Okay, ya'll I'm a glass etching fool. I want to etch everything in sight. I know there are tons of tutorials on Glass Etching out there, but this is the method that works best for me, so I thought I would share it with you all. Now, this may not be the method that works for you. you may have a better method (feel free to share it in the comments section) but this is what works for me. A friend of mine sent me the vinyl decals, so I can't tell you how to get or make those. She used a die cutting machine, and if you google "Doctor Who Silhouette Vinyl" some free designs will come up.
I try to choose glass items that have straight sides. Sometimes imperfections in the glass will show through or be highlighted by the etching cream.
Here is another project I did, a Doctor Who vase. I LOVE LOVE how it turned out.
I want to do some casserole dishes and such, but I don't have a die cutting machine yet. I have heard it's harder to etch on Pyrex, some tutorials say you can't do it. I haven't tried so I can't help you there.
Weeping Angel
TARDIS
Dalek
K-9
Adipose
So, here's how I etch glass. You can scroll past all these pictures for an easier to read version.
Items I used (not all are pictured above)
- Glass Etching Cream
- Something to etch- I find that items with straight sides works best. Also it should be smooth on the surface where you are etching
- Vinyl decal - I got these from a friend, just get the removable vinyl if you have a choice.
- Contact paper
- Old hotel key, gift card or credit card
- Paint brush
- Alcohol wipe or alcohol and cotton swab
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Disposable gloves
- Damp rag
You may want to cover your work surface also, with some paper or work above the a sink, note that the etching cream works on CONTACT. So any drips or drops on glass and it's there for good. Read the bottle. Don't get it on your skin. Safety first, you know the drill.
1. Take the tweezers and remove any area on your vinyl that you want to be etched. Any vinyl left on there will not come in contact with the cream. In this case, I left the panel's on the Tardis, but took off the window panels. Leave the backing ON the vinyl.
I also accidentally took panel out. On the right side there. Oops. Once you've removed the areas that you want etched just give it a once over to make sure you like where all the white areas are. Because that is is what will show up as etched.
2. Take a piece of contact paper. Remove the backing and place it on top of the vinyl. Careful not to get air bubbles under it.
3. Take the gift card and smooth out the contact paper, rubbing over the small detail areas of your design. I had to do this where the black panels I left were. This is to make sure those details stick to the contact paper.
4. Clean the surface of the glass with the alcohol wipe. Let it dry.
After this step be careful where you place your fingers/hands. You don't want the natural oils in your skin to leave prints where you etch your design.
5. Remove the backing from your vinyl. Leaving the design, and outline attached to the contact paper.
6. Place the contact paper with vinyl onto the glass surface. This needs to be a smooth application, any wrinkles or bubbles and etch cream will get under there. I find it easiest to place one side of the vinyl/contact paper down, and smooth the rest down with the gift card.
7. Rub the gift card over the design to make sure that when you lift the contact paper off, the designs will stick to the glass. Make sure the application is smooth.
8. Carefully peel off the contact paper.
9. At this point you can use a damp towel to clean the design area, just do not use alcohol. the vinyl will come up. I don't always do this step, it just depends on my mood.
10. Take contact paper, the same piece you just peeled off if you'd like. Tape all around the outer edges of the vinyl with the contact paper, you can use tape too. I just use the contact paper. Waste not, want not right?.ANY area that you don't want etched on accident, should be taped/covered. You can see that this Tardis has a good perimeter around it, I still put contact paper on the bottom.
11. Put the gloves on. Open the jar of Etching Cream. Stir it with the paint brush.
12. Dab a generous amount of cream over the design.
13. Wait 5 minutes.
14. After five minutes take your brush and move the cream around, making sure the whole surface is covered. Check the underside to see if you have good coverage.
14. Wait another 5 minutes, or ten...
15. Take your paint brush and scrape the excess etching cream off of the glass and put it back into the jar. Close it up for later use.
16. Wash the remaining etching cream off in the sink with cold water. Use the paint brush to loosen the cream if needed.
17. Remove vinyl and any tape and wash your jar well. The design will show up better once the glass is completely dry. Hot water makes removal of vinyl very easy.
Give Peas A Chance Glass Etching Tutorial
Materials-
- Glass Etching Cream
- Something to etch- I find that items with straight sides works best. Also it should be smooth on the surface where you are etching
- Vinyl decal - I got these from a friend, just get the removable vinyl if you have a choice.
- Contact paper
- Old hotel key, gift card or credit card
- Paint brush
- Alcohol wipe or alcohol and cotton swab
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Disposable gloves
- Damp rag
*You may want to cover your work surface also, with some paper or work above the a sink, note that the etching cream works on CONTACT. So any drips or drops on glass and it's there for good. Read the bottle. Don't get it on your skin. Safety first, you know the drill.
To etch your glass surface-
1. Take the tweezers and remove any area on your vinyl that you want to be etched. Any vinyl left on there will not come in contact with the cream. In this case, I left the panel's on the Tardis, but took off the window panels. Leave the backing ON the vinyl.
Once you've removed the areas that you want etched just give it a once over to make sure you like where all the white areas are. Because that is is what will show up as etched.
2. Take a piece of contact paper. Remove the backing and place it on top of the vinyl. Careful not to get air bubbles under it.
3. Take the gift card and smooth out the contact paper, rubbing over the small detail areas of your design. I had to do this where the black panels I left were. This is to make sure those details stick to the contact paper.
4. Clean the surface of the glass with the alcohol wipe. Let it dry. After this step be careful where you place your fingers/hands. You don't want the natural oils in your skin to leave prints where you etch your design.
5. Remove the backing from your vinyl. Leaving the design, and outline attached to the contact paper.
6. Place the contact paper with vinyl onto the glass surface. This needs to be a smooth application, any wrinkles or bubbles and etch cream will get under there. I find it easiest to place one side of the vinyl/contact paper down, and smooth the rest down with the gift card.
7. Rub the gift card over the design to make sure that when you lift the contact paper off, the designs will stick to the glass. Make sure the application is smooth.
8. Carefully peel off the contact paper.
9. At this point you can use a damp towel to clean the design area, just do not use alcohol. the vinyl will come up. I don't always do this step, it just depends on my mood.
10. Take contact paper, the same piece you just peeled off if you'd like. Tape all around the outer edges of the vinyl with the contact paper, you can use tape too. I just use the contact paper. Waste not, want not right?.ANY area that you don't want etched on accident, should be taped/covered. You can see that this Tardis has a good perimeter around it, I still put contact paper on the bottom.
11. Put the gloves on. Open the jar of Etching Cream. Stir it with the paint brush.
12. Dab a generous amount of cream over the design.
13. Wait 5 minutes.
14. After five minutes take your brush and move the cream around, making sure the whole surface is covered. Check the underside to see if you have good coverage.
14. Wait another 5 minutes, or ten...
15. Take your paint brush and scrape the excess etching cream off of the glass and put it back into the jar. Close it up for later use.
16. Wash the remaining etching cream off in the sink with cold water. Use the paint brush to loosen the cream if needed.
17. Remove vinyl and any tape and wash your jar well. The design will show up better once the glass is completely dry. Hot water makes removal of vinyl very easy.
