How to Etch Glass With Cricut Explore Air 2: Easy Guide

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Viola, all my readers, I know you all have been impatient for a long time. I was busy preparing my children for their exams and making customized crafts for my clients. After bidding farewell to all this work, I finally got the time for you all, and I will teach you a new project on how to etch glass with Cricut Explore Air 2.

If you need to learn about glass etching, I will tell you everything about it. This is a fun, easy, and affordable project of creating decorative designs on glass surfaces with etching cream. This post will encourage you to leave your comfort zone and try making something new with the Cricut cutting machine.

Step 1: Create a Design on the Cricut Software

Let’s start the project on how to etch glass with Cricut Explore Air 2 by opening the Cricut Design Space app and hitting the New Project option. After that, tap the Text tool, enter the sentence inside the given section, and change its font, size, color, and style. Now, expand its size and move it to the center of the canvas.

Following this, go to Shapes and select any one of them from the list.

Then, increase its size, right-click, and tap the Send to Back option. Next, choose a color from the Material color section and fill the space between the words with the Weld tool. At this point, tap the Images tool and choose any image from the library. After selecting the image, tick the Add to Canvas.

Now, resize the design, place it on it, press right-click, and choose the Send to Back button. Afterward, decrease the size of your word and include the rest of the things you want to add inside the design. Next, tap the center Vertically option to go to the Align section. Then, select the design, go to the Flip column, and click the Flip Horizontal option. At this point, press the Make It box, and you will land on the mat preview page.

Step 2: Cut Your Material

After making the design while learning how to etch glass with Cricut Explore Air 2:

Remove your Cricut vinyl sheet and place it on the cutting mat.

Unlock the cartridges and load the cutting mat into your craft plotter.

Press the Arrows button, and your Explore Air 2 will start cutting your material.

After a few minutes, unlock the cartridges and remove the Cricut mat from the cutting machine.

Step 3: Weed Out and Make a Stencil Design

After finishing the cutting process, take the weeding tool and weed out the design from the mat. However, you must be careful while removing the unwanted material from the design. Take the scissors, cut the extra mat layer, and cover the design with Cricut transfer tape. To protect the design correctly, use the scraper tool and smooth it from the back side of the design.

After that, clean your glass blank with baby wipes slowly in a circular motion. Ensure all the dirt has been removed from the blank and it’s shining correctly. Next, slowly place the glass on your design without breaking or damaging anything.

After weeding and putting a blank on the design on how to etch glass with Cricut Explore Air 2, use a scraper tool to cover the design on the blank and then remove the extra material and transfer tape from the glass.

Step 4: Cover Your Design With Etching Cream

Now, cover the entire design with etching cream in an equal proportion and keep it aside for at least one minute. Moreover, you are advised to wear gloves and apply the cream all over the design.

When one minute is over, start rinsing off the cream with lukewarm water and rinse the cream with your hands. You can also use tweezers to remove the stubborn parts from the design.

Step 5: Reveal Your Etched Glass Plate

Nevertheless, in the last stage of how to etch glass with Cricut Explore Air 2, peel off the material from the blank and keep it aside for at least 5 minutes. During that time frame, the design will adequately set on the blank. Now, put your customized craft on the tablecloth and brace yourself to reveal it to everyone.

What will you do next since you’ve become a pro at etching glass? No matter what you do, you will make the best craft from your electronic cutting machine.

FAQs

Question: How Can I Etch on Glass With My Cricut Explore Air 2?

Answer: Here are the steps for etching glass with the Explore Air 2 machine:

Start the process by downloading & installing the Design Space app on your device.

Afterward, go to your blank canvas and create your design using different tools.

Now, load the material on the cutting mat to the craft plotter.

Next, remove the extra material from the mat using the weeding tool.

Then, place it on the blank with a scraper tool and cover it with etching cream.

Last, remove the cream with lukewarm water, and your etched glass will be used.

Question: What Happens if I Leave Etching Cream on My Glass Too Long?

Answer: The minimum limit to leave the etching cream on the blank is at least 1 minute while making any craft. If you leave it too long, you might damage the glass or stencil. It will directly lead to a blurry image at the end of the process. So, you must be careful after covering the design with etching cream.

Question: Can I Use Removable Vinyl for Etch Glass?

Answer: Yes, you can indeed remove vinyl while etching glassing during the crafting process. With the help of this material, it will get easier for you while using it during the stencil process. The vinyl won’t matter while making the DIY craft because the vinyl will be removed after a few minutes.

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