Storage Project: Custom Etched Glass Jars

Has spring cleaning and organizing fever set in yet? Watch out, people, the Spring Kitchen Cure is coming up in just a couple weeks. Are you ready to de-clutter, restock, and freshen up your kitchen and cooking skills with us? Here's a Martha-style project to get you thinking and dreaming of a freshly organized kitchen: customized glass storage jars.

This project from Martha Stewart gives step-by-step instructions for using etching cream and tape to create your own customized jar labels. Have you ever done something like this? Martha's household projects are usually just a bit out of our range, but this looks really interesting. Imagine getting a whole lot of cheap jars on Craigslist, then using this technique to customize them for your own pantry or open storage area.

• Get directions for this project: Etched Glass Storage Jars at Martha Stewart

Related: Favorite Storage Jars

(Image: Martha Stewart)

Comments (16)

I have! With etching cream, though, you have to keep in mind that it WILL show brushstrokes no matter how hard you try so smaller areas are better. There is an etching bath made for etching larger areas, but I've never tried it.

Also, the acid is really nasty stuff, so be careful and wear gloves. That said, the results were quite nice and the whole project pretty cheap, including buying clear sticky printer paper.

I saw this in the magazine, and bookmarked it. I've got those same jars for my flour and sugar!

we did this project on wine glasses awhile ago and it worked so well! People are always wondering where we got our "custom glasses" made ;)

i did this project when it was linked to at pink of perfection! here is a picture of the first jar i made (for millet!)--the problem, though, is, notice how those tea leaves and coffee beans aren't high enough to go behind the words? that's probably intentional. if things like rice, quinoa, etc are behind the letters, you can't read them very well. if the letters are high enough or if you have something with less discrete pieces (like flours), then it is a totally great, cute project. and SO EASY! i haven't had an issue with brush strokes being visible--but, i put the etching cream on THICK.
so fun!

I've done a similar paint treatment. I use sticker letters and masking tape to mask off all the areas that I want to keep clear and then mist with frost spray paint (available at craft store or at Home Depot type places). I find that lightly dusting a few times is better than spraying a thick layer.

Oh yeah, when the paint is dry you just peel off the letters/masking tape.

I've done this on pyrex baking dishes and bowls so I always get mine returned after pot lucks etc. For some reason, glass bakeware from Ikea doesn't etch

Ooh! Great post! I'm absolutely doing this project.

Love it! Though I doubt I'll ever be motivated to actually do it.

I have done this several times, most recently this Christmas. Here a few hints:
1) The etching cream can be expensive! Use a coupon at the craft store you are purchasing it from (Michael's).

2) You can use any kind of removable contact paper to do this job. If you have leftover scraps of vinyl shelf liner, it works great.

3) Make sure your glass surface is clean and dry. Any residue will make steaks and blotches in the frosted appearance.

4) Sticking the contact paper to the glass and then cutting out the pattern worked best for me. I taped the paper pattern on top of the contact paper and cut it out with an exacto knife. This made the edges stick cleanly to the glass so that the frosted pattern would not be jagged.

FYI, Target has some inexpensive cracker/cookie jars (in the dishwares area) that are great for this project.

I've done this project in several ways. My favorite however is the olive oil jar that is kept right over my stove in easy reach. I took an old bottle, etched it, and then put in a free poor stopper thingy (technical term). It's small enough to keep up there without the oil spoiling, but large enough to keep filled and handy. To avoid brush strokes, make sure to brush on generously and cover completely. The cream only needs to stay on for 5-10 minutes.

OMG the idea of doing this on pot-luck dishes is pretty fab! So much classier than the scrap of masking tape with your last name on it.

I was worried about brushstrokes too, i may try this on my glass rice jars, i always spend 10 minutes starring at the rice trying to tell which one is asian and which one is basmati.

Hey guys-

You DO NOT have to spend the money on the clear printer sticky paper. I did this project a long time ago with clear Contact Paper. Works just as well, on the cheap.

BTW, I wonder if you couldn't just do a cute little square or framed out space that could be written on with pencil for jars that contain different products from time to time. -Just to give the glass a "tooth" for writing.

It you are uncomfortable with using etching cream, decorative films are a great way to do this too. Not to mention, they are removable!