Glass etching is a fun way to make unique gifts and decorate your glassware. Thanks to glass etching cream, it is super simple to do.
Below you will find our easy-to-follow tutorial along with our favourite glass etching creams and some entertaining kits.
3 Best Glass Etching Creams – Top Picks for 2023
Best Overall
Plaid Folkart FA Etch Cream
The Plaid Folkart FA Etch Cream is thick, creamy, and smooth. You can effortlessly get even coverage. It has a brown colour that makes it easy to get complete coverage.
Premium Choice
Etchall Etching Cream for Glass, Mirrors, Ceramics, Porcelain, Marble, and Slate
There is no guessing with the Etchall Etching Cream. The company did a great job labelling the product. And there is a protective safety seal.
Great Value
Armour Etch Glass Cream
The Armour Etch glass etching cream is a favourite among crafters. It is easy to use and produces great results.
Common Materials Used for Glass Etching
- Votives
- Wine Glasses
- Cookie Jars
- Water Bottles
- Jars
- Bakeware
- Shot Glasses
- Mirrors
- Plates
- Bottles
- Glass Blocks
- Etc.
How to Etch Glass
Glass etching cream makes glass etching easy. It is a very simple process that even a beginner can do. Below are the basic steps for how to etch glass with etching cream.
Supplies:
- Glass
- Etching Cream
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Paper Towel or Cotton Ball
- Stencil (Make your own stencil using the Best Stencil Maker Machines)
- Paint Brush, Foam Brush, or Popsicle Stick
How to Etch Glass with Glass Etching Cream
1. Gather your supplies and prep your work area.
2. Clean your glass. Wet the paper towel or cotton ball with rubbing alcohol. Clean the glass to remove all dirt and oils. Once it is clean, try not to touch the area you will be etching.
3. Put on your protective gloves. You never want glass etching cream to touch your skin.
4. Gently open the bottle of glass etching cream, being careful not to splash the contents.
5. Apply your stencil. Press firmly. You want all the edges down, so the cream does not bleed under it.
6. Using the paint brush, foam brush or popsicle stick, apply a generous amount of etching cream. Be certain to cover all areas. If the cream is watery, it will run. So, you may not be able to apply a thick coat. If this is the case, you may need to do 2 applications.
7. Once the glass etching cream is applied, allow it to rest per the cream manufacturer’s instructions. About ½ way through, you can brush the cream around to ensure you are getting an even etching.
8. Clean your tools immediately.
9. Last, leave the stencil on and rinse the glass etching cream off. Once all the cream is removed, you can remove the stencil. Once the stencil is removed, there may be a trace amount of glass etching cream left. Rinse the project again.
After rinsing your piece be certain to allow the water to run for an addition 2 minutes to remove the cream from your sink and pipes.
5 Best Glass Etching Creams for 2023
1. Armour Etch Glass Cream
Armour Etch glass etching cream is a favourite among crafters. It is readily available, easy to use, and produces great results.
Why We Like the Armour Etch Glass Cream:
The etching cream is reusable. If you are working on larger projects, simply scrape off the cream and place it back in the bottle.
- Faint Etching
Unlike some other products that produce a deep etching, this glass etching cream produces a faint design. This is ideal for a lot of crafting projects.
- Fast Acting
Even though the instructions say this cream works in 3 minutes, it takes 10-15. This is still fast, so you can get a lot of projects done at once.
- Easy to Clean Up
Washes off easily with plain water.
Pros and Cons of the Armour Etch Glass Cream:
Pros:
- Great results
- Works quickly
- Reusable
Cons:
- Takes 2-3 times longer than recommended
- No instructions on bottle
- Strong Odour
- Liquidy
- Gritty
- Dips if put on thick
2. Etchall Etching Cream for Glass, Mirrors, Ceramics, Porcelain, Marble, and Slate
Etchall Etching Cream has a smooth consistency that makes it easy to apply.
Why We Like the Etchall Etching Cream:
Unlike the other glass etching creams on our list, this one has exemplary instructions. It explains every step of the process to you.
- Safety Seal
The glass etching cream has a safety seal under the lid. This helps keep the cream from drying out and protects children.
- Instructions
You do not have to worry about throwing the instructions away. They are printed on the bottle.
- Less Odour
The Etchall Etcthing Cream does have a smell, just like all etching creams, but it is not as strong as many other brands.
Pros and Cons of the Etchall Etching Cream:
Pros:
- Good instructions
- Instructions are on bottle
- Less odour
Cons:
- Seal can be hard to remove
- Liquidy
- Drips if put on thick
3. Plaid Folkart FA Etch Cream
The Plaid Folkart FA Etch Cream is thick, creamy, and smooth. You can effortlessly get even coverage.
Why We Like the Plaid Folkart FA Etch Cream:
The etching cream is brown in colour and thick. This makes it easy to see if you covered all the areas.
- Works on Multiple Surfaces
Plaid Folkart glass etching cream works on windows, wine glasses, jars, mirrors, pitchers, and more,
- Fast Acting
You will get results within as little as 15 minutes.
- Thick Consistency
Since the cream is thick, you will experience less dripping.
Pros and Cons of the Plaid Folkart FA Etch Cream:
Pros:
- Works on multiple surfaces
- Smooth
- Fast Acting
- Thick
Cons:
- Small Bottle
- Must apply a thick layer
- No instructions on bottle
4. Martha Stewart Crafts Glass Etch Cream with Brush
Martha Stewart is well known in the crafting community. And the Martha Stewart line of products is always top of the line, just as with this glass etching cream.
Why We Like the Martha Stewart Cream:
The etching cream is easy to apply, and it does not small as bad as other brands.
- Less Odour
Most glass etching creams smell terrible. This cream does not have the pungent odour like other creams.
- Marth Stewart
Anyone that has worked with Martha Stewart products knows they are always top of the line.
- Easy to Clean Up
The glass etching cream easily washes off with soap and water.
Pros and Cons of the Martha Stewart Cream:
Pros:
- Less odour than other brands
- Wipes up easily
- Smooth consistency
Cons:
- Pricey
- Dries in the bottle quickly
- Brush is not great for application
5. XIM Etch-l-M Porcelain Etching Cream
The Etch-l-M Porcelain Etching Cream is an excellent product for anyone that takes on big jobs. You can use it on a wide variety of materials, making renovation work easier.
Why We Like the Porcelain Etching Cream:
The etching cream is ideal for industrial size projects.
- Economical
If you have a large project, you need a lot of etching cream. It is cheaper to buy a large container than several small bottles.
- Industrial Strength
This etching cream was developed to work on industrial surfaces. You can use it on glass, ceramics, porcelain, glazed tiles, and even steel construction panels.
- Removes Glazed Surfaces
The cream can be used to remove glazed surfaces which, in turn, eliminates scratches making prep work easy.
Pros and Cons of the Porcelain Etching Cream:
Pros:
- Matte finish
- Industrial strength
- Reusable
Cons:
- Can leave streaks
Glass Etching Kits
1. Etching Glass Kit: Personalize Our Glass Water Bottles from MakeItKit
Use this kit to etch your own personalised gifts. Or hold a crafting party. The kit includes glass water bottles, vinyl gloves, etching cream, cotton swabs, adhesive stencils, a plastic scraper, alcohol wipes, instructions, a gift box, and vine ribbon. The kit is available in 2, 3, and 4 bottle options.
2. Silhouette Starter Glass Etching Kit from CrafterCuts
Do you own a die-cutting machine? This kit was designed to be used with the Silhouette, but it can be used with any machine. It includes 1 bottle of etching cream (2 fl. oz.), 1 roll of stencil vinyl (9” x 36″), 1 roll of transfer tape (9” x 36″), a Silhouette hook, Silhouette scraper, idea book, and an Instructional DVD.
3. His and Hers DIY Glass Etching Kit from CincyCrafts
Make his and her gifts with this glass etching kit. The kit is great for weddings and anniversaries. The kit includes a 2.8 oz bottle of glass etching cream, a brush, flexible stencils, and a CD ebook.
4. Armour Etch Deluxe Glass Etching Kit from DIY Gateway
The Armour Etch Deluxe Glass Etching Kit includes everything you need to make perfectly etched and personalised gifts except the glasses.
Included in the kit is a 2.8 oz bottle of glass etching cream, instructions, a piece of 3″ x 3″ glass square for practising, reusable protective gloves, an applicator stick, a blank vinyl stencil, over 60 precut stencil designs, a stencil cutter hobby razor knife, and a camel hair brush.
5. Armour Etch Deluxe Glass Etching Kit from Best Source Office Supplies
This Kit from Armour is packed full of supplies. You get over 85 Rub’N’Etch precut stencils, custom stencil vinyl, a 2.8 oz bottle of Armour glass etching cream, design patterns, a stencil cutting knife, camel hair brush, reusable gloves, wooden applicator stick, practising glass, and full colour instructions.
Glass Etching Ideas and Projects
1. Candy Jars
Do you leave candy out for your guests? This is a custom that seems to have been abandoned. If you enjoy the custom as much as we do, etch your dish.
Martini glasses can be boring. You can create visual interest by adding polka dots, etching the stem, or decorating the base.
3. Personalised Etched Glass Wine Bottle
Do you make your own wine? Instead of making labels, use glass etching to create unique bottles.
Mason jars make great candle holders. Using a stencil and glass etching cream, you can make luminaries for every occasion.
5. Etched Casserole Dish by Jennifer Maker
Do you always find yourself taking a casserole to a get together? Never lose another dish or have someone claim it as their own. Instead, personalise it using glass etching.
It is always fun to make Christmas crafts. This year, why not try etching glass ornaments? You can make an ornament for everyone in your family. You can even add little snowflake embellishments.
7. Fish Bowl
Do you have a pet fish? Or are you planning to get one for your children? You can etch the bowl.
Glass water bottles are more environmentally friendly than plastic. If you have a glass water bottle you take everywhere, why not decorate it?
Do you like the ambience created by candle mirror plates? You can add some decorative designs to an ordinary plate with glass etching cream.
10. Drinking Glasses
Do your children fight over glasses? Or are you having a themed party? Drinking glasses are some of the easiest pieces of glassware to etch.
Instead of using a plain plate to serve your Christmas cookies, decorate a plate. You can use simple designs or words, such as Merry Christmas or Cookies for Santa.
12. Cookie Jars
Everyone loves cookies. Instead of using a solid coloured cookie jar to store your cookies, use a clear one. Then personalise it with a stencil and glass etching cream.
Instead of using the normal cutout areas of a stencil for glass etching, create a reverse design.
14. Glass Blocks
Glass blocks were common in the construction industry for many years. And they have now made it to the crafting world. There are so many uses for these blocks including banks, night lights, and shelf decor.
Are you an avid baker? Decorate your glass cake cover using glass etching cream.
Create beautiful centrepieces for the holidays by etching glass vases with individual letters to create words such as joy, peace, and noel.
17. Mason Jars
Mason jars can be used for so many things. You can use them to store food, as vases, as pencil holders, etc. Use glass etching cream to decorate the jars accordingly.
18. Etched Mirrors
Mirrors can be plain. Embellish yours up with a single word, a quote, or flowers.
Do you love the city life? How about using your glass etching cream to create a city skyline on stemware?
20. Glass Etched Spice Jars
Why should you hide all your spices in the back of a cabinet when you can display them in beautiful glass etched jars?
21. Chevron pattern
The chevron pattern is a classic design that can be found in everything from bedding to wood floors. It even looks great on glassware.
3 Best Glass Etching Creams – Top Picks for 2023
Best Overall
Plaid Folkart FA Etch Cream
The Plaid Folkart FA Etch Cream is thick, creamy, and smooth. You can effortlessly get even coverage. It has a brown colour that makes it easy to get complete coverage.
Premium Choice
Etchall Etching Cream for Glass, Mirrors, Ceramics, Porcelain, Marble, and Slate
There is no guessing with the Etchall Etching Cream. The company did a great job labelling the product. And there is a protective safety seal.
Great Value
Armour Etch Glass Cream
The Armour Etch glass etching cream is a favourite among crafters. It is easy to use and produces great results.
If you are looking to learn a new crafting technique and enhance the beauty of glass, give glass etching cream a try.
Glass etching cream is an easy way to create frosted designs on glass. It can be applied to most types of glassware, mirrors, porcelain, and ceramics.
