Glass Etching
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Doing glass etching on various projects is a great way to personalize gifts. It’s fairly easy to do, but you do need to be very careful with the etching cream.
I had this glass totem that I made over a year ago. I googled to find a garden phrase and found “Friends are the flowers in the garden of life”.
Decide on a stencil
The image was designed in my Silhouette Studio Designer Edition. I was cutting this out on my Portrait, so I did it in two different cuts. After I cut it like this, I rotated it to cut the other half. Note: the “g” in garden, I didn’t make my outer most circle quite big enough.
Can you see the words? It’s tough to see white on white.
Apply Stencil
I actually ended up cutting out one word at a time and applied it without transfer paper. Because I do stenciling all the time, it was easy for me. This vinyl is VERY sticky and a little difficult to re-position. After applying each word, I transferred the oodles and boodles. (insides of the letters)
Spread etching cream with plastic knife
There were a couple of places I had to “patch” with a small sliver of the vinyl—where the letter was too close to the edge, and where the two words didn’t come together perfectly. I didn’t want the etching cream to bleed though the edges of the stencil.
After donning rubber gloves I used a plastic knife to apply the etching cream to the stencil.
Use a cotton swab to clean up smudges
There were a couple of places I got too close to the edge, and used a Q-tip to clean it up.
Rinse Etching Cream with garden hose
I scraped the excess etching cream back into the bottle, it’s reusable. It’s best to do this outside (away from pets and plants).
Carefully, I rinsed the etching cream off with the hose. I have used etching cream before and learned the hard way that you shouldn’t rinse it in your sink. When you have a porcelain sink the etching cream can leave visible damage.
Admire your glass etching project!
I love how this glass etching turned out! There are so many applications for glass etching. Think candy dishes, dog/cat treat bowls, oh and I did glass etching on a baking dish for jamie years ago.
gail
that is a beautiful garden totem!!! love how the etching turned out! i would etch sayings onto the glass in frames/i would etch monograms onto glasses for gifts/etch fronts of wine bottles and or jars!
I’d etch a piece of glass to have a favorite quote, something either JRR Tolkien or GMMR or from The IT Crowd. Then I’d frame it and put some bright scrapbook paper (solid color) behind it!
I’m working on assembling parts to make a Trumeau Mirror that I would love to etch a quote in once done. Have the mirror, not I need a great old door and some trim!
Oh I love this! My amily is making gifts this year for Christmas, and this would give me so many options!
I should add that I would make personalized Cookie platters for all my sisters (4 of them)
I have been working on my family history and would love to be able to etch family trees onto old windows to share with my ever shrinking family…
I would love to be able to add etched embellishments to the stained glass custom pieces that I make for people.
It would be quicker to list what I wouldn’t use it for! I’d definitely use the etching cream for some Christmas gifts. When I get a Silouette, EVERYTHING with be labeled. Can’t wait!
That looks really nice and crisp!
Hmmm… what would I etch… I think it would be cool to take an old window and etch something on it and hang it from two chains. 🙂 xo
I would love to win a silhouette. I have a pinterest board full projects just waiting to get done. 😉 I would love to etch glasses for my family.
Thanks for the chance to win! So cool! I would like to try etching special glasses for my kids to use and maybe dishes as well! 🙂
Love the garden art and the etching makes it so much more personal!
I would etch names on baking dishes as gifts!