Cherry Blossom Mirror

This was my first attempt at etching a mirror.  While the process is the same as glass etching, I felt like there was more to consider when etching my mirror.  I wanted to preserve the function of the mirror, so I tried to etch on the side.  I worried about the placement of the etching because mirrors are for looking at, whereas things like cookie jars look nice etched, but their appearance is not their sole function.  Maybe the more-complicated-feeling came from the sheer size of the mirror that I was etching.  I've never etched anything even half as big as this mirror.  Eventually I decided to do something simple, cherry blossoms.  The image that I used was from Martha's site and the mirror is from IKEA.  I'm probably going to give the mirror as a gift, so the photos are of the mirror on our table, as I didn't want to hang it on the wall.  Please let me know what you think--I'm not sure about this one!

I'm linking up to:

Glass Etching 101

At long last, my glass etching tutorial!  I'm sorry I didn't get it posted yesterday; my son is sick.  Ugh.  Anyways, here it is!  

I'm going to show you three different methods that I use to etch glass.  The first is to use a stamp to create your image to be etched.  The second is to use etching stencils.  The third is to freehand an image to be etched.

Supplies:

*Glass to be etched --I picked up a $5 cookie jar at Target

*Cutting mat (Can use cardboard)

*Contact paper

*Glass Etching Cream (I use Armor-Etch)

* Paint brush

*Scissors

*Exacto Knife

*Stamp and Ink (For Method No. 1)

*Etching Stencils (For Method No. 2)

*Highlighter (For Method No. 3)

Method No. 1 (STAMP)

Stamp the image you'd like to etch onto contact paper.  Any ink will work.

Using an Exacto knife, cut out the image that you've stamped.  I used a hole punch for the circles that make up my 'O.'

Be sure to keep any pieces that you'll need to replace, like the middle of the 'e.'











Now peel the backing off of the contact paper and stick your image to the glass you'll be etching.  Make sure that the contact paper is completely flush against the glass, otherwise the etching cream will get underneath and make your project look messy.

Time to get out your etching cream!

Paint a generous layer of etching cream onto the glass.  Be careful not to paint past the edges of the contact paper.  You really want to goop this stuff on.  In my experience, you can't use too much.  Please be careful NOT TO GET THIS ON YOUR FINGERS.  Just trust me, please.

Turn your glass piece around, hold it up to the light, and look through the back of your stencil.  This enables you to see the areas that might need more cream or that you may have missed completely.

Let the etching cream sit for about five minutes, then rinse!  I have found that warm water, running quickly, works the best.  It takes a while, though.

DONE!  (But I'm not going to to show you how it turned out until later!)

Method No. 2 (STENCILS)

Place your stencils on the glass wherever you'd like the etching to be.  You can layer them a little bit, like I did with Cookies.  Also, if you only have one of each letter (like the 'O' in cookie), but need repeats, just leave a gap.  Then you can go back and etch that after the rest is done.  

The rest of the steps are the same as in Method No. 1.  You just have to be a lot more careful with the etching cream on these small stencils than you were with the contact paper.  I've done projects where I end up with a thin line next to my letters from where I wasn't careful enough with the etching cream.

Method No. 3 (FREEHAND)


Choose what image you'd like to etch onto your glass.  Draw it onto the contact paper.  I've had good luck with highlighters--For some reason they seem to stick to the contact paper better than markers.

I'm going to etch chocolate chip cookies onto my glass jar.  Here I drew my cookies, but I had to remember that I would put the outside of the circle on the jar, not the circle itself.  My mind has trouble with silhouettes--Just really think about what you'd like to be etched and what you'd like to stay shiny glass.  Cover anything that you want to be shiny.

Next I cut a bunch of small "chocolate chips" from my circles of contact paper.  Then I placed them randomly inside the cookies on my jar.

Continue with the etching cream, just as in Method No. 1.  The method for etching never changes, just the manner in which you place your image on the glass.

Finished!

I filled my jar with homemade Chocolate Chip Peppermint Scones.  VOILA!

Coming Soon!

Oh, I just finished my glass etching!  All that's left is organizing the photos and writing the tutorial!  Maybe tomorrow?  I love it, by the way. Here's a hint... I won't be finished until I've baked something in my oven.  Confused?  Maybe step one, below, will help.  Check back soon to find out the rest!