This is going to be the invisible project. It’s hard to get a good picture of etched glass. Especially with the contents of the glass jar being white, on a white table cloth. You might have to dig out your visualization skills for this post.
Years and years ago I bought these French canisters at Cost Plus before it became World Market. I used a black Sharpie pen and wrote Flour, Sugar or Bisquik (yes, with a typo) on each canister.
After seeing some Martha project where she was etching her signature M on anything that would sit still I decided to try my hand at it.
The font I used is Mamae que nos faz and, Lord help me, I really hope that doesn’t mean anything offensive in French….
I played around with font sizes until I found one that would fit and then I printed the words on some clear paper backed adhesive sheets I had left over from some other project. The glass etching cream people suggest using contact paper but I wanted to print, not trace the lettering. I’m thinking the contact paper would be easier to cut and would make better contact (!) with the glass but what I used worked pretty well.
The most tedious part is cutting out the stencil. You are just removing the black part and leaving the rest. Which means you have to be really careful about the middle of the A and the loopy bit of the G. I had to cut out the middle bits of the S twice because I goofed.
Sigh. Trying to photograph something clear on a clear background is like trying to photograph a figment of your imagination.
See that white jar in upper right hand corner? That is the etching medium. It’s by Armour Products and is called Armour Etch Glass Etching Cream. It cost about $11 for a three ounce jar which I think would do a lot of projects.
You can buy kits from Armour Products but I didn’t see anything in there, other than the etching cream, that I really needed. You can also buy pre-done stencils which would be fun for decorating glasses or doing a design on a mirror.
After doing the Flour and the Sugar I decided we didn’t use Bisquick all that often anymore and, besides, my fingers were going numb from clutching the X-acto so tightly.
I am off to use both the flour and sugar for a blackberry cobbler. Blackberries from our very own yard. How is THAT for local? I’ll post on it tomorrow.
You are just so darn crafty. You got all of the craft genes. The jars (and the photos!) look great!! So much better than where I keep my sugar and flour – in stained Tupperware, circa 1982 with cracking lids. Time for an upgrade. Are your stencils reusable?
Wow! Am I ever impressed. I’ve recently been collecting jars from estate sales and filling them up with cooking items in my pantry and scrapbook items in my scrapbook room. Way too many to etch, not to mention I’m not that clever with the exacto. I hope your air quality is improving.
Andrea this is gorgeous!! I love the elegance of it ~ and the typeface is perfect! Your photos turned out really good I think, I can see everything….hope you’re having a great Sunday, xxoo, Dawn
What a great idea! Your ‘new’ canisters look wonderful. I’m sitting here wondering what I can etch. ~Adrienne~
Hey-remember the Arizona tea jugs with the japanese theme? I saw CANS here at CVS (drugstore). Let me know if I can buy some for you and send them off.
Nicole
Your photos came out wonderfully, and I love, love, love that font. OY!! on cutting it out for the stencil, though! You’ve got tenacity, girl! The jars look terrific.
oh yeah that’s a great idea! YOur photos are perfect and your canisters look great. You almost had me goin, was thinking, “hey! What a great idea for labeling my spice jars!” Ummmm might take me about 30 years 🙂 Sugar and flour I might handle though 🙂 Good work. ~lee
I admire how you do all these cool craft projects! I need to really get off my duff and get some creativity going. I love the etching on those jars! The last time I had dinner at Chez Panisse for my birthday, they had these neat water carafes with a laurel wreath and Chez Panisse etched in them. I wanted to swipe it:) I should just make my own,since you made it look so easy.
P.S. I have given you an award,since you are one of my favorite blogs…See my Monday post