Designer Crafts Connection: Preserving your Memories

Hi Crafty Friends!

This month on the Designer Crafts Connection round-up, we're designing crafts that preserve memories.  Whether it's your last vacation, special family photos or scenes from your childhood, we have ideas for you!  Be sure to click on the big blue DCC button to the left of this post and see what all the designers have created!

This month I created an etched frame and an etched vase.  My youngest daughter got married a little over a year ago.  Yes, I'm finally getting a photo in a frame.  I'm notoriously bad at getting photos into frames or albums.  Most of mine reside on the hard disk or in shoe boxes! 

The vase is from the wedding centerpieces.  I first etched a border, then added the initial of her married name inside the border.  This will be a great reminder of a wonderful occasion. 

The vase and stencils

The border stencil

The second stencil

Finished Vase and Frame

Here is the finished vase with a frame I also etched.  The frame is etched with the word "Family" and features a photo from the wedding of four generations.  These were etched with etchall® etching creme found on www.etchall.com.  For a more detailed tutorial on etching with this fabulous product, see my post here.

Come back next week for some great design ideas using Kunin felt, Beacon glue and Buttons Galore and more buttons.  That blog hop starts on September 7.

Happy Crafting!

Etching with etchall®

Hi Crafty Friends!

Recently I was invited to try glass etching with etchall®.  It was a technique and a product that I had never tried and I was a bit skeptical.  I like to try new things, but my preference is quick and easy with great results.  I imagined glass etching as messy, smelly and requiring hazmat gear and lots of ventilation!  But, I was pleasantly surprised - actually more than pleasantly surprised - I am a fan now and looking through all my supplies and household items for pieces to etch! 

Here was my process:

First of all they included a hummingbird stencil and mirror tile in the sample kit with the etchall® etching creme.  I did that first and it turned out great!

The double edges you see on this image are the result of reflection.  The actual edges of the stenciled image are very sharp.

Next, I found a vase and a stencil from supplies I had. 

This is an Americana® Gloss Enamels® Resusable Stick-onStencils™ from

DecoArt®.

I stuck that onto the vase and masked the rest of the vase so it wouldn't come in contact with the etching creme.

Then, I added a layer of the etchall® etching creme.

I let that work for 15 minutes, scraped the reusable creme back into the container, rinsed it off and dried it.  Then I removed the tape and the stencil.  Yes, you should wear gloves and protective clothing, but there was no smell involved.  It was so easy to use and I love the fact that it is reusable!

Here's the end result:

Not bad, huh?!  I feel so accomplished adding another technique to my crafty skills!  I can't wait to try it on the glass in a picture frame, wine glasses, jars, glass table tops, mirrors and dishes.  And, it works on glass beads, so I can use it to create that lovely finish that sea glass has. I know what I'm doing with the long weekend!

I hope you'll try this technique and product.  You can find the etchall® etching creme as well as their other products at www.etchall.com

Happy Crafting!