Have you ever tried to etch wine glasses? We love etching because it is so transformative. And amazingly easy! We’ll show you how to use chemical etch cream and stickers from the craft store to etch wine glasses. The result is stunning!
Even if you’ve never used etched cream, you can do this project. Here’s a video we made showing how we etched the wine glasses – every step! Follow along, then use the instructions below to make your own. Your friends will be shocked to learn that you etched them yourself!
How To Etch Wine Glasses
Materials
4 wine glasses
Armour Etch Cream
Scroll and swirl stickers
Rubbing alcohol
Tools
Soft bristle craft paintbrush
Scissors
Gloves
Masking tape
Cotton swabs
Timer (You can use your cell phone.)
Steps (For One Wine Glass)
1. Start by masking off the area you want to etch. We masked the bottom stem so the etching would only be on the bowl.
2. Next create a custom design using stickers on the bowl of the wine glass. Where you place a sticker will not be etched. The areas between the stickers will be etched. When you buy your stickers, notice the actual cut-out shape of the sticker. It’s the silhouette of the sticker that will be etched into the wine glass. We chose swirls and scrolls to create a tendril design. But you can choose any stickers you want! Just shop the sticker section and get inspired!
3. Once you have created your sticker design, clean the glass bowl between the stickers using a rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab to remove fingerprints. You don’t want to etch your fingerprints onto the wine glass!
4. Now for the etching! Put on your protective gloves. Reread the instructions on your etch cream for good measure. Our etch cream recommends using a soft bristle paintbrush. We like to paint a “gloompy” thick layer of etch cream all over the bowl of the wine glass. Cover all the stickers completely so you can’t see your sticker design through the etch cream. Start your timer and let the etch cream work it’s magic for one minute. Rinse the wine glass off under running water until the etch cream appears to be gone. (There will still be a little around the stickers.)
5. Peel off the masking tape and the stickers. Rinse the wine glass one more time. As the glass dries, your etched design will emerge. Tada!
Etching wine glasses is a terrific way to personalize cocktail glasses or wine glasses with names, initials, or phrases. Use letter stickers to create your design. Are you nervous about etching? Ask us any questions. We’re here to help!
Happy Crafting,
Jennifer & Kitty
Love it? Pin it!
i have a lovely old mirror that a have unfortunately scratched in a few spots in 3 of the four corners as i was distressing the wood. i need to disguise this mistake some how. i thought maybe your glass etching idea [for the wine glasses] might do the trick. if i were to decorate each corner the same way, but use your idea about the press on squiggly-swirl design press ons placed just right, i might be able to camouflage the scratches with the etching cream. will the etching cream fill in the scratch marks? if you have a better idea please,please help me out. i really wont to save this beautiful old mirror, but am at a total stand still about it. thanks, merri.
We think the etching cream might do the trick! What a fun idea! Let us know how it turns out!
J&K
Love these! They’re perfect for my friend who needs a pick me up right now. Guess what I’m going to be doing this weekend. ?
Thanks for the tutorial.
Wonderful idea Janice! Have fun!
I have been searching for the type of stencils you have used for the scrolley twirled frosted glasses. I want to do the glass as frosted with the stencil itself shows as clear. Would you be able to tell me the brand you used? Thank-you
Hi Donna,
We used die-cut stickers by Momenta from the scrapbooking section at Hobby Lobby.
Here’s a link https://www.hobbylobby.com/Scrapbook-Paper-Crafts/Stickers/Gold-Glitter-Flourish-Stickers/p/80666970
Cheers,
Jennifer & Kitty
Love this idea and want to try for an upcoming family event! After the etching, are the wine glasses dishwasher safe or do they need to be handwashed? Is there one detergent vs another that would be more gentle and less prone for the etching cream to rub off?
Thanks!
Great question Tara. The etching will not rub off. The glass is actually etched by the cream similar to sand blasting. So if the glass was dishwasher safe before, it is dishwasher safe after. Here are some other questions answered by the folks who make the etch cream: https://www.etchworld.com/faq
Hope that helps!
J&K
I purchased the flourish stickers from Hobby Lobby but there were not the Momenta brand. I washed and dried the glass thoroughly, however, the stickers kept peeling.
Is it the brand, or am I missing a step. I found Momenta online if I have to order it from them directly. Hobby Lobby only carried ones from The Paper Studio.
Any assistance is appreciated.
So sorry you are having trouble. You can use any stickers as long as they are vinyl or plastic and not paper. Are your stickers peeling up off the glass while you are applying the etch cream? Are the stickers made of paper?
J&K
No they are peeling off prior to the etch cream they are vinyl though. I found the Momenta brand at Michael’s in my area. I will be trying those out tomorrow.
Thanks for the quick response. I will keep you informed.
Thanks for the valuable information.