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Create lovely monogrammed glassware gifts at home with etching cream, which leaves a frosted finish on the surface.

Glass-etching expert Norm Dobbins shows how to create beautiful yet simple monograms on glass candleholders and plates. The secret is etching cream, a liquid chemical that penetrates the surface of the glass, leaving a frosted finish.

Monogramming a single letter

Materials:

clip art
ruler
pencil
scissors
clear self-adhesive shelf paper
stencil knife
gloves and safety goggles
etching cream (available at most craft stores)

Steps:

Find a clip-art letter out of a book or on the computer to use as the template for the monogram. Enlarge it to the desired size, making sure it is the appropriate scale for the item being monogrammed.

Figure A

To align the letter vertically and horizontally, use a ruler to draw a line directly under the letter. Make a small mark in the center of the letter with a pencil (figure A).

Cut out the letter, leaving room all around it and a long tail on one side for you to use to hold on to the letter.

Apply clear self-adhesive shelf paper to the top of the surface to be etched, draping it down on the sides to protect the sides from splashes.

Figure B

Draw a horizontal line and center point for alignment of the letter (figure B). The letter doesn't need to be centered vertically (you might prefer it higher or lower), but it should be centered horizontally across the width of the surface.

Apply spray adhesive to the back of the letter and let it dry for 20 to 30 seconds.

Figure C

Press the letter onto the clear shelf paper, lining up the center marks and horizontal lines on the letter and glass (figure C).

Press down firmly and remove the tab.

Cut all the way around the outside and inside perimeter of the letter with a stencil knife, then remove the paper. Using the stencil knife can be awkward, so practice cutting on top of the glass with some extra letters. The look of your finished product will be determined by this step of the process, so practice until you can make smooth lines.

Put on gloves and goggles before working with etching cream.

figure D

Figure E

Pour a thick bead of the cream across the surface of the glass (figure D), and pull the cream across the design with the squeegee that is included with the cream (figure E). Be sure there is a thick covering. Return unused cream on the squeegee back into the jar.

Let the cream dry for 10 to 15 minutes, then take the squeegee and scrape off any excess cream and return to bottle.

Wash off any remaining cream with soap and warm water. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Remove shelf paper.

Etched Plates

Materials:

clear glass plate
clear self-adhesive shelf paper
scissors
design or image of choice
pencil
carbon paper
stencil knife
etching cream

Steps:

Clean a clear glass plate thoroughly.
Apply clear shelf paper to the back side of the plate center, where the design will go.
Prepare your design or image by blowing it up to the correct size to fit the center of the plate. Cut out the design.
Place the design on the back side of the plate, with the front facing through the top of the plate.
Hold the plate up to the light and trace through the design that so you get the image in reverse.

Figure F

Figure G

Center the traced, reverse image on the back of the plate. Tape it down at the edge in one spot (figure F).

Lift the image and slide a piece of carbon paper underneath the image and trace the image onto the plate through the carbon paper (figure G).

Proceed as in the project above--cutting out the image with a stencil knife, spreading on the etching cream, letting it dry, rinsing the plate off, and removing the shelf paper.

Also in this Episode

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•	Etch-a-Monogram
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•	Eliminating Everyday Annoyances
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