and yes.....fabulousness IS a word, or at least it is here
Making unique and useful gifts can be a challenge sometimes. What to get...what to get...they have everything! For this, and every gifting opportunity, I recommend breaking out your glass etching liquid.
This stuff can be pretty pricey for someone like me who tries to use every functional part and piece from every free thing on earth, but you can get it on sale with a Michael's Crafts 40% off coupon score some for $5-10. With it you can etch any (ANY!) glass surface and make something beautiful and personal.
Here are a few ideas on things to etch that you can get free or cheap: plain vases that come with flower deliveries (i find them all the time in yard sale free boxes), any dollar store glassware, old wooden windows, glass photo frames, greenhouse doors, mason jars...use a little imagination.
So for this tutorial I am using the Armour Etch Cream as shown above, a set of stemless wine glasses and a set of glass tankards as gifts for a girlfriend's birthday. As an additional kicker they recently got married so even though it isn't her husband's birthday, he's gettingspoiled rotton goodies too.
Supplies:
Rubber Gloves
Eye Protection (NOT YOUR PRESCRIPTION GLASSES!! They will etch and be ruined)
Soft Bristle Paintbrush (size depends on the area you want to cover)
Etching Cream
Rub-On Transfers (recycled from a friend that used up all her family's intitials aaaand FREE!)
Popsicle Stick
Masking Tape
Sink
Glass to Etch
Side Note: You can purchase Rub On glass etching stencils ready made wherever you find the cream. You can also use vinyl stick on graphics, especially if you have a Cricut and can make all your own stickers from contact paper from the Dollar Store!
1. Wash and remove all the labels/stickers from your glassware. Make sure it is very clean but if you run it through the dishwasher be sure not to use a rinse agent like Jet Dry.
2. Chose your designs and letters and lay the pattern out so you can see how it will look on the glass. Tape them to the glass using the masking tape and rub them with the popsicle stick to transfer the design to the glass. *Remember to look carefully at the actual outline of the rub-on transfer itself not just the printed lines. The loops/interiors of designs and centers of the letters may be filled in and they will not show up correctly when using the etching cream.*
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3. Carefully peel away the rub-on backing and the masking tape making sure the full design has transferred.
4. Mask off the other areas you would like to be filled with the etching cream. In the design pictured below I decided to highlight the letter and crown in a big etched box. I know these mugs will be filled with Guinness and the large graphic will be highlighted nicely against the dark brew.
I have also seen full glasses covered with patterns and the whole glass covered with the etching cream. Get creative!
5. Working quickly, but carefully not to go out of the taped areas, cover the area with the etching cream. *I did this next to the sink so i had quick access and less risk of messing up the design in transit...I am not known for being graceful or coordinated*
The instructions on the bottle and on several forums i have read state to brush across one direction, then up and down....however, i found it to give much better coverage and look more like "real" etched glass if I put on a thick coat using little circles. The directions say, for rub-ons leave let sit no longer than 1 minute. I did about 50 seconds and I think they turned out great. When using stickers or vinyl, you can leave the cream on longer for a bolder design because the stickers will not dissolve like the rub-ons.
6. Make sure your sink is empty so you don't accidentally etch anything you don't want etched. Put on stylish rubber gloves. Run a warm tap and peel off the masking tape while washing off the cream. A few rubs of the thumb will also remove the rub-on decal. When the cream is rinsed off, use a little dish soap to get off any residue from the tape or cream.
As for one last suggestion, you may want to buy extra glassware so that when your project turns out toally awesome you won't be sad you didn't make a set for yourself!
Making unique and useful gifts can be a challenge sometimes. What to get...what to get...they have everything! For this, and every gifting opportunity, I recommend breaking out your glass etching liquid.
This stuff can be pretty pricey for someone like me who tries to use every functional part and piece from every free thing on earth, but you can get it on sale with a Michael's Crafts 40% off coupon score some for $5-10. With it you can etch any (ANY!) glass surface and make something beautiful and personal.
Here are a few ideas on things to etch that you can get free or cheap: plain vases that come with flower deliveries (i find them all the time in yard sale free boxes), any dollar store glassware, old wooden windows, glass photo frames, greenhouse doors, mason jars...use a little imagination.
So for this tutorial I am using the Armour Etch Cream as shown above, a set of stemless wine glasses and a set of glass tankards as gifts for a girlfriend's birthday. As an additional kicker they recently got married so even though it isn't her husband's birthday, he's getting
Supplies:
Rubber Gloves
Eye Protection (NOT YOUR PRESCRIPTION GLASSES!! They will etch and be ruined)
Soft Bristle Paintbrush (size depends on the area you want to cover)
Etching Cream
Rub-On Transfers (recycled from a friend that used up all her family's intitials aaaand FREE!)
Popsicle Stick
Masking Tape
Sink
Glass to Etch
Side Note: You can purchase Rub On glass etching stencils ready made wherever you find the cream. You can also use vinyl stick on graphics, especially if you have a Cricut and can make all your own stickers from contact paper from the Dollar Store!
1. Wash and remove all the labels/stickers from your glassware. Make sure it is very clean but if you run it through the dishwasher be sure not to use a rinse agent like Jet Dry.
2. Chose your designs and letters and lay the pattern out so you can see how it will look on the glass. Tape them to the glass using the masking tape and rub them with the popsicle stick to transfer the design to the glass. *Remember to look carefully at the actual outline of the rub-on transfer itself not just the printed lines. The loops/interiors of designs and centers of the letters may be filled in and they will not show up correctly when using the etching cream.*
.jpg)
3. Carefully peel away the rub-on backing and the masking tape making sure the full design has transferred.
4. Mask off the other areas you would like to be filled with the etching cream. In the design pictured below I decided to highlight the letter and crown in a big etched box. I know these mugs will be filled with Guinness and the large graphic will be highlighted nicely against the dark brew.
I have also seen full glasses covered with patterns and the whole glass covered with the etching cream. Get creative!
5. Working quickly, but carefully not to go out of the taped areas, cover the area with the etching cream. *I did this next to the sink so i had quick access and less risk of messing up the design in transit...I am not known for being graceful or coordinated*
The instructions on the bottle and on several forums i have read state to brush across one direction, then up and down....however, i found it to give much better coverage and look more like "real" etched glass if I put on a thick coat using little circles. The directions say, for rub-ons leave let sit no longer than 1 minute. I did about 50 seconds and I think they turned out great. When using stickers or vinyl, you can leave the cream on longer for a bolder design because the stickers will not dissolve like the rub-ons.
6. Make sure your sink is empty so you don't accidentally etch anything you don't want etched. Put on stylish rubber gloves. Run a warm tap and peel off the masking tape while washing off the cream. A few rubs of the thumb will also remove the rub-on decal. When the cream is rinsed off, use a little dish soap to get off any residue from the tape or cream.
As for one last suggestion, you may want to buy extra glassware so that when your project turns out toally awesome you won't be sad you didn't make a set for yourself!
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