Glass Etching Tutorial-A Sweet Cookie Jar

I love glass etching.

My Granny Joyce first intoduced to to me about 10 years ago.  We etched glass blocks, made wooden bases for them that housed a light, and gave them for gifts. 

Did I mention that I love and miss my Granny Joyce?

They moved about 4 hours away and I miss em. Badly.

She calls me Angie-q-little.

I don't know why she does it, but I like it when she does.

Oh yeah...the cookie jar! Sorry I tend to get side tracked.

My Cricut sure makes glass etching easier.  When granny and I were making blocks, we would trace a stencil onto contact paper, and using an exacto knife, cut our pattern. Craft cutters take out all of that work for me! :) aaaannnd I'm not limited to designs of stensils. I can make my own stuff.

I found a cute cookie jar at Target.  I love Target, yes I do! I love Target, how 'bout you?! (Target is worthy of me channeling my inner cheerleader. I don't let her out often. Poor girl.)

I cut out the word "sweet" in smiley monster font with vinyl. Make sure you will have an inch or so around your design. That way your etching cream won't get on your glass where you don't want it. This is permanent, so you want to be careful with it.

Weed (remove) the design, leaving the negative space in tack.

Cut a piece of transfer tape (or contact paper) a little bigger than your design,

and press it smoothly onto your vinyl, rubbing around your design well.

Peel it away from the back paper, and press it onto your surface you are wanting to etch. Before you put the vinyl on, make sure to clean your glass well!

Carefully peel away the transfer tape/contact paper, leaving only your vinyl. Make sure all edges are securely pressed to the glass, so no cream makes it's way behing there. You want clean lines!

Apply your etching cream with whatever works for you. I have used q-tips, popsicle sticks, plastic knives, but generally I use a sponge paint brush.  Apply enough to cover your design...don't do too much though or it will try to run on ya!

The bottle says to do it for 5 minutes, but I always do 20. I'm a rebel like that. And I think it works bettter if you leave it on a little bit longer. But that's just my opinion.

After the time has elapased, wash it thouroughly with water. Use your hand if you need to. (Just wash your hands well after you do. I like to give mine project a good washin' with dish soap as well to make sure I'm not leaving behing any cream.

Dry it, fill it with your favorite peanut butter cookie recipe, and you have a sweet cookie jar!

If you don't have a Cricut or Silhouette, you still do this! You will just need to trace whatever you want onto contact paper, use an exacto knife to cut it out, and you are good to go!

I will post another etching project I'm working on for a wedding gift soon.

Today I am thankful for Jesus's saving grace. I don't deserve it (nor could I ever), but I don't want to imagine where I would be without it!