Etched Bottle Vase

[the craftster admin (leah)]

Make an etched glass vase out of any old bottle!



The etching cream you buy will come with exact directions and safety instructions which you should read carefully.  Hydroflouric acid sounds like it can be pretty scary if you don't use it carefully!

materials:

• bottle
  
• vinyl stick-on letters
  
• etching cream (I used Armour Etch)
  
• sponge brush
  
• rubber gloves, safety glasses
  

step 1:
clean and dry the blank bottle


step 2:
stick on vinyl letters using masking tape as a guide to get them on straight (although it's still really hard to get them exactly right!)


step 3:
here's how they look when they're all on


step 4:
now you put on the gloves and goop on the etching cream. ðyou could make a nice border around your letters with masking tape so it makes a nice clean rectangle but I wanted a rougher look.


step 5:
wash off the etching cream thoroughly and peel off the letters

[aprilkiss]

this is a GREAT idea.  another good idea...the same company that makes the etching cream also makes a bottle cutter (for fairly cheap).  you can cut the tops off of wine bottles, wiskey bottles, what have you...make vases, and then etch them with the design of your choice.  if it's a design you want, use tracing paper and vinyl drawer liner to make your own stencil to stick to the surface.  

awesome gifts...really.   cheers.

[comfits]

Etching cream is awesome stuff for cool projects.  You can also use contact paper to make shapes, designs, or whatever you can think of.  Also, try putting it on a mirror!!  That's what we used back in high school.  I still have my mine.  Never thought of using it on bottles.  Good idea!

[circa62]

re: aprilkiss' comment.  if you cut off the bottle neck, you can also give this part to a guitar player.  there is a thing called a "bottle neck" that guitar players use for playing slide guitar (or something).  most are made out of metal, but the originals were apparently made from real bottle necks.  i once sawed one off with a hack saw (using a special glass-cutting blade), sanded the end and gave to my boyfriend (now my ex).  he LOVED it.  

[divasteph]

i dont understand why or how you wash the cream - how long do you wait? i want to see more pics from people that have used it - i love this and would love it to say something cute on mirrors - can you use it on glasses??? is it safe to dishwash? is it safe to drink out of???

MUST KNOW MORE INFO!!!!
xoxox


also how much does etching cream cost and how much do you get?

[aprilkiss]

Re: Questions about etching
You can get the glass etching cream at Joanne's or Michael's.  It's called Armour Etch and it comes in a purple and white bottle.  They also make an array of other glass etching items, including different sized mirrors, glass cutting equipment, stencils, and lettering.  
The etching cream washes off easily with warm water, and you only have leave it on for about a minute.  It's a very easy, quick gift to make.  
It's also dishwasher safe once on the glass.  

Hope this helps.  
On another note, Dover Books has an amazing collection of books full of graphics, and clipart.  These are very easy to copy and transfer onto contact paper and make your own glass etching stencils.

Cheers.
 

[rott]

in addition to contact paper, you can do stripes and interesting geometrical patterns with blue painters tape - just tape it on, apply etching cream, and rinse off.  i've got some awesome glasses done with vinyl letters - though it's expensive to keep buying the kits, and i haven't seen just the bottle of cream.
has anyone had any luck with the bottles only?  where at?  thanks.

[divasteph]

one last question!!!
how much does the cream cost and how much is in the bottle?

thanks for all the info!
xoxo

[aprilkiss]

I've found just the bottle of cream at Michael's...you can also order it on line at
DickBlick.  It's kind of pricey for a bottle, I think I paid about 9$...but it lasts a really long time, and you can do a lot with one bottle.

cheers.

[divasteph]

Ok, so in an effort to waste time and not be stuck in traffic - i stopped into Michael's on my way home and to my surprise - the etching cream was kept behind glass for some silly reason!

they had a few things and it was sold in the same glass case as air brush supplies

$9.99 a coke can sized bottle of cream

$15.00 a kit that looked cheezeoid with ugly flowers on champange glasses

$9.00 - $20.00 - bottles of all sizes of dipping solution

what is the dipping soultion for???

??

xoxo
thanks for all the help!
Steph