How to Etch Glassware with etchall dip n etch

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Have you ever found yourself wanting to try something new – just for the fun of it??? That happened to me recently. The Christmas holidays were over and I wasn’t quite ready to start on any Valentine’s Day projects, but I still wanted to craft. So I pulled out a product I hadn’t tried yet and got creative. The result? This cute little Frosty Snowman – made with the help of etchall dip n etch and some Dollar Tree glassware!!! It’s another great project sponsored by etchall® and I’m excited to share with you how easy it was to make!

What is etchall® dip ‘n etch?

If you’ve read any of my other glass-etching tutorials, you know just how much I love etchall® etching cream. But until this project, I’d never tried etchall® dip ‘n etch.

etchall® dip ‘n etch is a re-usable etching liquid with the consistency of water that can be used on glass objects, mirrors, ceramic, porcelain, marble, or slate. By submerging an object in the etching liquid (or pouring the liquid inside an object like I did), the overall surface of the object is etched to a matte finish.

etchall® dip ‘n etch comes in 3 sizes – 4 oz, 16 oz, and 32 oz. Because you will need enough liquid to completely cover the area to be etched, make sure you purchase a quantity large enough for your project. The smaller size is adequate for etching glass beads and other small items, but you’ll need a bigger bottle for larger items. I found that the 16 oz bottle worked well for me.

At first glance, the dip ‘n etch can seem a bit pricey, but keep in mind that it is a re-usable liquid, which lowers the cost-per use.

I also suggest testing any objects you wish to etch before embarking on the final project. Different types of glass may give different results and some may not etch at all (borosilicate glass, for example).

What You’ll Need:

Snowman Body:

• 2 round glass candleholders like these from Dollar Tree
• etchall® dip ‘n etch
• paper towels
• small marbles, glass gems, or other weights
• small resealable bag
• E6000 craft adhesive

Snowman Face & Accessories:

• Snowman Top Hat with Face design by Silhouette, Silhouette Design Store ID 36395
• small piece of black adhesive vinyl (approximately 4 in x 4 in)
• small piece of orange adhesive vinyl (approximately 2 in x 2 in)
• small piece of transfer tape (approximately 3 in x 3 in)
• heavyweight black cardstock (8.5 x 11 in sheet)
• liquid adhesive (I recommend Bearly Art Glue or Art Glitter Glue)
• mini glue dots
• scrap of fabric or miniature size scarf
• Silhouette or Cricut digital cutting machine

Other:

• battery-operated tealight (optional)

Step 1: Etch the glass candleholders

On the etchall website, you’ll find a step-by-step tutorial for creating an overall etched surface on the OUTSIDE of an object, but I wanted to do something a little different by creating a matte surface on the INSIDE of my glassware.

I placed one glass candleholder on a plastic tray lined with several layers of paper towels. Wearing disposable gloves, I slowly poured the etching liquid into the candleholder.

The 16 oz bottle of dip n etch didn’t quite fill the entire candleholder, so I placed a few glass gems inside a small resealable baggie and added the baggie to the liquid. This displaced just enough of the dip ‘n etch to completely cover the inside of the candleholder.

The instructions recommend an application time of 15 minutes, but I found that I got better results by letting the dip n etch sit for about 30 minutes. When the time was up, I carefully poured the liquid back into the bottle and rinsed the candleholder under warm, running water in a NON-PORCELAIN sink. (The etching liquid will not harm plumbing if you flush it with plenty of water but it will create a permanent etch on both porcelain sinks and ceramic sinks.)

Then I repeated the entire process for the remaining candleholder and allowed them both to dry completely. (Don’t you love the fact that dip n etch is a reusable liquid???)

Step 2: Cut & assemble the top hat

Note: The Snowman Top Hat with Face design worked perfectly for this project without any resizing.

Using my Silhouette machine, I cut heavyweight black cardstock to make the top hat. The top hat consists of only 3 pieces and was very easy to assemble.

Beginning with the long rectangle, I folded down the triangular edges along the score lines and then glued the short ends of the rectangle together.

Then I glued the body of the hat to the small oval and finished by gluing to the large oval.

I used Bearly Art Glue but Art Glitter Glue would work well too. You can find my tips on choosing adhesives in this post on Choosing the Right Adhesive for Your Paper Projects.

Step 3: Cut & apply the snowman face

I also used my Silhouette to cut the snowman’s eyes, mouth, nose, and buttons from scraps of adhesive vinyl.

Then I used a small piece of transfer tape to apply the eyes and mouth to one candleholder.

The nose was easy enough to apply without transfer tape. I just stuck it on like an ordinary sticker. (I didn’t add the buttons until the snowman was completely assembled.)

Step 4: Glue the candleholders together

I added some E6000 to the flat surface (bottom) of one candleholder and then gently pressed it to the bottom of the other candleholder.

I held the candleholders in place for a few minutes until the adhesive had a chance to bond, since glassware has a tendency to slip a bit until the adhesive is dry.

(E6000 should start to set within 10 minutes but takes between 24-72 hours to fully cure.)

Step 5: Add the finishing touches

Time for the finishing touches! A few mini glue dots held the hat in place perfectly and then all that was left was to add the buttons and a scarf! My mom crocheted this cute little red scarf for my Mr. Frosty, but a scrap of fabric would work too.

I think Frosty looks great just as he is, but he has a special glow when placed over a small battery-operated tealight.

Save this idea to Pinterest for later!

I hope this tutorial has encouraged you to try etchall® dip ‘n etch. In addition to fun projects like my Frosty Snowman, dip ‘n etch can give new life to objects you already own, such as glass stemware, empty wine bottles or other glass bottles, Christmas ornaments, cosmetic bottles, or even those old pickle jars you’ve been saving for a rainy (crafting) day!

Whatever you decide to make, when you’re finished be sure to come share it with me over in the Silhouette Crafters by Design Facebook group. I always love to see what you create!!!

Until next time,

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