Halloween Tree Trims

Easy etching turns a simple glass ball into a jolly jack-o'-lantern.

• Clear glass round ornament
• White vinegar
• Tracing paper
• Carbon paper
• Contact paper (available at discount, hardware, and home center stores)
• X-Acto knife (available at art and crafts stores)
• Spoon for burnishing
• Rubber gloves
• Etching cream (available at crafts stores)
• Paintbrush with natural bristles or a sponge brush
• Leaf
• Natural raffia

1. Download the free pattern. (Downloading requires Adobe Acrobat software.)

Jack-o'-lantern pattern

Download Adobe Acrobat

2. Clean glass, trace pattern. Clean the glass with hot water and white vinegar. Important: Avoid fingerprints on areas to be etched. Using tracing paper, trace the pattern.

Step 3.

3. Trace, cut, adhere pattern, and burnish. Place carbon paper between the tracing and self-adhesive paper. Trace the pattern onto the self-adhesive paper. Cut out shapes using an X-Acto knife and remove the pieces. Stick the self-adhesive paper pattern on the ornament, clipping the edges as necessary so the paper lies flat. Burnish (rub down) the paper using a spoon.

Step 4.

4. Paint with etching cream. Put on rubber gloves. Paint on the etching cream following the manufacturer's instructions for use and timing. (Note: Set wet ornaments on top of a glass or napkin ring to keep them from rolling around.)

Step 5.

5. Rinse and decorate. Rinse off the etching cream. Remove the self-adhesive paper. Tie some raffia and a leaf to the ornament.

• Use this same technique on a rose bowl and fill with candy for a special Halloween gift.
• For additional Halloween motifs, try etching bats, cats, and ghosts on your glass ornaments.