How To Make Custom Etched Glass With Cricut Machine?
Glass etching is an art of glass technique that involves applying acidic, caustic, or abrasive substances to a glass surface to thicken its texture in selected areas with the goal of creating a design or pattern. There is a lot you can do with glass etching. Its uses range from adding text and design or print to simple glassware like on jars and caps at home to creating full-blown, mind-blowing artworks and decorations for churches and museums. If you have seen etched glass, you are probably already aware of its attractive appearance. The “frosted” look created by abrading glass has an exquisite feel that doesn’t look flashy or obnoxious but is rather subtle and decorative.
One of the best features of glass etching is that it is not expensive, and anyone can do it at home. This is a great way to add value to a business or home without investing much in resources. The concepts of glass etching are easy. Abrasive materials are used to wear away the surface of the glass, making a “frosted” looking surface that can be designed by covering sections of the surface with materials that resist the abrasive.
Most Famous Glass Etching Techniques
Surface Etching
Surface etching is the most famous, accessible, and beginner-friendly etching technique. Blasting is done in one step, which means the design looks two-dimensional and has only two colors. Typically, etched areas look “frosty white,” and the unetched regions appear darker in comparison.
Shading of Glass
Similar to etching, but complex because different glass areas are etched at different densities to create color shades. Glass shading is complex and requires another level of expertise than surface etching, but results in more complete designs.
Glass Carving
This technique creates a three-dimensional image by carving deep into the glass. The best feature of this technique is that the carving is done from the opposite side of where the design is viewed.
If you’re looking for a simple, inexpensive, thoughtful gift? Custom-etched glasses with Cricut make easy, professional-looking, personalized gifts for friends and family. Etching cream and vinyl will last longer than 4 glasses, so as you make more custom gifts, it will cost less per product. This project will need the following:
Wine Glass (or other glass bases you want to use)
Isopropyl Alcohol (aka: Rubbing Alcohol)
Etching Cream like Armor Etch
Vinyl and Transfer tape
Small Paintbrush
Protective Gloves and Eyewear
Masking tape (or painter’s tape)
Cricut Machine+ for making stencils
Note: These guidelines are specific to making a stencil with Cricut. You don’t necessarily require a Cricut machine to do this project, but it will help create a detailed stencil for better results. Plus, colored glass cannot be etched. The colored glass has been prepared with a coating that prevents the etching cream from working. Although, stained glass, which is colored through, usually reacts to the etching cream.
Prepare the surface
First, prepare your surface by cleaning it with isopropyl alcohol to remove fingerprints, dust, and grease. After cleaning, let it dry completely. I selected the phrase “lesson plan juice.”
Make a vinyl stencil with a design
To cut a stencil with a Cricut machine, you’ll need to place it on a canvas in Design Space. Recreate the same look with Simple Script Fonts. I used a free font from dafont.com.
After placing text in Design Space, outline the stencil to make it a “sticker” as you want it to appear, don’t forget to shape the entire design on the surface. The outline will create it easier to attach to the surface of the glass and will limit the weeding surface. Then, “Make it” on the Cricut machine, and weed out the design by removing the negatives from the vinyl.
Put it stencil
Use transfer tape to take the weed design and put it on the clean glass surface. Precisely place the stencil on the surface of the glass, pressing firmly to smooth the entire structure. Push the bubbles downwards and make the procedure as cool as you can. You can also curve the design to help it adhere better to round surfaces. Border the design with painter’s tape to save the rest of the surface.
Tip: Hold stencil and glass up to the light to see any accidental holes or tears in the vinyl. These spots can also accidentally form with design. Cover them with tape to prevent unsuspecting etching.
Etch the glass
First Safety. Put on protective gear before managing the etching cream. After all, it is an acid, which uses a chemical reaction to remove the surface of the glass. Ensure the work section is room temperature, well ventilated, and simply accessible to running water.
Shake well before using the etching cream to redistribute solidified in the container. Then, use a small paintbrush to apply a thick cream coat to the stenciled surface and ensure it’s completely covered. Remember that the cream reacts as soon as it hits the surface. Do your best to apply the cream safely, quickly, and evenly for the best results.
Let the cream sit without interference. I left the etching cream for 3 minutes and got the perfect result. Armor Etch recommends from 1 to 5 minutes, depending on the item. A small trial and error will help correct results as they will vary with the amount of cream you apply and the base ingredients. High-lead glass, like crystal, is much more resistant to creams.
Leaving the etching cream on for a long time will cause it to “Scorch” the glass. Not going on long enough may not give it enough time to etch correctly. Also, prolonged exposure will eat away at the vinyl. I recommend not leaving for more than 5 minutes as usual.
Remove etching cream
Wash off the etching cream when you are ready for the next step. I washed off the cream with not only water but dish soap. It worked great for me.
Stainless steel sinks or plastic buckets with water are preferred. Porcelain and enamel sinks can become dull due to the chemicals that wash off the etching cream. If necessary, use a paintbrush to help wipe off the etching cream or double-time as an opportunity to wash off the brush.
Reveal final etching
After the glass has dried, take off the tape and vinyl stencil to reveal etching. Again, clean the glass with isopropyl alcohol. The etching will be at its perfect look once it has been washed off and dried thoroughly.
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