought at Dollar Tree for… $1. I designed the monogram on Cricut design space (yes, I drew every circle by hand… I had an image in my head and was hellbent on achieving it…) using this free monogram font I downloaded.
You’ll Need:
Glass with flat surface to apply design
Glass etching product- I used Armour Etch from Hobby Lobby, but be sure to use your 40% coupon! It isn’t cheap, but one bottle will go a long way if you’re doing something small like glasses
Paint Brush
Stencil- I made mine with my Cricut machine, or you can purchase stickers or stencils at most craft stores
How to Etch Glass:
Clean glass with glass cleaner.
Make sticker to use as stencil using Cricut, or buy stencil.
If you make the stencil sticker, you need the ‘negative’ (the outline of the design rather than the actual design)
Apply sticker or stencil to glass. If using a stencil, tape it on very securely. If it is loose, the agent will get underneath the stencil and result in blurry lines.
Using paint brush, dab agent on glass generously. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
Be careful not to get agent anywhere but area you want etched
The instructions say you should leave the product on glass for 1 minute, but I’ve found that more time makes it less blotchy
Using wet paint brush, wipe product off of glass
Careful not to wipe agent onto un-etched glass
I use a dry paper towel to wipe agent off of brush
Remove sticker
Hand wash, or wash in dishwasher
There are so many things you could etch!
Casserole dish (I really want to do something big like this, but let’s be honest- I don’t cook in mine often, and they certainly never leave my house, so they really don’t need to be labeled)
Cookie/flour/sugar jars
Glass tupperware, if your kiddo’s school requires names on everyyyyything like ours does
Candles
I haven’t tried a mirror yet, but I plan to! The Armour Etch bottle says it will work.
Here’s an oil jar I etched (“oil you need is love”):
And a few more whiskey glasses with cute phrases:
cheers!
I googled slang words for tipsy and found the word ‘tiddly.’ Apparently this is a British word. I think it is adorable and I’m just hoping it means tipsy and not blackout drunk.
UPDATE: It doesn’t really matter because the 3-yo already smashed this glass, spewing shards deep into the fibers of a shag rug. “Sowwy, mom!”
In other news, do you want to know what is really hard? Photographing etched phrases on shiny clear glassware. This is the best i’ve got in me, so if you can’t read them then kindly just pretend you can. Many thanks. Just trust me when I say they look even better in person.
toodles! tlo
