Etching Glass

Determine how and what you want your text to read. Do you want your text to read left-to-right when you look down into your baking dish? If so, your vinyl stencil needs to be a "reverse stencil", where your text reads right to left. This way, the sticky side of the vinyl stencil adheres to the bottom of the glass dish. We do not recommend etching the surface that touches the food.

You may purchase the vinyl from someone else, or make the vinyl stencil yourself in your own vinyl cutter software. You can even cut vinyl on a Cricut machine.

Make sure your dish is clean and free from finger prints. Windex works great. The glass must be completely dry before you can begin etching. Otherwise, you will have water spots throughout your etch and the vinyl will not adhere properly to the glass.

Make sure your vinyl is sticking well to the opaque transfer tape by rubbing it with a flat edge, such as a popsicle stick or credit card. Position the vinyl on the glass, with the transfer tape on top and the backing underneath. Then secure the upper edge with painters tape or masking tape to keep the stencil in place.

With the tape acting as a hinge, lift up the stencil and gently peel off the backing. Carefully press the vinyl to the glass.

Press the vinyl to the glass, making sure it completely adheres. Rubbing a flat edge like a popsicle stick or credit card over the stencil will help ensure that the vinyl sticks well. Pay special attention to the comma's, dotted i's, and smaller detailed elements.

This is where using a vinyl stencil, pressed well to the glass, makes a difference. If you use a contact paper stencil that doesn't offer the same adhesiveness, it may lift up during the setting time and allow stencil cream to seep under the edges. You want to create nice, clean, crisp edges on your graphics and text when you etch.

Once the vinyl has been pressed well on the glass, gently remove the opaque transfer tape.

* When etching glassware that will be used with food, make sure that you etch the outside of the dish. We do not recommend etching on the inside, where it will have contact with food. Etched casserole dishes and baking pans are safe for oven and dishwasher use.

Liberally apply etching cream to the glass showing through the vinyl stencil. A sponge paint brush, or firm Q-tip, works well. Make sure the design is completely covered.

Be careful not to get any etching cream outside the design, as it will etch the glass in an unsightly way.

* Etching cream is an acid so use carefully. It will burn skin, eyes, and may ruin clothing. Disposable gloves can be worn for added protection.

Let your etching cream sit for ten minutes or as long as the manufacturer's instructions suggest.

Carefully soak up any excess etching cream with a paper towel or cotton ball, making sure that the cream does not touch your skin. Then rinse your glassware in warm water to remove the remaining cream.

The design may start to pull up during this rinse, but this is fine. The vinyl will be removed as soon as the etching cream is washed away.

Remove the vinyl stencil, and voila, you've just etched glassware. Wash well with warm, soapy water before placing food in it.

Congratulations!

Etching on new dishes works best. As your glassware ages, its ability to hold an etch decreases. So, before trying to etch an older dish, place a small drop of etching cream in an inconspicuous place and follow the above steps. After washing, if the etch is visible, then etching may be successful. If the etched drop is not visible, the older dish will not etch.

Once you have mastered etching, be creative and attempt etching premade vinyl designs on other kinds of glassware. It's a lot of fun, and the results are stunning! Here is the premade vinyl design that was used in the photo to the right. Imagine the following designs on glass or mirror:

:: decorative monograms
:: anniversary celebrations
:: general home decor
:: holiday decorations
:: decorative kitchenware

For non-food projects, a frosted etching spray paint is another option for beautiful luminaries, decorative windows, and other glass projects.