For a family of three, we produce a whole lot more dirty glasses in any given day than seems humanly possible. I thought etching our names in glasses would be a great way to reduce washing and make table setting more entertaining with Henry. I was a little scared of etching but it was easier than I thought and really fun. Wouldn’t it be a sweet wedding gift to give the bride and groom a set of etched wine glasses?
Would you like to see how to make your own? Keep reading to see the full tutorial…
Etching powder. Its a little scary and requires using rubber gloves since it’s highly toxic if it comes in contact with skin. Cheap though, I bought my bottle from amazon right here for $6
I wanted it to be script (which is also better for stencils) so printed out some script names. You could also use a stencil, or if you have a fancy stencil cutting machine like a cricut, that would be perfect and save you a lot of time and do you live in SF? Please can I borrow it sometime xoxo
I don’t have any fancy stencil cutting machines, so I simply taped the printed names onto clear contact paper and spent some quality time with my exacto knife.
After sticking the contact sheet stencils onto the glasses, I carefully applied the etching cream with a paint brush. Dabbing it on very generously. Wearing rubber gloves so I wouldn’t have to call poison control.
After a few minutes (check your bottle’s instructions) you can just wash it off and tear off the contact sheet.
Last year, we etched canning jars to make personalized time capsules: http://mleballard.blogspot.com/2011/07/craft-day-is-back.html
I still want to etch all of my canning jars. . . someday.
So lovely and easy! How perfect these would be as gifts. Perhaps I’ll make them for my wedding party as part of their gifts 🙂
Great idea! Love it
I love this idea so much. Brilliant!
I think I might have everything to make these. Great project
These turned out adorable! Nice work
I had never thought of etching glasses (or anything but my casserole pans, for that matter) – BRILLIANT! I’ve always used regular scrapbook stickers. Either I use the letters and then make a rectangle around it with masking tape, or else I use the negative portion of the sticker letters (you know, the part around the letters) and seal any spaces with masking tape. It’s worked like a charm the eight or so times I’ve tried it. And it’s cheap. And really, really easy.
SO smart about using the negatives of sticker letters. would have saved me a lot of work, that’s for sure!
SO COOL, Liz!!!
Such a great idea, love the idea of washing less too!
thanks for the fun idea!
I love how your project turned out! It’s fun to see how you worked around the Silhouette and your point-of-view on etching.
I used opaque contact paper and applied the paper before cutting out my image in my tutorial here: http://melissaesplin.com/2009/03/simple-glass-etching-tutorial/
I found that was easier than cutting before applying, and since you’re etching into the glass anyway, it doesn’t matter if you take a scalpel to the glass. Also, you reuse the etching acid, you don’t have to rinse it off. Which would reduce the amount of acid you’re pouring down the drain.
Thanks Melissa! Headed to check yours out…
What a great idea. We go through a riduculous amount of cups as well. Very smart.
Ooh love these!
I actually have all the supplies I need on hand, I bought them ages ago but I haven’t tried etching glass. I love the idea of personalized glasses.
Perfect! Can’t wait to see the result!