Glass Etching Tutorial

Hello! Happy Saturday! 

If you haven't entered my Clip It Up Ribbon Storage Solution giveaway, click HERE for the post and make sure you enter! :) 

I am going to run you through the etching portion of a glass etching tutorial. I hope you like it! This was my finished project:

I left out the very beginning which is to line up your words: I used Cricut Craft Room (this was my first project with it and I must say I was impressed!). I wanted mine all cut on the same piece of vinyl. I used EAD Designs Vinyl. LOVE it! It's my favorite vinyl AND the transfer tape comes right on the back of the sheet - no need to buy anything extra - LOVE that! 

While it was still on the mat, I weeded out (picked out the letters) so that only the negative was showing.

Then I cut the vinyl into the words (they were all connected to save vinyl). 

Now here is the picture portion: 

Step 1: Start with a clean glass. It CANNOT have finger prints OR any oil from your hands on the glass if you want the etching to work. So make sure it's clean and then don't touch it. :) I use a dry paper towel to wipe down the service just before I put the vinyl on as well.

Step 2: Use transfer tape (or masking or painter's tape) and lay it smoothly over the word. 

Step 3: Use the transfer tape and your nail to start the sticking process of the vinyl (it should be the smooth, not the sticky side) to the STICKY side of the masking tape or transfer tape.

Step 4: Once you have it started, because you smoothed out the tape over the vinyl in step 3, the rest of the vinyl should just stick to the tape as you pull it back. BE CAREFUL to make sure the negative pieces (like the center of this P) are stuck to the transfer tape. This is VERY important so that you don't just have a big hole in the middle of your "P". 

Step 5: Using the transfer tape, apply the vinyl to the glass stretching it just a tad to try to keep any bubbles from getting under the vinyl. 

Step 6: You can see the bubbles below. These ones are totally fine because they are not touching the negative. If any bubbles are running into the negative, use the masking tape, put it on top of the small area, and use your nail and a lot of pressure to make the bubbles go away. If you do not, the etching cream will get under the vinyl and create little bubble ends to your letters. 

Step 7: Apply masking or painters tape around the negative so that if the etching cream drips you don't get funny lines. :) 

Step 8: I use Armour Etch. I bought this little bottle a while ago and it has been awesome! I couldn't find my paint brushes so I just used a q-tip. Works for me! 

Step 9: Apply it on THICK and let it sit there for at least 60 seconds. I let them sit for probably about 10 minutes or however long it took me to prepare the next glass. 

Step 10: (Not Pictured) Rince off the Armour Etch in the sink with water and a gloved finger (apparently this stuff is pretty toxic... I mean, it EATs through glass. Pretty rad stuff!)

Step 11: Dry off glasses. It will become more opaque when it is dry than when it is wet. Enjoy your project! These were a gift for my co-mom (mother-in-law) for her birthday. When we come over we will all have our own personalized wine glasses! :) 

I am entering this into the Cricut Circle challenge of making a gift for someone using your Cricut and at least 2 cuts. :) 

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! We will be doing a lot of household chores/errands/clean up, but we always have fun doing it together!