Monday, August 24, 2009

My final project as Theresa Momber's Guest Designer!

Oh my gosh, this month has gone sooooo fast but alas today is my final project for Timeless Treasures, the wonderful vintage stamp set that Theresa Momber created for GinaKDesigns. Here is my Elegant Timeless Treasures etched glass Coasters:
I have always loved the look of etched glass but thought it was much to difficult, but I love trying to use new techniques. A couple of weeks ago my new friend, Ohio Mary, did a project with etched glass during the Hanna Stamps Guest Designer Round2 competition, which reminded me that I really wanted to try this technique. Thanks Mary for the inspiration!!! :)
I decided that I wanted to do a really special project for my final project for Theresa's Timeless Treasures set so I went looking for a piece of glass that I could use to etch a suncatcher of sorts. I couldn't find anything that I liked (wasn't ready to try glass cutting lol) but I did find a wonderful set of heavy glass coasters at Michael's that I thought would be perfect. Here are the 4 coasters that I created:
The coasters are sold as photo display coasters and had a white band painted around the outside bottom of the coaster and a metal picture holder glued to the bottom. I removed the metal photo pocket and sanded the white paint off with a SU sanding block. (Do not use sand paper as it will scratch the glass.) I found an important step to the etching biting best was to make sure that you use the glass prep solution before you do the embossing. The glass prep smells like the copic blender solution or rubbing alcohol which would probably do the same thing in a pinch (or when I run out of the solution I have :).
Splitcoaststampers has a glass etching tutorial which I followed to a degree. I did the embossing with versamark and I used white embossing powder ( color doesn't matter as you are going to remove it when done) and drew in some straight lines with a versamark pen for added detail.
The stamps from Timeless Treasures. I bought the Armour Etch Cream at Michaels, Hobby Lobby has the same brand but only in a larger size and followed the directions. The tutorial on SCS states to leave the etching cream on for 5 minutes but the Armour bottle said not more than 1 minute. I tried both but couldn't tell a difference in the amount of etching.
Make sure that you use the etching cream in a well ventilated room and be careful about getting any on your skin. Do not use this product if you are pregnant. I just poured the solution onto the glass that I had already embossed. Cover the entire portion of the glass that you want etched which basically is everything as you embossed the images and lines that are going to stay unetched. Let this set for a minute and then run under warm water to remove the etching cream. I scraped the embossing off while it was under water as well using a popsicle stick or rub on stick whichever you have. Rub dry with a soft towel or paper towel and your coaster is done.
I have always liked making coasters as gifts but these may be my new favorite as the design is etched in, you don't have to match decor colors and it will last forever.
As with the beautiful sentiments that are included in Timeless Treasures it is a wonderful, elegant gift that almost anyone can use.
Thanks Theresa for asking me to be your guest designer this month, I have loved every minute of it. I hope that you and your blog followers have enjoyed the projects that I created with your wonderful new set.
Speaking of which, Theresa has a new set coming out this month too, so be sure to check out the sneak peeks by the GinaK Design Team starting tonight.
Well, thanks for stopping by and I hope that you enjoyed my Etched Glass coasters.
Have a great Monday!!!
Cathy


5 comments:

Sharri said...

OMGosh! These are awesome! I love them! Thank you for explaining how you made them. I have been intrigued by glass etching but am not yet brave enough to try it!

Anonymous said...

Stunning! What an absolutley fabulous idea!

Elaine said...

These are fantastic!! Great work!!

Virgo5 said...

What a great project Cathy! Mary had me thinking about trying this too, now I'm convinced I'll have to give it a try! I love the top pic too, great idea adding the jewelry!

lisa808 said...

Wow! Amazing!