Here's your chance to have a more challenging experience glass etching. It is not as hard as it looks, it just takes a bit more time to do. Recycle old glass jars and turn them into fun Halloween tealights or storage containers.like we have here.
The reverse images shown here were traced from pre-cut plastic stencils that we got from the craft store and traced onto vinyl masking. You peel away the outer vinyl and leave the stencil design on the glass. Once etched the design is clear and the surrounding glass is frosted so you can paint onto it, stamp on it emboss on it, or stencil on it..
- #15-0280 Etch Bath
#31-0401 Beige Contact Vinyl
#08-9999Gloves
#08-9415 Masking tape
#08-9777 Scissors
#60-6908 Small Flower Pots (to fit top of jar)
#85-2108 Craft knife
24" piece of orange and black raffia, paper twist or ribbon of choice
Small votive candles
Plastic Halloween stencils
Mayonnaise Jar or other jars
Acrylic paints, glass or permanent markers, stamps and permanent stamp ink, embossing powders or other decorations
Paintbrushes
Pencil or marker that will write on the vinyl masking
Scrap PC paper
Popsicle stick, old credit card or letter opener
Plastic container (slightly larger than mayo jar)
Stone weights
Directions:,p>
- Soak the jar in hot water and dish detergent. Remove the labels and any traces of glue. Wash the jar thoroughly in hot, soapy water, rinse and let dry.
- Trace as many ghost and pumpkin designs from a plastic stencil onto the beige vinyl masking that you would like for your jar.
- Cut out a square around the vinyl tracings but do not cut out the designs. Peel off the backing from the vinyl square and place your designs around the jar as desired. Smooth out air bubbles as you lay the vinyl onto the glass.
- Carefully cut along your traced lines with craft knife, Start with the inner more delicate cuts first. It is easier to cut them first while the vinyl square is more solid and stable than it will be later.
- Carefully remove the vinyl around the outside of your cuts first, then remove any other vinyl that is not part of your design leaving only the traced image
- Lay a piece of paper over design and rub down the pieces with the popsicle stick, old credit card or letter opener making sure all pieces are secured to the glass and no edges are raised.
- Cover any other areas of exposed glass that you do not want etched with masking tape
- Prepare the plastic container for dipping your jar. Place the jar in the container and fill with water up to where you want the jar frosted.
- Remove the jar from the water and dry it off. With a marker, mark the outside of the plastic container at the water line. Pour out the water and dry the inside of the plastic container well.
- Mix the Etch bath very well until the bottle feels an even weight throughout and there is no settlement in the bottom of the bottle.
- Once the plastic container is thoroughly dry inside, pour in the Etch Bath up to the marker line.
- Put on the gloves and lower the jar into the Etch Bath for about 5 minutes. Check every 5 minutes until the jar is fully frosted.
- Rinse the jar off under running water. Remove the vinyl stencil pieces and rinse again.
,/br>
Decorating your Halloween Jars:
The frosted surface will allow paints, glass or permanent markers, stamps and permanent stamp ink, embossing powders or other decorations to stick to the glass better. Make dots, dashes or solid lines around the clear image. Write or paint words like BOO, EEK! or Happy Halloween between designs
Tie raffia or ribbon around jar neck to hide jar threads for lid, insert flower pot and candle in the top.
