Last Updated on February 26, 2013 by Kristi Linauer
Do you have a running list of projects that you want to try…just because? Maybe because it looks interesting, or fun, or challenging…or maybe you’re just curious.
Of course you do! You’re a DIYer…a crafter…a dreamer…a creator!!
One of the things on my very, VERY long list is glass etching. So a couple of weeks ago at Bed, Bath & Beyond, I picked up a very inexpensive olive oil bottle with a spout for $4.99. I had been wanting a bottle just like this for dish soap.
I liked it, but I wanted to add a little pizzazz to it. So I went to Michael’s and picked up some of these little sticker letters in the scrapbook aisle…
…and under the watchful eye of my faithful assistant…
…I applied the letters down the middle of one side, and then used painters tape to tape off a rectangular area around the letters.
Then I used Armour Etch glass etching cream…
…and brushed on a thick layer over the letters and up to the painters tape.
Then I let left it alone for five minutes, like the directions said…
…and then I washed it off thoroughly.
I could tell that the glass looked a little cloudy, so I was anxious to remove the letters and the tape.
But when I did, the etching seemed very faint. I could only make out the letters at a certain angle under the light. I was a bit disappointed.
Ssoooooo…I taped it up again, and repeated the process.
More etching cream…another five minutes…
…and another rinse.
Definitely better…but I still wish it showed up more. Hmmm…third time’s a charm? I dunno.
Perhaps I should just mark “glass etching” off of my “want to try” list and move on.
So have you ever tried etching cream to etch a design onto glass? What were your results? Were you pleased with the outcome? Or were you like me…a bit disappointed?
Perhaps you have some pointers for me. If so, I’d love to hear them!!
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I hope you’ll join me on my DIY and decorating journey! If you want to follow my projects and progress, you can subscribe below and have each new post delivered to your email inbox. That way you’ll never miss a thing!
24 Comments
Ashley W.
February 7, 2011 at 2:17 pmI've have yet to try glass etching (also on my to do list) but I've read several blogs posts about it. Most of the time people leave the cream on for about 25-30 minutes even though the bottle says 5 minutes.
I would give it one last try leaving the cream on for a lot longer.
I love the idea of putting dish soap in an oil bottle.
Kelly @ DIY My Home
February 7, 2011 at 2:24 pmMaybe it would show up better with a darker color dish soap? Who knows.
Sure is disappointing when projects don't turn out as exciting as they are in your head! Happens to me all the time…but that won't stop me 🙂
Ellen
February 7, 2011 at 2:28 pmOoh, I like it! I actually don't mind it not being so stark. I'd love to make this particular project, actually, thanks for the tips!
Green Gracie Home
February 7, 2011 at 2:44 pmI have left it overnight even. Longer and thicker is definitely better to get a good etch.
C
February 7, 2011 at 2:48 pmYes! I etched the glass pane door that lead to our guest room. It was clear glass and offered no privacy. The trick to getting it more "etched" is to leave it on longer. I left the etching cream on the door for 30 minutes to get the look I wanted.
Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating
February 7, 2011 at 2:51 pmWow…30 minutes?! OVERNIGHT?! I think I was afraid that it would eat through the tape at some point (I'm obviously not a chemist…I have no idea about this stuff). Perhaps I'll give it another try. It's just too bad that I used up all of the S's!! I'll have to go get another package of stickers.
Thanks for the tips!!
Christy @ Life, Made Interesting
February 7, 2011 at 3:10 pmI had the same experience…. tried it twice and it was too faint to see. 🙁 Tried it on a candy dish.
Susan
February 9, 2011 at 12:27 pmI've never tried it myself, but I think it looks pretty cool on your dish soap bottle – it's kind of subtle and doesn't scream "dish soap" 🙂
Bella
February 11, 2011 at 5:09 pmLOL, thanks for letting us know. Never used it before, but have been wanting to try it sometime.
You know what I use for mine???
I actually just used masking tape, (he he) and took a sharpie and wrote olive oil, veg oil, and the more it gets used, and soaked in oil, or washed with water, the older it looks.
I actually LOVE the way it turned out, and come on, can you get any cheaper than that?????
Bella 🙂
Debra Purvis
March 17, 2011 at 10:17 pmLove your blog… I've etched glass over a picture with the family name as well as other items. The picture turned out nice because it is displayed over a dark green mat. My husband even bought me an etching box to "sand blast etch" that to be honest I have yet to use! I think I may just have to pull it out! 🙂 I really have had the most luck with colored glass. A cobalt blue glass with etching looks beautiful!
Debra
DesignHouse Inc
Anonymous
March 23, 2011 at 7:41 pmI had the brilliant idea to etch small glass jars to put my spices in. Mine was a no-go…it barely showed up.
After doing mroe research I realized that the higher quality the glass, the less the etching cream works…I was told that dollar store glass is the absolute best for etching!
Kristen
March 31, 2011 at 3:38 pmI make my own etching stencils like you did for this project. You're right – if you leave the cream on too long, it will begin to eat through the tape and letters. To fix that, I typically layer the tape and put about 3 strips of it to make it thicker (thus taking longer to disintegrate)…and then leave the cream on for about 45 minutes.
Kristen
http://www.decoratingdiy.blogspot.com
Debra Purvis
April 10, 2011 at 8:52 pmLove your blog… I've etched glass over a picture with the family name as well as other items. The picture turned out nice because it is displayed over a dark green mat. My husband even bought me an etching box to "sand blast etch" that to be honest I have yet to use! I think I may just have to pull it out! 🙂 I really have had the most luck with colored glass. A cobalt blue glass with etching looks beautiful!
Debra
DesignHouse Inc
C
April 10, 2011 at 8:52 pmYes! I etched the glass pane door that lead to our guest room. It was clear glass and offered no privacy. The trick to getting it more "etched" is to leave it on longer. I left the etching cream on the door for 30 minutes to get the look I wanted.
Ashley W.
April 10, 2011 at 8:52 pmI've have yet to try glass etching (also on my to do list) but I've read several blogs posts about it. Most of the time people leave the cream on for about 25-30 minutes even though the bottle says 5 minutes.
I would give it one last try leaving the cream on for a lot longer.
I love the idea of putting dish soap in an oil bottle.
Cherrey
March 10, 2012 at 10:45 amI kind of like how it turned out.. 🙂
Plaited Jute And Antiqued Wood Jar Label
April 3, 2012 at 5:18 pm[…] to do. Chalkboard tag? I’ve done that. Painted dimensional label? I’ve done that, too. Etched glass label? Done […]
Stephanie Alphin
June 20, 2012 at 8:58 pmLove it and I actually want one like it
Maude
December 22, 2012 at 10:16 pmI think it looks very pretty and you should be proud of being so inventive. I think it could make a great gift to someone also if you personalize it with their name:)
Brenna
March 13, 2014 at 10:29 amI don’t know about the etching part, but I am curious about your actual bottle. I tried keeping soap in an olive oil bottle once, but within a week the whole spout was rusted inside and out, I guess from the soap inside and tiny bit of residue outside. Did this happen to yours?
Kristi Linauer
March 13, 2014 at 12:25 pmNo, that didn’t happen. I find that when mine starts getting clogged, if I remove the spout and use the green scrubby side of the sponge on the outside of the spout, and then run hot water through the spout for a few minutes, it cleans everything out and it pours easily again.
Vicky
June 10, 2015 at 9:49 amSeveral years ago, my husband bought me a set of diamond tip etching tools. With those you scratch into the glass the design you want. I did some spice jars and also made a leaded glass jewelry box with frosted glass sides, a cobalt blue glass bottom, and a clear glass top that I etched, and an olive oil bottle. Takes longer than 5 minutes, but you have a lot of control over the outcome. It comes with three different tips that allow you to adjust the thickness of the lines you etch.
Judy
August 28, 2015 at 12:43 pmTo label the bottles, you could have used frosted glass spray paint. It worked well on wine bottles that I sprayed to use at Christmas time. I made one striped using rubber bands, another with polka dots using round circle price tags left over from a garage sale, the third bottle is all frosted. The spray paint may be a bit darker than the etching cream.
Judyp.
August 28, 2015 at 12:45 pmHowever, your bottle etching looks great, and the lettering may be more visible with darker colored dish soap. You have inspired me to try labeling my bottles.