If you’re looking for a cute and cozy holiday craft idea, I hope you’ll love this Cricut etched glass mason jar centerpiece! You don’t need a Cricut for this project, but if you have one you can add this to your list of Cricut craft ideas! You can upcycle old glass jars for this – like the ones that comes from store bought pasta sauce, which typically cannot be canned with again. This is a fun way to re-use them! But smooth glass jars (like old pickle jars) work well too – or even those little mini glass yogurt jars… So many options! I used beautiful Bernardin Mason jars, in the 500ml size.
I wanted to add a little sparkle after etching my glass jars, so I also added sparkly vinyl stars made with my Cricut. You can use either, or neither, or JUST decorate with store bought stickers or your DIY Cricut vinyl stars:
Supplies:
- 500 ML Glass Jars (that’s just what I used, you can use any size!)
- Glass Etching Cream*
- Thick Rubber Gloves
- Safety Glasses or Face Shield
- Vinyl Stencils and/or Glittery Star Stickers**
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Paper Towel
- Painter’s Tape
- Wood Stir Stick or Cheap Paintbrush
- Foraged Cedar Branches, Berries, etc…
- Floating Candles (these ones are under 2″ so should fit most jars but check measurements and order larger if you’d prefer)
*This glass etching kit has the etching acid, gloves, brush, tape, and some cute wintry stencils for (at time of writing) under $12… so this makes this glass etching project idea a lot more affordable than buying everything individually, if you don’t already have gloves and tape, etc.
Stencils for Glass Etching:
**I used my Cricut Joy to make my own stencils for glass etching, using removable vinyl. However, Armor Etch makes removable glass etching stencils – click here for one example. These snowflakes are a cute alternative to the stars, for a more officially “wintry” craft project. If you don’t have a Cricut, but like the idea of adding stick on stars, these rhinestone stick on stars have such a cool MCM vibe, they’re beautiful!
What Can Be Used to Etch Glass?
If you can’t find glass etching cream, you can use Rust-Oleum Tub & Tile etching cream to etch glass! This acid etch is designed for removing finish from porcelain, tile, and glass (in lieu of sanding) and it worked well for this glass etching craft. I couldn’t find Armor Etch Glass Etching Cream (or any brand of glass etching cream) ANYWHERE locally, so this was a good solution. If you’re buying a big tub like this, maybe make a craft night with friends? Because this is a LOT…
How to Etch Stars onto Glass Jars:
- Clean the outside of the jars with rubbing alcohol and paper towel.
- Use a vinyl cutting machine (I used my Cricut) to create mini stencils and star shapes – or buy them pre-made.
- Apply the stencils and cover remaining glass surface with tape.
- Protect your work surface and put on rubber gloves and safety glasses.
- Apply a thick layer of etching cream to the exposed glass with a wood stir stick or cheap paint brush.
- Wait 20 minutes.
- Remove the etching cream with paper towel and rinse away remaining residue.
- Let jars completely dry, then apply vinyl stars (optional).
- Fill with foraged finds and water.
- Top with a floating candle.
If you’re smarter than me, the inner part of your stencil could then be the vinyl star you add! I wasn’t thinking ahead, lol. If you’re using Cricut products, make sure to use removable vinyl for making the stencil. To wrap nicely around the glass, I cut my stencils smaller and then filled the gaps with tape:
Please be careful with this etching cream, as it can etch other surfaces. Protect your surfaces, and your skin, with gloves and work in a well ventilated area.
Because the jars are round and the solution slightly drippy, I laid my jars flat and worked one side at a time:
In photos, the etched stars are overshadowed by the vinyl stars, but in real life the etched details are subtle but much more noticeable! You can add more etched stars than I did, for a more heavily etched glass jar project. You can see them most clearly in the photo below:
Finished Etched Glass Mason Jar Centerpiece:
I love how the finished Cricut etched glass mason jar center piece turned out! Glass etching was a fun little experiment, but you can of course JUST do the vinyl stars if you’d prefer to skip the chemicals – which could make this a more kid-friendly craft idea as well. I love these nature filled jars, especially with the walnut salad plates and vintage mid-century walnut flatware. It’s an earthy meets mid-century vibe that I just love so much! I scavenged around the yard for jar contents, topped with water and a cute little floating candle. These etched glass jars are so cute for any wintry holiday or to brighten those long winter nights ahead…
This centerpiece can definitely work as a Christmas mason jar centerpiece, but I also love how this could work for Winter Solstice or New Year’s Eve tablescapes as well.
Here’s more inspiration for mason jar centerpiece contents:
P.S. Don’t Forget to Pin for Later!
