WP Glass Etching Final Pics

Update:

Link to the Claddagh image we inserted in the Cricut Program:

https://rapidshare.com/files/476310143/Claddagh_Image.png

Link to the Shamrock image we inserted in the Cricut Program:

https://rapidshare.com/files/2360788732/Shamrock_Image.png

Link to the Love, Loyalty, and Friendshipimage we inserted in the Cricut Program:

https://rapidshare.com/files/1228283873/LL_F_Image.bmp

OP:

We bought the glasses at the Dollar Tree, and the Amour Etch Cream at Michael's (the prices range from $12.99 to $36.99 and we used the 50% coupon they have this week). FH diligently modified a clipart we found on Google to make the image for the stencil. We were going to try and hand cut the stencils with an exacto knife, but after the first try, we decided to invest in the awesome machine, Cricut Expressions. It's a huge expense, but I've wanted one for forever and we bought the software Sure Cuts a Lot 2. It's cheaper than a single Cricut cartridge and you can use your computer to create literally any image you want the machine to cut. We cut the image onto contact paper so we wouldn't have to bother with taping it to the glass. Here are some pointers to anyone wishing to etch:

-glob the cream onto the glass generously. Don't spread it out thin or else the design will be a little blotchy.

-let it set on the glass for longer than the recommended 60 seconds (we did 2 minutes)

-I origninally said to use an eye shadow applicator, but we noticed that sort of made some round marks in the design (if you can see it on the 2nd try claddagh design). We found much better results with using a soft paint brush instead (the 2nd try date design)

-When putting the stencil on something rounded and curved like this, you have to make some slits into the stencil to make it lay flat. If you cut the stencil to be really close to the design itself, then I'd put some tape around the edges of the stencil to take care of any stray brush strokes. I accidently got some cream above the date design for this reason. 

Finished Product:

We were orignially going to make one wine glass for each member of the bridal party, but we used one too many in test runs. Dollar Tree no longer had the size I originally bought, so we decided to get the guys beer mugs instead and used the extra wine glasses to make for the mothers and grandmothers, and bought a few extra mugs for fathers and grandfathers. The total tally came to 2 short child wine glasses, 12 tall wine glasses, 10 mugs, and 2 extras from test runs-30 glasses!

We put three shamrocks on the fathers/grandfathers' mugs because we thought for them to use the mugs again perhaps the claddagh wouldn't be masculine enough

The GM mugs

The FG and RB are old enough for glass glasses, but the regular wine glasses were too tall, so we got shorter wine glasses for them

All the girls' glasses

All the guys' mugs

With the belled curve of the wine glasses we could barely fit the names and claddagh on the cup, so we put the dates on the base instead

Thanks for the idea :)

That is AWESOME!!

Question: Any idea what to do if you wanted to have etching in color?

I put updated tips and 2nd trial run pictures up :)

Glob the cream on very generously is the only thing I can think of to tell you. Let me know if that helps!

wow! you are so creative. These are awesome!