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Garden Sanity by Pet Scribbles

How To Etch Glass: Lace Design on Glass Paperweight

This post and photos may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. If you purchase something through any link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Any supplies used may be given to me free of charge, however, all projects and opinions are my own.


May 15, 2013 By Laura

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How to Etch a Lace Design onto Glass!

Where have I been? Either outside gardening and getting our yard in order, or inside playing with my newest favorite product from Martha Stewart Crafts: Glass Etching Cream. I showed you how to make your own etched beer glasses last week. It’s a great Father’s Day gift idea – very easy to do with excellent results in a short amount of time. We like those kinds of crafts!

I’ve been having so much fun trying out this cream on different glass pieces that I have, and over the weekend I got an idea that I wanted to try out. It worked! And it turned out exactly as I had envisioned, which is always “a good thing” as Martha would say!

Presenting . . . (can you feel the anticipation?)

How to make a lace design on glass using the Martha Stewart glass etching cream. 

I tried this out on a basic glass paperweight found at a craft store years ago. (Yes, this lovely thing has been sitting hidden under lots of other loot in my craft room. Let’s hear it for Spring cleaning and the goodies you can uncover!)

For complete start-to-finish instructions on how to use this cream, please see my tutorial on DIY Etched Beer Glasses here.

I cover all the specifics, including

  • prep work needed
  • complete supplies list
  • step-by-step instructions
  • action shots

Yes indeed, there are action shots! Glass etching happening before your eyes! So click over for the details. Then pop back over here and check this idea out!

Basic supplies:  (refer here for complete list)

  • Martha Stewart Glass Etching Cream
  • Martha Stewart Crafts Foam Pouncers
  • Martha Stewart Floral Paisley Adhesive Silkscreens
  • Rubber gloves
  • Blue painters tape
  • Glass paperweight
  • Optional: decorative paper, fabric and/or embellishments to finish off your piece
My idea was to use the etching cream over a silkscreen to get the look of an etched glass lace design covering the top of my paperweight.
After I washed the paperweight and applied rubbing alcohol to get any remaining oils off, I applied painter’s tape around the sides of the glass.
Martha Stewart Glass Etching Cream and Martha Stewart Adhesive Silkscreens

Next, I carefully removed the large paisley silkscreen from its packaging and backing, and played with the placement on the paperweight until I was happy with how I hoped and prayed the “lace” would look. The silkscreen is adhesive-backed, which made placement easy. Apply a thick layer of the glass etching cream with the foam pouncer. Because there are tiny netting holes (best way I can describe it for you) in the silkscreen pattern where normally the glass paint would go, I pounced the cream down a bit heavier than I’d normally do for stenciling, just to give you an idea of technique.

Once the cream was globbed on, I chose to wait 25 minutes instead of the normal 15 minutes, because I had no idea how this was going to turn out thought it might need the extra time to do its etching magic! You can see below how the large paisley stencil covered the paperweight, and then some, making it easy to use for my lace pattern idea.

Using Martha Stewart Glass Etching Cream on Silkscreens

And it worked!

Glass Etching Allover Lace Pattern

It totally worked just the way I had imagined! Whoo hoo!

Tutorial for Etched Glass Paperweight

You could really show off the lace pattern by applying some black velvet or velour to the inside of your paperweight. And I will probably do that on some future ones – but the idea I already had in mind was to cover the paperweight in the glass-etched lace, and then put a solid sparkly paper underneath along with one antique-style key.

I have a bunch of small diecuts accumulated over the years – you know how it is – and a found a great vintage-style key. However, the coloring on it was more of a muted gray. I wanted black, so I grabbed my trusty StazOn ink pad and stamped it all over the key to get it exactly the way I wanted.

Using StazOn Ink on die cuts

Next I made the key into a sticker simply by using my Xyron 150 Create-a-Sticker tool (named for the 1.5″ width opening). Simply put your item in the opening on the upper right side, pull the adhesive strip out slowly on the lower left side, and tear off.

Use the Xyron 150 Create-a-Sticker to make your stickers!

After rubbing the sticker paper covering the top and bottom of the diecut with my bone folder (to make sure all the adhesive transferred to the key), I removed the key from the sticker paper and placed it in the center of my oval cardstock shape I had previously cut out.

The paper I used is a gorgeous mint-colored glitter cardstock from American Crafts, which I first played with when making my Springtime Large Paper Medallion. I adore this cardstock and definitely want to get some other colors! I used a piece of adhesive-backed black felt that came with the paperweight for the base.

Make a Personalized Glass Paperweight

I’m smiling big-time as I type this, because I love the way this paperweight turned out and still can’t get over that it looks exactly as I had hoped and prayed that it would! 🙂

Lace Pattern Glass Etching Tutorial
Depending on how the light catches the paperweight, your eye is either drawn to the etched glass lace pattern, or your eye goes further down to see the gorgeous glitter paper and key, which are slightly magnified by the paperweight too!
Easy Way to Etch Glass
This paperweight has a slight inset where I fit the mint cardstock oval, so the black felt base provides a nice border.
Lace design on glass paperweight
Now that I know this works, I’ll be making many variations of this technique for gifts. By altering the decorative backgrounds and embellishments used, you could make something to suit each gift recipient’s taste. Just think: DIY office gifts for your co-workers, hostess gifts, Christmas gifts… I am hooked!
Lace Pattern Etched Glass Paperweight Tutorial

~Laura

PS – This is not a sponsored post. Just me experimenting with my new favorite product! 😉

 

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Filed Under: Crafts & DIY Tagged With: Craft Tutorials, DIY, etched glass paperweight, handmade gift ideas, how to etch glass, Martha Stewart Adhesive Silkscreens, Martha Stewart Crafts, Martha Stewart Glass Etching Cream, Plaid Crafts

Previous Post: « DIY Etched Beer Glasses
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol TheAnswerIsChocolate

    May 15, 2013 at 6:56 pm

    Sooooooo awesome! I have been itching to etch something else. LOVE this! Pinning.

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 15, 2013 at 7:14 pm

      I know, right? The possibilities are truly endless! Thanks Carol! πŸ™‚

  2. Anne Iglesias

    May 15, 2013 at 5:58 pm

    Nice! I love how you added the key too.

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 15, 2013 at 6:22 pm

      Thanks so much Anne! I had “keys” on the brain. I love the vintage key motif that shows up on a lot of vintage accessories, both handmade and manufactured, yet I had never created something of my own. Now I have! πŸ™‚

  3. Kim Wilson

    May 16, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    This is so pretty Laura! I love etching glass. People think it’s difficult but it’s sooooo easy! Pinned it!

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 19, 2013 at 11:58 pm

      Thanks for pinning Kim! And you’re right: it IS so easy, and I hope everyone tries it for themselves! πŸ™‚

  4. Krystie

    May 16, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    I have never tried etching before, I am definitely open to it after seeing your project!

    becoming a new bloglovin’ follower!

    • Krystie

      May 16, 2013 at 9:14 pm

      oops, and friend connect follower.

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 19, 2013 at 11:59 pm

      Thanks so much Krystie! Trust me: you will love how amazing the results are – and – how quickly you can etch something! πŸ™‚ Let me know if you try it, I’d love to see pics!

  5. Erin Sipes

    May 20, 2013 at 3:16 am

    How cool! Hoping this is one of those projects I pin and actually do!lol

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 20, 2013 at 1:19 pm

      LOL I hear you Erin! Instead of the “Maybe someday I’ll get around to thinking about possibly considering or attempting this project…,” this is one that anyone can do! πŸ™‚ Thanks for pinning!

  6. [email protected]

    May 20, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    Laura, love the etching. That really is a cool product too! Thanks for sharing.

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 20, 2013 at 2:41 pm

      You’re welcome, Deneen! Give it a try! (In between creating your gorgeous painted furniture pieces, that is!)

  7. Jenn "Rook No. 17"

    May 21, 2013 at 1:05 am

    Gorgeous! I love the lace pattern and the way that you used it on the paperweight. The key looks so great — I thought it was real.

    Jenn

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 21, 2013 at 1:56 am

      Thanks Jenn! About that cardboard diecut key: everyone I’ve showed this paperweight to – in person – has said the same thing! πŸ™‚

  8. malia

    May 21, 2013 at 4:45 am

    Wow Laura that is really cool!

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 21, 2013 at 3:19 pm

      Thanks Malia! I wish I could have better photographed how the glitter paper sparkles “underneath” the glass etching when the light hits it just right. But then again… I wish for a lot of things! πŸ˜‰

  9. Niki

    May 21, 2013 at 1:17 pm

    What a beautiful paperweight!! Love the key and the etching!

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 21, 2013 at 3:20 pm

      Thank you Niki! Definitely going to repeat this one for gifts, because you know everyone still suffers from paper clutter: they NEED a paperweight, right? πŸ™‚

  10. Jamie Alanna

    May 22, 2013 at 5:19 am

    I love this! I’ve always wondered how it was done. I’d love it if you could link this up to our party, Give Me The Goods Monday! {1 party, 4 blogs}

    Have a great week!
    Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 24, 2013 at 11:35 am

      Hi Jamie – thanks for letting me know about your link party, as it also introduced me to your blog and the other gals’ blogs! πŸ™‚ I’ll definitely stop by on Monday and link my paperweight up!

  11. asantbandersonfamily

    May 23, 2013 at 2:34 am

    That looks great! I always love the look of etched glass but its never has noticeable as I would like it to be when I do it. I’ll have to try leaving it on longer next time.

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 24, 2013 at 11:41 am

      Hi Sheena – try an easy trick for those etched glass pieces you’ve already done: If you feel the etching doesn’t show up as much as you’d like, just put something very dark-colored behind it. Navy, black, maroon, dark green really show off the whiteness of etching. πŸ™‚

  12. Bonnie @ Uncommon

    May 23, 2013 at 11:54 pm

    Laura this turned out wonderful! What a great idea! πŸ˜‰ Bonnie

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 24, 2013 at 11:41 am

      Thanks Bonnie! So glad you stopped by!

  13. Kadie

    May 24, 2013 at 1:33 am

    This is great! I love the key and the depth it gives. I have been wanting to etch something for ages…. maybe I’ll finally give it a try. Totally pinning this.:)

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      May 24, 2013 at 11:44 am

      Thanks Kadie, for pointing out how the key provides depth: I honestly hadn’t thought about it, but you’re right and I love it! Thanks for pinning, and let me know if you do this! You. will. love. it.

  14. nicole

    June 12, 2013 at 8:30 pm

    Hi Laura – I wanted to let you know that a blogger, About Petroleum Jelly, is stealing your blog posts and posting them as his or her own. They are doing this to a friend of mine, so I have been keeping an eye out… Your copycat post can be found here:

    Nicole

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      June 13, 2013 at 12:47 am

      Thanks so much Nicole for letting me know! I’m on it!

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      June 13, 2013 at 1:23 am

      Nicole – Just wanted to say another HUGE thanks to you for letting me know! So far, I’ve found at least 7 of my posts on the site you shared. Looks like they’ve been using my stuff for quite some time. I filled out a copyright infringement form that Blogger has, and already got an email back that Google is looking into it. I hope your friend filled out the same form. πŸ™‚

  15. Cecilia Bramhall

    June 21, 2013 at 12:55 pm

    Laura,
    Thanks for the tutorial! I just got a door with glass panes and was wanting to etch them. I will have to try the Martha Stewart Etching Cream. So cool!

    I hope you get your copycat taken care of. That really sucks!

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      June 21, 2013 at 5:20 pm

      You’re welcome Cecilia! Let me know if you etch the glass panes – I’d love to see pics and share here with my readers! And yes – the copycat is slowly being taken down…one post at a time! πŸ™‚

  16. Kim @ Everything Etsy

    June 22, 2013 at 11:39 pm

    How pretty! I’m always looking for gift ideas like this! Thanks!

    Have a fabulous weekend!

    ~Kim

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      June 23, 2013 at 7:41 pm

      Thanks Kim – I’m glad you enjoyed it! I think there’s several people on my holiday gift list who will be getting some version of these paperweights! πŸ™‚

  17. LarrayKC

    August 16, 2013 at 2:19 am

    Where do you find your glass paperweights? I’m not having any luck with the craft stores and so want to make one of these!!

    • Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles

      September 5, 2013 at 1:01 pm

      I haven’t looked around recently for glass paperweights. As I mentioned in my post above, I found this one years ago at a craft store and it had been gathering dust on my craft shelf. πŸ™‚ Perhaps a Google search will help you!

  18. Christine Cope

    January 11, 2014 at 12:49 am

    Fantastic ideas.

    • Laura Kuhlmann

      January 12, 2014 at 4:08 am

      Thanks Christine!

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Welcome to Garden Sanity by Pet Scribbles. I’m Laura, an artist and self-taught gardener. Gardening is therapeutic for me, peaceful and calming. I write articles and film videos centered around my own gardens, with plenty of plant suggestions and gardening tips. I’m glad you’re here and happy to share my garden inspiration with you!

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