Try something new Make your

TRY something new Discover how to add floral flair to your glassware with etched bloom motifs using this simple technique

Have you ever thought about etching glass before? Etching is not only quick and fun, it allows you to add unique visual and textural sparkle to glassware, so is great for sprucing up charity shop finds. It does involve handling acid cream, but with a bit of care and the right safety gear, doing so is not nearly as difficult or as scary as it sounds! You can find all of the materials needed for this etching project at your local craft store and online, so it’s easy to get started and really addictive too. Don’t say we didn’t warn you...

SHOPPING LIST

✔ One glass swing-top bottle ✔ Glass beakers ✔ White vinegar or glass cleaner ✔ Paper ✔ Sticky-back plastic ✔ Masking tape ✔ Cutting mat ✔ Scalpel ✔ Fine brush ✔ Masking fluid ✔ Acid etching cream (we used Armour Etch) ✔ Gloves ✔ Cotton buds ✔ Stipple brush

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1Wash your hands, then dry them off so they’re as grease-free as possible. Next, clean the glassware thoroughly with white vinegar or glass cleaner. Rinse well with water.

2Print or sketch your first design onto paper. Cut a square of sticky-back plastic that’s bigger than the design, but smaller than your cutting mat. Use masking tape to secure the plastic to the mat, paper side down.

3Secure your template on top of the stickyback plastic using masking tape.

4Carefully cut out the design with a scalpel. Press hard enough to go through both the paper and the plastic film and keep any negative shapes that you cut out for later.

5Remove the template from the plastic. Carefully peel off the backing from the plastic to reveal the adhesive side and stick it to the glass. Smooth down the plastic using the back of your fingernail, paying particular attention to the corners and edges.

6Remove the backing from the negative shapes, then pick each one up carefully with the tip of the scalpel and stick into position. If you have a big or complex design, peel just a small area of the backing away at a time, then position it in stages.

7Paint any areas of the design that you don’t want to be etched with masking fluid. Apply the fluid thickly and allow it to dry fully.

8Put on your gloves and shake up the acid etching cream, directing the top away from you. Dab acid onto the surface of the glass with a cotton bud, working the cream from the plastic onto the glass to avoid the acid bleeding underneath the plastic. Keep moving the acid cream around on the glass to ensure the etch is as even as possible. Pick off any crystals in the cream using the tip of a scalpel.

9Leave for three minutes, then wash the glass under cool, running water. Avoid getting acid on the clear parts of the glass. Wipe off the rest of the cream with a stipple brush. Remove the stencil, rinse the glass well and admire your work.

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