Jun
14
2010
Glass Etching
If interested, I answered a few interview questions with Simply Modern Mom here.
And a few more questions with The Creative Connection here.
(At the end of the interview with Creative Connection, there is a mention of a 2 pattern giveaway from my shop.
But hurry, it closes at noon today (MST)…….eeek, sorry for such short notice.)
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Have you ever done any glass etching?
Well, neither had I before today.
But wow. Such an easy, yet sweet little touch that you can add to any glass.
Check out my new and improved etched Trifle Bowl.
The perfect bowl for desserts of all kinds…..and even a great place for fresh fruit on the counter. And I kind of adore that little bird perched on the branch.
Glass etching is also a great way to stamp your name on your pyrex dishes, to make sure they come back to you.
And how about adding a little extra detail, just because……
(Edited to Add: The font used here is called Smiley Monster and I downloaded the font for free here.)
.
Sweet in every way.
Are you wanting to make your own?
.
(This technique permanently etches your glass. You cannot remove it once you’re done. With that said, your creation will not rub or wash off, and will stay put as long as the dish lasts.)
First, you’ll need a piece of vinyl with an adhesive back, like the vinyl you buy for vinyl wall decor. You can buy rolls or sheets of it at craft stores (if you must have some today) or you can buy some great vinyl much cheaper from one of my sponsors, Expressions Vinyl. If you don’t have a craft cutter of some sort to cut the image for you (like I did), then you can trace an image, shape, or letters on the vinyl and then cut it out with an exacto knife, or utility knife. (And I haven’t tried this but I think you may be able to do the glass etching technique with a piece of contact paper, if you’re going to be cutting out your shapes free hand with an exacto knife.)
Then peel away the shapes, leaving the negative space all in one piece. (Keep in mind if you are using an exacto knife, to not cut through the negative space. Cut away the shapes/letters, but leave the main piece together, without cuts or tears in it.
The Silhouette code for the bird/branch is: bird_on_branch_C00044_23067 01/18/2010
Then place a piece of transfer paper (you could use contact paper for this too I’m guessing…) that is sticky on one side, to the front of your vinyl.
Then peel the vinyl backing away. (The red side that you see below is the sticky side.)
Then place your vinyl against your glass, making sure to center the image just where you’d like it. Press down firmly, then pull off the transfer paper/contact paper.
See how there are air bubbles? Press those down firmly with your fingers. If they are far from the opening of your image, don’t worry about them. You just don’t want the etching cream to get in under the edges and mess up the image.
Then apply a layer of your etching cream on the exposed glass. (I found this cream at Michael’s.) Follow the instructions on the bottle and allow the cream to sit and rough up the glass surface. (I left mine to sit for about 10 minutes.)
**Again, this process makes the etching permanent. The cream is an acid, and etches away at the surface of your glass…….transforming the look of your glass permanently. So you cannot rub or wash the etching off.
Then I rinsed off really well with water and used my fingers to rub it all off. Then I peeled back the vinyl and rinsed again with soap and water.
Dry your glass and admire the beautiful etching, all done for you by the cream.
(Edited to Add: The font used here is called Smiley Monster and I downloaded the font for free here.)
Good luck!
Such a great technique, right?
And just think…….you could put together some pyrex dishes for a newly married couple, etched with their new last name. Then throw in some hot pads, cooking utensils, and your favorite recipes. Perfect gift.
That is realy neat I had no clue how to do that!
♥Michelle
does the cream just make it look etched, or is the glass really changed?
Technically it is still glass. The cream (or acid) eats away the glass in the form of microscopic pits. These pits change the way light is able to pass through the glass and it appears cloudy.
i have known about this etching in the 80′s and have no ideal how long it has really been around, it is the most simplest way to make a personal gift or even to make items to resell like at a swapmeet. when my dad married my stepmonster he bought her a buick regal. there was a small triangullar window that was super dark. i etched rosemarie and a rose in the right side bottom and side of the window. i have also made wedding champaign glasses and personalized mirrors and anything that can be thought of can be made into a stencil and etched. and etched objects are more meaningful and make more money than non etched items…all you need is the cream which isnt expensive at all , gloves, paintbrush to apply ethcing and contact paper or vinal, exacto knife is best but a brand new razor blade will do as must be super super sharp, oh and you need the ability to draw and cut out a picture without messing up..AT ALL! trust me not as easy as you think. did alot of do-overs on alot that were more complex. i am blessed to have a son who is a great artist do all my etching and blueprints. each etching is individual and personal and can glam up just about anything for pennies. check it out…you will love it as much as all us etchers do….
I think Cricut makes a cutter that cuts letters and graphics out of vinyl.
there are lots of images that can be cut using the cricut expresssion. almost anything you like
what is cricut expression AND where could I find stencils for small letters to put on a bowl?
What is a critcut? And where could I get stencils for letters?
If anyone wants pre made stencils Just email me with the size you need and what you want and I will send you a stencil. For sizes up to 8.5 x 11 just $5 including mailing. You can find us on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/profitablepromos or email me at: Trina@profitablepromos.com
I would not buy a cricut – the cutter is tied to the cartridges or buying their designs only. You cannot import your own designs. A much better cutter is the Silhouette Cameo – it does more AND it is cheaper! The basic software Silhouette Studiois free. You can find the Cameo online easily and also at some Micheals stores. Check OhmyCraft.com, or Overstock.com for some good prices. I got mine for less than $250 with a coupon. I also own a crcicut and am have not used it since I got the Cameo!
does it really come out cloudy
Amanda, I just added a better explanation of this to the post, but yes, it is really etched. The cream is an acid so it etches away at the surface of the glass, making this a permanent transformation to the glass. hope that answers your question.
Ashley
love it! i want to "enhance" some glass right now!!!
I was just thinking about doing this on our mirrors in the master bathroom. They are those large, builders mirrors and we don't want to hassle with taking them down. Glad to know it works so great!
we did this a little while ago – here's some of our finished projects- thanks for the tutorial!
http://creativehighs.blogspot.com/2010/04/glass-etching.html
we did it on a glass pitcher- it didn't show up as well with the water in it…
That is really awesome! I love the idea of etching your last name in dishes so no one is tempted to keep them when you loan them out :)
I just did this last night…put my name on my pyrex casserol dish that way at dinners it’s no question as to which one is mine
did you use a stencil for the letters? I want to do my last name….???
Thanks!
I use my Cricut machine to make whatever letters or pics I want.
Which Cricut cartridge is the one you used for your font on your pyrex dish?
I love this idea….especially for the glass dishes….it would be a cool wedding/bridal shower gift!
Ashley! I am in love with this! How awesome. I would have my name on everything, if I had a cricut! You are so talented!
LOVE LOVE LOVE! Oh the trifle bowl is too cute! Thanks for the inspiration – I can't wait to give it a try. :)
I love the pattern that you used. Which cartridge is that from?
I'm just now starting to play with my cricut, and have a lot to learn.
My cute hubby makes wedding glasses for all his family. He has always used contact paper and an exacto knife … he has now added the date to the stem with the cricut as it can cut smaller letters than he can. I love the pyrex idea … cute wedding gift.
That is so pretty!
Great idea for not losing your dishes at church potlucks anymore! lol
I LOVE this! I have a silhouette and love finding new ways to use it! I also am obsessed with my pyrex so when it gets lost I get very sad!
Thanks!
I have done etching before, but I love the name idea, you would never loose your dish at a party!
super cute!
I love the bird, he is so cute! What cartridge did you use?
I have been doing etching for a couple of years now and love it! Be careful with vertical surface when using the cream. If it starts to run down the side you could end up with spots or streaks outside the patterned area. I also got a glass engraver for Christmas so I've been working on some freehand work as well. Great post!
You can mask off the area below and around with masking tape, to protect the area you do not want etched
I'm assuming from everyone who has done this before that baking/dishwashing/microwaving doesn't mar the image since it's permanent?
I love the idea but was wondering about the wear and tear of it.
no it wont mar the image at all … whats great is with etching you can even run it through the dishwasher and not have any problems where dishes that have been engraved could explode cause you are cutting the glass and with etching your only putting an acid base on the glass.
this is random! have you ever heard of a Microwave Potato Bag? I have been hearing a lot about a bag that you could make to mocrowave potatoes in and they turn out just as good as in the oven! If you have heard of this, I was wondering if you could do a Tutorial? I would love to learn how to make one!
I’ve never heard about a Microwave Potato Bag, but it sounds interesting. Pampered Chef makes a Microwave Chip Maker that makes great, healthy chips! Check out my website, if you’re interested. http://www.pamperedchef.biz/debandrickyskitchen
Have a great day!
My mom makes these all the time and I use them constantly. They work great and I tale them to work and use them there also.
I have one and really like it! My daughter likes her potatoes peeled and this seems to make it easier to peel, too.
You can poke holes in any potato with a fork on all sides and wrap it in a paper towel. Microwave on high for five minutes. As soon as it is done cooking, have a square of tinfoil ready and wrap it quickly and tightly (over the paper towel is fine). Set aside. Wait an additional five minutes for it to finish cooking inside the tinfoil. They are just as good as the oven, and quick! :-)
I need to buy a new trifle dish, but was wondering if I would ever use it. Well I am going to buy one today! So cute. Just like everyone else I am wondering, what cartridge you used.
love the look! i have done glass etching before and it is super easy! love your idea for wedding gifts!
Wow! That's so cool! I stink at crafts, but since the etching cream does the work for you, I think I could do this!
i love this idea!! thanks for sharing it :) so creative!
Love, love, love the trifle dish! What a cute idea.
I've tried this before, but I am loving your darling design. Feeling inspired.
This is so pretty! I love the idea of putting your name on it so you can always find it : )
OH MY GOSH!!! I have done lots of etching at my house. I have used the etching cream and the frosted spray paint. You can see some of my creations here:
http://toileinthefamily.blogspot.com/2010/05/s-is-for-spray-paint.html
But…I am totally in love with the idea of putting your name on a dish. How stinking cute is that! And then you really wowed my by simply suggesting to give it as a wedding gift. I can't say enough about it. Precious, simply precious
óoooooootima dica!!! Lindo!
I use to do this alot, I even etched on my semi truck windows. It's been a long time since I've done this, thanks for reminding me. You did an excellent job.
Thanks for sharing.
Take care and God Bless!!!
Just played with etching last Christmas. We STAMPED our image, then embossed it. We used contact paper as a circle stencil of sorts and etched inside the circle. Once done, we scraped off the embossing and were left with a clear imagine inside an etched circle. Kinda a fun alternative. (sorry I don't have a picture, my last plate is tucked away with Christmas deco, we used the plates for neighbor/friends gifts.)
very very very cute. I'm assuming you used your cricut, how did you get it to cut only the top layer of your vinyl?
very very very cute. I'm assuming you used your cricut, how did you get it to cut only the top layer of your vinyl?
try setting your cricut blade depth to 3 and your pressure to med. and your speed to med see if that works…you just got to play with the blade depth.
Jenine- I saw your problem and thought I would add my 2 cents. If you are cutting through the vinyl and the backing paper your pressure is too high. At the right pressure it should just cut the vinyl.
My friends got 15 pyrex dishes with their name on it for their wedding. No one needs 15 pyrex dishes when they're first married. Sad thing is they couldn't return any of them and they couldn't re-gift them either…
I realize this is an old post, but I was thinking about the problems this could cause, too. We received several dishes with the wrong initial in them, because people made assumptions on what our last name would be and guessed wrong. Since it was just an inital, I was able to give the items away on Craigslist… I think this is a great idea, but perhaps no more than a handful of items — and make sure you double-check to make sure you have the right name!
Effort went into each gift – I wouldn’t see this as a problem – say thank you, and use them to freeze lots of pretty casseroles!
So Darling, I will have to give it a shot with some of our glass dishes!
Did you use a cricut machine? If so what cartridge for the bird and limb?
Another great place for vinyl lettering is http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1276554709/ref=sr_pg_1?ie=UTF8&bbn=1055398&rh=n%3A1055398%2Cn%3A!1063498%2Cp_4%3AWall%20Sayings%20Vinyl%20Lettering&page=1 They have great prices! I love getting my vinyl from them! Or if you're ever near Bountiful, UT you can visit their store, JUST A THOUGHT. Love all the great ideas you have!
That is LOVELY! It would make a fabulous gift!
I absolutely love that idea! I didn't know you could do that on your own! I have got to try that out!
I've etched things before but this technique is much easier than what I tried!
~Kelli @ Smidgens
What a great idea, and SO much more simple than I ever thought! (P.S. I know your friend J.Getz in Rexburg!)
The girls at our church did glass etched plates for a girl's camp fundraiser. We had them coming out our ears! Contact paper works exactly like vinyl and is much much cheaper. You can cut contact paper with a cricut as well. Yours turned out darling!
That is awesome! I especially love the trifle bowl! And I have to say I love your blog
You are brilliant!
I LOVE glass etching! But your trifle bowl is the cutest thing I've ever seen!! Yes, contact paper works just as well and can be a lot cheaper.
So cute! I love the wedding gift idea! Maybe instead of their name you could do a sweet design . . . that way it can be re-gifted . . . just in case! : )
Wow, I love glass etching! I've always wanted to do it, but it looked so hard. You do such a good job and make it seem easy. I saw this on Martha Stewart and you beyond showed her up!!! Can't wait to try this!
no more lost dishes in someone elses house! i have a few of these that my mom gave me for christmas and when i take a meal to someone, i always use one of them. i always have gotten my dishes back!
This is fabulous! I've always wondered how to do this. Thank you so much for sharing!
I've always used contact paper too, but I just lightly sandblasted the image instead of using the etching cream. Works too.
I have etched inexpensive beer steins with first names for a rootbeer gift basket. I love being able to transform a cheap gift into a really neat one, everyone LOVES their name on a glass.
wow, this is so martha stewart (whom I secretly adore) without all the complicatedness. thanks I have tons of pyrex too. I'm just thinking of all the great gifts you could make for the holidays
I just stumbled upon this and im so glad I did! This is such a great gift idea! CANNOT wait to try it! :)
Etching a casserole dish is a brilliant idea! Hey, that would make a cute wedding present too…
Aww, your bowl is so cute! And I love the casserole dish. Thanks so much, I'll be linking.
I love this! The little birdie is so cute and now I want to go out and get a trifle bowl just so I can make one like it. Love the pyrex dishes and I will certainly be doing this one day! Now I just need to make it out to Michael's sometime for some etching cream. I did glass etching waaaaay back in high school at class and I would love to give it a try again.
If you ever have a minute, stop by my blog and say hi.
I'm teaching this at church this month. I bought the vinyl cling sheets for stencils and cut some designs using the Cricut. They stick to the glass well. And if you handle it carefully they are reusable.
That is so funny you chose those two things to etch on! Great minds must think alike because we did those things too! I love both uses! This is our trifle bowl we did with thanks: http://rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/2009/09/thankful-candy-dish.html
Here's our pyrex dishes:
http://rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/2009/09/etched-glass-bake-ware.html
Rebecca@RootsAndWingsCo
Try http://www.phrazecrazy.com. they have very nice ideas with vinyl and very good prices as well. I have ordered all my vinyl fom them as well as at boutiques and craft shows throughout the valley ;)
I love this- especially your design on the trifle bowl- whimsical and sweet!
I love the idea of etching pyrex dishes! I etched a little glass myself the other day and made a few mistakes here and there that taught a valuable lesson or two. Best one: glass etching cream can be reused! I wrote them down for you here http://dutchgirloriginals.blogspot.com/2010/06/lessons-in-glass-etching.html
Hanneke
Simply amazing, probably the easiest tutorial that I've seen so far! ~Sam
This would look real cool on your shower glass! Or could you do it on mirrors??????? Just endless!
I did this "way back" in high school but recently purchased some glass mugs and wanted to do the glass etching on the to give as a set and since it has been a quarter of a century I am really thrilled to have found your site and the step by step instructions.
I my daughter would love the Rhinestones but I love the etching and the wall art!
I think it's funny you posted this, we use a cricut and etch gifts for weddings and bridal showers. We etch pyrex all the time and use sayings like "Lovin' from Megan's oven". We've also etched water goblets and mirrors. They make great gifts!
Hi. I tried the etching today on a pyrex bowl. It didn’t work. Then I noticed on the front bottom of myArmour Etch bottle
It says it won’t etch some types of pyrex. Does anyone know what types of pyrex to avoid? I thought pyrex was pyrex.
Anyone have any ideas why mine didn’t work?
I think it's funny you posted this, we use a cricut and etch gifts for weddings and bridal showers. We etch pyrex all the time and use sayings like "Lovin' from Megan's oven". We've also etched water goblets and mirrors. They make great gifts!
These are awesome. Thanks for sharing.
I have also used contact paper in my cricuit and it worked well. You have to be a little more careful with tranfering it onto the glass.
LOVE the glass etching! What a great thing for gifts. Much easier than I have tried to do in the past.
That turned into a really great piece. Did you do it with a cricut?
I have one and need to learn how to use it that is a beautiful piece.
I love it! I had some lady at Roberts trying to explain this to me and in my head I thought the machine was cutting the glass…I totally didn't understand. This makes SO MUCH MORE SENSE! Thank you for your pic!
LOVE this!!! How long do you think your bottle of etching cream will last? Did you use it all for this one project?
thanks!
I adore the pyrex! (The triffle bowl, too!) I am making the pyrex, a recipe book, and the cute hand towels you added fabric to for a house warming gift for some friends, and a wedding gift for some other friends. Thank you for the great ideas! I will try to add some pictures to the "you made it" section! :)
Steph,
I have the small bottle and have used it on several more projects than the ones shown here. I read on another site that you can scrape the cream off and re-use it on other projects. That's what I have done and it still has worked great for me.
Hope that helps!
Ashley
These are adorable. What font did you use on the pyrex dish? I'm working on the vinyl for a friend.
Maggie, I'm pretty sure it was 'smiley monster' that I got for free from this website:
http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/
Good luck!
Ashley
So I've tried etching and it works but in your pictures the etching is much brighter and visible. Am I doing something wrong?
Yes, same issue here: etching is light, not as “white” as the pictures here. Anyone have tips as to why? Thanks.
Is there anyway to add color??
Great idea and I’m doing this for christmas gifts this year.
Randa
If you want a “darker” etching: after you etch it the first time and wash the cream off, dry your item off really well then apply more etching cream, wait another 10 mins or so, then just wash it off. You can do this a couple times and it works really well. On one dish I did, I etched it 3 times before I liked the way it looked!
I did an etching project in an art class – we used cheap shelf liner (he called it contact paper, so whatever term works best for you) and it worked pretty well. Yo just have to be careful apply it around edges so that it doesn't pull up or anything. I got points off because the paper slipped because I brushed too hard.
Where can you find the pictures to etch? Is it a software or something?
The images that I used to cut into the vinyl is with the software that came with my Silhouette machine. (Craft and vinyl cutter) You can create your own images with an exacto knife, and a lot of patience, or purchase vinyl cuts from a vinyl seller. It's up to you! But the Silhouette cutter is a lot of fun and does a lot of great stuff! :)
Hope that helps!
Ashley
We are making these for our ladies church group activity next month! I am so excited. Thank you!
Ironic… My mother just this past week brought me over a couple of glass etching books. I have many bar stemware glasses that are in need of being decorated. I was thinking of painting on them, but my mother offered another idea. Love it! That beautiful Silhouette would be so helpful in aiding me through my glass etching journey… not to mention the uber awesome greeting cards I have been working on! ;)
Thank you for this post!!!
~Casey Marie
I made some of these and referenced your post here on my blog. Check it out at: http://craftyladylindsay.blogspot.com/2010/12/etched-glass-baking-dishes.html
Thanks for the great blog!
Lindsay @ Diary of a Crafty Lady
Looks fantastic, so want to make a few as presents…..just got to find a place in Australia that sells the etching cream…..
Beautiful design also love it
Spotlight!!!!
I did this many years ago to the glasses used for my wedding, instead of hiring glasses, I bought cheap glasses and etched guest name on one side and our names and date on the other. Ending up using them as place-cards at the reception and as a bonaire (?spelling) in one. Everyone loved ‘em!
Re: Transfer paper…
I don't understand its function. Why is it needed?
-Thanks to anyone who can answer.
Wren,
Here is a video tutorial on how to use transfer tape. I think it will make a lot more sense to you to watch a video on someone using it.
(Scroll down and you will see the title "Using Transfer Tape" as one of the video titles.)
Hope that helps!
Ashley
can you post the tutorial again please?!
This is an awesome idea- I've never seen etched pyrex and now I can't wait to try it!
Do you have any tips for not getting streaking in your etching?
When applying the vinyl, start at one end or side and use a credit card or squeegee to press it down gradually. You won't get air bubbles that way. I used to work with vinyl cutting and application on a daily basis.
This is really great! I have wondered how to etch glass. I am book marking the page!
I hate to be a wet blanket but I recently looked into using some etching acid I had around and read the label carefully. It's VERY toxic – both to use and to dispose of. I decided not to tackle the project and am not even sure of the best way to dispose of the jar of cream. Even sand blasting is dangerous because of the glass dust it creates.
Just an FYI.
Can you etch Acrylic or Lucite?
the armor etch cream will let you etch most surfaces including rocks and ceramics so you can just test objects and see if you like the results.
Maybe painter’s tape with small designs cut out, like leaves would be easier for new crafters. Great idea, adhesive shelf vinyl sheets. Along this same idea, save your Arbor Mist wine bottles, scrape off the labels, using a heat gun helps, then using glittery embossing powder to decorate the bottle. Love your blog.
I tried to etch wine glasses and other “round” objects – extremely difficult. Would NOT recommend.
This is super cool! Found you on StumbleUpon and I’m glad I did! Will be looking through the rest of your site! :)
Another idea might be to use this technique on canning jars for yourself or for personalized gifts of salsa, jam, etc… :)
This is amazing, I can’t wait to try etching some of my own glass projects. Thank you for sharing!
I have done this on small stand up mirrors, it really gives the etching a 3-D appearance. Great gift for men. I do things like 3 mast sailing ships, golf clubs (if they play of course), etc for men. I’ve also done the mirror in the bathroom (which has a nautical theme) with a lighthouse and seagulls, and a small round mirror on the wall with seashells.
Remember, this IS permanent, so if you do something like the bathroom mirror……..
I tried this last night and it didn’t etch! I did it over and over again for different lengths of time. Is there anything else I should try before giving up?
Me too. =( Thinking maybe the glass is too tempered. Phooey!
One word. WOW. I always thought glass etching would be tough..but this is just super easy..i’ll try it for sure. Thanks. :)
Thanks for sharing. I have a set of clear glass dishes that are now begging to be personalized prior to our next dinner party.
http://www.sothisisarmylife.blogspot.com
What is the easiest way to make 2″ letters for glass etching on a 9×13 baking dish? Thanks!!
I was too anxious to wait until I had a cutting machine to try this. I attempted with contact paper and my trusty Xacto knife, and had SUCCESS!! Great tutorial– thanks!
im sorry but i have more questions. i purchased the silhouette cutter and am so excited about it but feel like i am totally missing something. i got it to cut what i wanted (using the mat they provided) but my image stuck to the mat therefore i coulndn’t remove it. so i turned the paper around (colored side up and colored side down) just to see if either would not stick and both did. can you give me any hints?? i can’t find anything in the tutorial or elsewhere to help. it seems like possibly the cut shouldnt be as deep (i have changed it all the way down to 3) but it is still cutting through both sheets. HELP ME PLEASE!!
sincerely.
-aly
Try loading the vinyl into the machine without using the mat. In fact, I never use the mats when I’m using vinyl. just be sure that the pieces you are using are the original width so that they load underneath those wheels on the machine. SO make sure that the vinyl side is face up and load it centered right into the machine and let it cut. And yeah, be sure that the knife is only cutting through the vinyl……not the backing. If it’s still giving you trouble, I would contact silhouette and see if there is maybe an issue with the knife or how you’re assembling it or something. Good luck!
Ashley
i love glass etching…before i got my cutting machine i used contact paper ( cause you can get alot of it for very little at walmart) …. carbon paper to transfer my image.. and an hobby knife….glad to see that people are still doing it…great way to make personal gifts.
But is this really even etching??? Its more like “doodle cut it out and paint it on-ing” not much etching.
It actually is etching. The chemical etches away at the glass and makes it permanent. I could scratch and scrub all I wanted at the glass, and those etchings would never come off. In fact, if you rub your finger across it, there is a different etched texture there. It’s pretty cool stuff. :)
Creatively it’s a fun and inspiring idea. However, environmentally speaking, I don’t think advising people to rinse acid down the drain into our water system is a great idea at all.
What type of the vinyl did you get??
I bought that vinyl here: http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/default.aspx?mid=MILIa4928nglina9000dldnrlsdr880j
But I have also purchased vinyl here: http://www.expressionsvinyl.com/
Hope that helps!
Ashley
Hi! I have a question….when looking at the website that you provided for the vinyl, I am a little confused on what to buy. Also, can you print on the vinyl {like a name} before etching it on? Thanks for your help!
Really great tutorial!! Must try this myself soon, thanks for sharing!!
Thanks so much for the great tutorial! I wrote my own post outlining how I did the project for a friend’s wedding gift — http://madebymcm.blogspot.com/2011/10/diy-gift-personalized-pyrex.html
I would love to win this to do a friend who has cancer hope on a bowl. Thanks
Wow, this makes me want a cricut even more. Thanks for sharing this great idea!
Super cute! I still have the purlpe drinking glass that I etched in high school art class! Once I tried to glass etch some glass light fixtures to make them frosted (instead of boring clear) but it didn’t go well for some reason. Lol…
jamie @ sewrockin.com
help! my etching experiment on Pyrex did not work. I let it sit for 15 minutes and it all just washed off. On the front of my Armour Etch bottle it says that it may not work on some types of pyrex. Any ideas?
This really IS a great idea! I LOVE it! Thank you for sharing. :)
When I have etched glass, it doesnt turn out as dark and visible as i would like. I have tried leaving on the cream longer than instructed, and applying a greater amount. So far no difference.
Any ideas why this would be?
Leaving the cream on longer wont make it a darker etch, however REAPPLYING it after washing it off will. Just wash it off, dry really well, reapply,wait, wash off etc… You can repeat it as many times as you’d like!
When you said you used a “craft cutter” to cut out your vinyl did you mean like a Cricut? or is it something else?
I tried to do this last year on ornaments for gifts and had a hard time being able to see the etching after i took off the cream. Did you leave it on for the recommended time and how did you wash it off? Just trying to figure out what I did wrong LOL these look great!
I was referred to this site by my Pampered Chef Director. What a great way to personalize some of the products we sell. Thank you so much for sharing this information. I’ll be trying this REALLY soon!!!!! Again, thanks.
I’m wondering if it’s possible to use the same template over if you’re wanting to do the same pattern on several dishes (like a set of glasses) or if it’s too messy.
If you etch baking dishes will they still be safe to cook in? In the instructions for pyrex (and any glass baking) it says be very careful when using glass baking ware because eve a tiny scratch that you can barely see, may cause the dish to break (or explode, as I’ve noticed when I’ve had a pyrex dish break in my oven). Since this is acid eating at the glass, isn’t that considered a defect int eh glass, and possible cause it to break in the oven?
I received a etched pyrex dish from my sister-in-law as a gift and am wondering the same thing since it is etched on the inside bottom of it?
I just used martha stewart brand reusable adhesive stencils and the glass etching cream and it worked beautifully! Saves the trouble of having to cut out final, transfer etc., super fun project, great idea, and a great end product!
My friend tried to etch her pyrex dish and it did nit work. She called me and I could not get it to work. After the 6th time I looked up the item number on line and it was vintage pyrex made in the UK. Long story short you can’t etch vintage pyrex and probably some other glass as well. Just some FYI.
i remember doing this process in my high school art class about 25 years ago on mirror and i can’t wait to do this again with some of my favor team logo’s even high school logos.
I tried it with glass etching spray paint and it did not work… gonna try the glue one now.
Just wondering if the etching shows up as well on colored Pyrex? Maybe this was answered before, but I didn’t see it.
I also do sandblasting. I use a different technique however. I sandblast the glass. It’s basically the same as what you are doing, but I use a rubber masking instead to protect the glass. Then Sandblast. It leaves a nice even impression in the glass to give it dimension. But it’s basically the same overall look you achive.
But…My point is, if your not to good with an exacto-knife. You can go to your local sign shop & have them cut any custom design you desire out of vinyl. Then just apply it to your project & follow the rest of your instructions.
Most sign companies have a minimum price (usually $15-$25) Which most of the projects would fall under that price range.
I have not had good luck with Pyrex dishes when doing this etching technique. I find that the cheaper glass etches better. I have done the 9×13 and other types but I get the Anchor brand at Wal Mart or glasses, plates, vases from the dollar store and it works much better.
how can I get the pictures for the bird and tree?
thanks,
sandy
BTW. beautiful work.
These images were created using a Cricut Cutting machine by Provo Crafts…
Actually, these images were created with a Silhouette machine (www.silhouetteamerica.com) and the image is available for download in their online store. The image is: bird_on_branch_C00044_23067
The newest machine offered is the Silhouette Cameo. If you create a free account in their online store (www.silhouetteonlinestore.com) you can browse through all the images designed for the Silhouette machines.
Can the 9×13 be used in the oven? I have an etched dish someone gifted me and it has not worn off but I am not sure if it was used with this same method.
This is awesome!! Thanks for sharing!
Is Vinyl the same thing or similar to contact paper? Would contact paper also work? Not sure which is would be cheaper, just wondering.
Is the cream very expensive? Do you have an approximate cost?
Is the vinyl re-usable? Maybe with stencil adhesive?
Thanks!
I was wondering if you could tell me how much that paste stuff runs? Is it expensive?
Amazon is selling it for about 7$ a bottle
The transfer paper you use to reverse the image, what is this exactly? More vinyl or something specific? Sorry if you have already answered this question, I didn’t see it…
Have to make etched glass now. So excited for a new project!
I would be concerned that this may affect the integrity of a baking dish and make it more prone to thermal shock. Maybe should check with manufacturers first.
Can you use the inkjet printable vinyl for this?
I tried to do this on a cassarole dish that I already had and nothing happened. Do you need to prepare the glass somehow?? I did it to some bottles and it worked great but the cassarole dish didnt etch at all…
Caution! Rinse off the etching cream with warm water in a stainless steel sink. It can damage or remove the glazing of your porcelain kitchen sink!
I found your site through Pinterest (of course!), and stayed awhile and looked around. You, my friend, are talented! I finally bought some etching cream and started on some projects – and I haven’t stopped! To say that I’m obsessed would be an understatement :) Here’s an example of a few drinking glasses I recently made.
http://www.mycraftysoul.com/2012/02/etched-drinking-glasses.html
Thanks for being an inspiration!
Melissa
I am really taken with this idea but if you do letters do you have to mirror them or reverse them when you cut them out so that them come out right on the glass?
I am trying to find the font & graphic you used on the casserole dish displayed on Pinterest but I am not having any luck. Can you help me?
Did anyone find the font???
It’s called Smiley Monster and I downloaded the font for free here: http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/freescrapbookfonts/
Good luck!
I used the Armor Etching cream on a glass vase. Left it on for a minute as the directions instructed, but the image is very light and not very noticeable. How do a get a deeper, brighter etched image? Help
I saw one of these pictures on the BYU-Idaho Website.. did you know that???!
Really? Where? That’s my old school!! :)
Has anyone had trouble using the Armour Etch on Pyrex? I’m thinking about using this technique for a wedding present, but reading the company website it says the cream “may not work on Pyrex and plastices.” I’m not quite sure what that means, but thought I’d take a poll before buying all the materials for this project. Thanks!
Oooh! I’ve had my eye on a Silhouette machine for a while and I keep trying to justify to myself why I need it when I have three kids under 5 years old and no time to shave my legs, let alone make cool crafts. But great ideas like this make me see why the $300 purchase is entirely necessary. Maybe I’ll have to cut fruits and veggies out of our budget for a few months to save up for it…
Just did this for my good friend’s birthday gift – she is a family and consumer science teacher so I’m giving her this along with a homemade apron. Thanks so much for the idea!!
I was wondering if the dish you used was actually a Pyrex dish? I tried a baking dish like Pyrex from Ikea and it wouldn’t etch. I finally looked up Armor etch on its website and it said it wouldn’t work on Pyrex.
That is to cute. Looks easy, thanks!
I tried to do this on my coffee caraffe. It did not etch. Some glass is not suitable. I also always put the contact paper directly on the glass/mirror that I wanted to etch. It helps as there is no bubbles to worry about. If the etching acid gets under the contact paper it will etch there also.)
I tried this on a set of glasses and it didn’t show up as well. It was very light. I tried 3 different times too see if I could get it to come out better by leaving it on longer or for less time. Nothing seamed to change. How did you get it to look so perfect?
Does anyone know what font was used for the 9×13 glass etched pan that says Johnson on it? THANK YOU!
Lorri,
It’s called Smiley Monster and I downloaded the font for free here: http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/freescrapbookfonts/
Good luck!
Great way to dress up a plain truffle bowl. Also live the idea of etching you name on the glass as a way to mark it for return (and looks cute to boot). I’ll deffinately be trying this in the near future. I’m thinking starfish and seahorses maybe.
I haven’t done glass etching since my kids were in Boy Scouts. I forgot how much fun it is. Time to give it another try. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi! I’m looking for ideas for my class reunion and this would be perfect on cordial glasses or tumblers. My question is, can you reuse the stencil or is it a once and done deal? I would need to make about 75-100 of these and to make that many stencils would drive me insane :o)
Thanks!
Hi! I’m looking for ideas for my class reunion and this would be perfect on a cordial glass or tumbler glass. Can you reuse the stencil or is it a once and done deal? I would have to make between 75-100 and to do a stencil for each one would drive me insane.
Thanks!
Hi! I love this idea so I went and bought all the stuff do it and it didn’t work! So sad…I even got the exact same etching cream as you, applied it (I think) pretty thick, let it sit like 30 mi, went to wash it off with water and it all came off. I tried 3 different attempts. I’m trying to etch something cute onto a 9×13 glass pan. Do you have to apply it with a tool in particular? I used a small paint brush. And does it need to be like globbed on there? help!
What a neat idea! i love putting a name on the dish!
I have done etching before. I did them on some dollar store votive’s for my MOPS leaders and on dollar store vases for teacher gifts last year. I wish I had left the etching cream on a while longer though as they weren’t quite dark enough imo. But I never thought to do them on a dish like this with the name as a gift. Love it!!