How To Etch Glass And Create Cool Vases for Flower Puns

I love these long hot summer days; they inspire me to be productive and follow my dreams. All that nice natural light at home also makes me want redecorate and keep each room of my apartment looking fresh and fun.

How To Etch Glass
modern Colorful Etched Vases

I find that there’s nothing better than buying some fresh flowers to spruce up different rooms of the house: a tall bouquet for the living room, a colorful collection for the kitchen, a few small flowers for the bedroom. But don’t you feel like you never have that perfect vase? I know I do. That’s what inspired these fun summer DIY etched and stained flower vases!

Hello sunshine Colorful Etched Vases

All you need is an inexpensive glass vase, vinyl letters, Martha Stewart etching cream and brush (optional), and spray paint. We got our vases at the dollar store, but Ikea, Target, and second hand stores are great places to find inexpensive glassware to add a DIY touch to. Just think up a few sayings or words that inspire you, and you’re ready to get started!

Here are some phrases we came up with:

  • Wild & Free
  • Blooming good
  • A rose is a rose is a rose
  • Hello sunshine
  • Freshen up
Wild and free Colorful Etched Vases

Materials you’ll need for etching glass:

  • A glass vase
  • Vinyl letters (like these because they’re easily removable)
  • Martha Stewart etching cream and brush (optional)
  • Kreylon Sea Glass spray paint (sea foam) and Design Master Tint It (mango)
  • A tarp to throw down while you spray paint
  • A mask to wear while spray painting
Blooming Good Colorful Etched Vases
Colorful Etched Vases Orange

How To Etch Glass Step By Step:

Step 1: Cleaning

Start by cleaning the glass vase with soap and water. Once it’s clean and dry, wipe it down with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. This will ensure that it is clean and has no fingerprints on it.

Step 2: Apply etching cream

Once the glass is dry, apply etching cream to the whole vase and let it sit for 15-30 minutes to ensure it etches through evenly, then wash it off. (note: this step is optional but we thought it made the letters stand out more)

Step 3: Message

Now, pick your saying and place the letters on as straight as you can; this can be difficult, be patient! After your letters are on, you’re ready to spray paint! Lay your tarp down in a well-ventilated area outside. If it is even the slightest bit windy, make sure you’re not near anything you don’t want to get painted since the spray paint will blow in the wind and could dye your porch orange if you’re not careful (not that this happened to us or anything…)! Put your jars down on the tarp and put your mask on. Shake the spray paint vigorously according to package instructions. Then, holding the can about 12-18 inches away from your vase, start spraying. You’ll want to walk around the vase and move the spray paint up and down slowly to get an even coat. The paint will look slightly lighter going on, and you can always do a second coat if need be, so don’t over do it! Once you’ve covered the vase, let it dry where it is for about 30 minutes to an hour.

Step 4: Second Coat

Once it’s dry, either do a second coat or bring it inside to remove the letters.

Colorful Etched Vases Hello Sunshine

And voila now you have a fun custom vase with an inspiring saying perfect for summer!

Colorful Etched Vases mason jars