Easy Way to Etch Glass

       Another cool handmade gift idea that I think every crafter should know about is etched glass. And before I tell you how to etch glass the easy way, first let me give you a tidbit of information on the different ways there are to etch glass.....
    There are three basic ways to etch an image onto glass. First there is sand blasting. There are several ways to sandblast an image. Sandblasted etchings look very professional, however there is a good amount of expensive equipment  you need to etch glass this way. The second way to etch glass is by engraving. Engraving an image onto glass is rather easy. All you need is an electric engraver tool and a talent for drawing. Now, I have the tool, but the drawing talent...not so much. lol   The third way is to use etching cream to etch an image onto glass. In my opinion, using etching cream is the easiest of the three. All you need is a bottle of etching cream and a piece of glass. You can find etching cream at almost any hobby store, a small bottle costs around $6 or $7 and will get through several etching projects. 
    
   Easy Glass Etching:

 And here is how to use etching cream to etch glass. This is not a new idea by any means. But there are a few people out there that still don't know how easy it really is to do. The finished product looks like you took a lot of time on it, but really you can have a piece of glass etched in a matter of minutes! 
Hope you like :D




Step 1-  Find a piece of glass to etch. This can be an ashtray, a vase, a bowl, whatever you think you would like to dress up with a design. Make sure it is clean and dry. I suggest using something unimportant to you while you are practicing.

Step 2 -  Make a stencil of the design you want to use.  (This is probably the hardest part of this project, I personally use contact shelving paper.) There is a special vinyl paper specifically made for this, but it can be a little expen$ive. Secure the stencil to the piece of glass.

Step 3-  Cover the entire piece of glass by securing paper around it with tape. This is very important. If the etching cream touches any part of the glass it WILL etch it! Covering you glass will ensure that you don't end up with unwanted etching on the glass.

Step 4-  Using a medium size paint brush spread your Amour Etching Cream all over the stenciled area. Be sure not to get the etching cream anywhere else on the glass. (covered in step 3)  Let etching cream sit on glass for 5 to 7 minutes.

Step 5-  Rinse etching cream off of glass with water. Peel off the stencil and dry.

 
Side Notes:
-If you are going to use contact shelving paper to make your stencil, be patient and gentle with it or it will stretch and mess up your image..
- How long you leave the etching cream on your glass will decide how dark your image will look.  So, if you want it to be barely there, only leave it for 3 minutes maybe. Want it darker? Maybe try for 10 minutes....
-I have seen etching where people had painted on the back of the image to give it highlights doing this can make your image look pretty cool.
-Also, you can use etching cream to etch on colored glass and even on mirrors, so keep that in mind when your being all creative!

Quick video tutorial to show you how easy using glass etching cream really is :D
Now, in this video they use a stamp technique instead of a stencil, but still pretty helpful.

This is a video of How to Etch Glass using a Dremel Engraver

Have an Awesome Day!
-Winney