How to Preserve Baby Footprints in Glass

Materials and Tools:

nontoxic black ink pad
sheet of white paper
stencil-making material
stencil cutter
black permanent marker
2 pieces of clear float glass
scrap piece of glass
powder enamel
powder enamel screen
glass cutter
glass-breaking pliers
copper wire
wire cutters
kiln
1/8-inch ribbon

Steps:

1. Press the baby's foot on the ink pad.

2. Place the baby's foot on to a sheet of white paper to make an imprint.

3. Place a sheet of clear stencil-making material over the imprinted paper and trace the footprint on the stencil-making material.

4. Place the stencil material on a scrap piece of glass. Using the stencil cutter, cut the template by burning through the stencil material.

5. Peel away the excess pieces of stencil material, leaving the cutout footprints.

6. Place the template on the float glass.

7. Pour powdered enamel into the sifting screen and sift it onto the template and the float glass.

8. Carefully remove the template.

9. Make a ring out of the copper wire.

10. Place the ring of copper wire on the top center of the float glass.

11. Place the second sheet of glass over the stenciled footprint and place both pieces in the kiln.

12. Fire the piece and let it cool.

13. Tie a piece of 1/8-inch ribbon through the wire loop and hang the piece.