This is the first thing I've posted on this blog that is not a card! So if your here for cards, please forgive me. I like to dabble in a little of this, and a little of that (craft/art stuff). The design I found online, it's from Alice in Wonderland (in case you've been living under a rock sense 1951, and YES it was THAT long ago, when the first Alice in Wonderland movie hit the theaters, and NO I wasn't around for it.) :-) I am however an Alice in Wonderland fanatic. As you'll see in future posts. Anyways onto my glass. I had already etched every other person in my family their very own mugs and glasses, but had yet to do one for myself, until I ran out of people to make them for. I purchased the glass at my local dollar store. The design I transferred into my Silhouette program, and traced it out. I then cut it from Oramask 813 Stencil Film. I purchased mine from https://expressionsvinyl.com/. I know I seem to bring them up a lot, sorry I'm not affiliated with them in any way, just a happy customer. :-) Weeding for etching on glass is backwards from that you would do for adding the design onto anything else, like a sign. You remove the outline of the design, so then all you have is the negative spaces. You cut it down to size, and use transfer tape to lift the vinyl/stencil film from the backing. (You can also get this from expressionsvinyl.) Then you put the design onto your glass of choice, and remove the transfer tape, but not the design. You need to make sure that it is very secure to your glass (no little bubbles where the chemical can seep through. The chemical will etch anywhere that the glass is not protected by the stencil film.) Also before you add the design to your glass, be sure to clean your glass. I use rubbing alcohol. You don't want any oil from your finger prints on the glass, it would mess with the chemical. Alright your glass is clean, your design is cut, weeded, and transferred onto your glass, you have no bubbles, now onto the chemical. I use Armour Etch Cream, that you can purchase on Amazon, or most craft stores carry it. I apply it with an old paint brush in a light swirling motion. I let it sit for about four minutes, then swirl it around again, another couple minutes, and again with the swirling. I let it sit on my glasses a bit longer than the recommended time, this is just what's worked for me. After ten minutes or so I wash the glass off, first with just water, then with soap and water when the chemical is off the glass. I also remove the stencil film. After I wash I then dry the glass, it's onto the next step. If you wanted to, you can stop right there. The design is already etched into your glass, and you can see it, I just prefer it to stand out even more. Although with the next step you can no longer put your glass into the dish washer, it will HAVE to be hand washed. To add color I used Rub 'n Buff Wax Metallic Finish in Patina. This can also be found on Amazon, or your local craft store. I really do like this stuff, although you have to work fast. I use an old piece of soft cloth or paper towels and put a small amount on the design and rub it in quickly, then quickly rub off what doesn't go into the design. If it starts to dry on you, you can use rubbing alcohol to remove it from the glass. The more you buff this stuff, the more it shines. I've tried the silver, and gold colors and they are beautiful. The black one, I wasn't fond of.
I've never tried to explain how to do this process, so please forgive me if I didn't make much sense, I tried. There are lots of videos and articles out there on how to do this process. It sounds difficult, but I promise, It's not. I have tried using paint that is for glass (so it would be dishwasher safe) but have yet to find anything that worked the way I wanted it too. If you have found a different, and better approach, please let me know in the comments.
***word of caution, use gloves with the armour etch, if you get it on your skin, it'll make you itch like crazy***.
Happy Crafting All!
~Chantel
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